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FBI raids several California homes, including Oakland mayor's

FBI agents carry boxes out of a house associated with Oakland Mayor Sheng Thao during a raid in Oakland, Calif., on Thursday, June 20, 2024. Federal authorities raided a home belonging to Oakland Mayor Sheng Thao early Thursday as part of an investigation that included a search of at least two other houses, authorities said. (Ray Chavez/Bay Area News Group via AP) The Associated Press OAKLAND, Calif. -- Federal authorities raided a home belonging to Oakland Mayor Sheng Thao early Thursday as part of a California investigation that included a search of at least two other houses, officials said. FBI agents carried boxes out of 80 Maiden Lane, a four-bedroom home that property records link to the first-term mayor, the San Francisco Chronicle reported. Thao's spokesperson Francis Zamora referred inquiries to the FBI. "The FBI conducted court-authorized law enforcement activity on Maiden Lane in Oakland this morning. We are unable to provide additional information at this time," a bureau statement said. Agents also carried out searches about three miles to the south at two homes owned by members of the politically influential Duong family that owns the recycling company Cal Waste Solutions, the Chronicle said. The firm has been investigated over campaign contributions to Thao and other elected city officials, the local news outlet Oaklandside reported in 2020. One of the properties is owned by Andy Duong and the other is connected to David and Linda Duong, according to records cited by the Chronicle. Phone messages and emails seeking comment on the raid from Cal Waste Solutions officials were not immediately returned. Personal phone numbers for members of the Duong family could not be found. Thao, 38, is facing a recall election less than two years into her term as mayor. The city clerk's office last week notified leaders behind the recall effort that they had gathered enough verified signatures to qualify for the ballot in November. Increased crime and budgetary problems have challenged Thao since she assumed office in January 2023 after a stint on the Oakland City Council.

usa

FBI raids several California homes, including Oakland mayor's. FBI agents carry boxes out of a house associated with Oakland Mayor Sheng Thao during a raid in Oakland, Calif., on Thursday, June 20, 2024. Federal authorities raided a home belonging to Oakland Mayor Sheng Thao early Thursday as part of an investigation that included a search of at least two other houses, authorities said. (Ray Chavez/Bay Area News Group via AP) The Associated Press OAKLAND, Calif. -- Federal authorities raided a home belonging to Oakland Mayor Sheng Thao early Thursday as part of a California investigation that included a search of at least two other houses, officials said. FBI agents carried boxes out of 80 Maiden Lane, a four-bedroom home that property records link to the first-term mayor, the San Francisco Chronicle reported. Thao's spokesperson Francis Zamora referred inquiries to the FBI. "The FBI conducted court-authorized law enforcement activity on Maiden Lane in Oakland this morning. We are unable to provide additional information at this time," a bureau statement said. Agents also carried out searches about three miles to the south at two homes owned by members of the politically influential Duong family that owns the recycling company Cal Waste Solutions, the Chronicle said. The firm has been investigated over campaign contributions to Thao and other elected city officials, the local news outlet Oaklandside reported in 2020. One of the properties is owned by Andy Duong and the other is connected to David and Linda Duong, according to records cited by the Chronicle. Phone messages and emails seeking comment on the raid from Cal Waste Solutions officials were not immediately returned. Personal phone numbers for members of the Duong family could not be found. Thao, 38, is facing a recall election less than two years into her term as mayor. The city clerk's office last week notified leaders behind the recall effort that they had gathered enough verified signatures to qualify for the ballot in November. Increased crime and budgetary problems have challenged Thao since she assumed office in January 2023 after a stint on the Oakland City Council.

Biden accuses Trump of 'having sex with a porn star' and 'the morals of an alley cat'

Fox News host Sean Hannity says former President Trump should focus on the future of the country during the CNN Presidential Debate. President Biden accused former President Trump of "having sex with a porn star" and said he has "the morals of an alley cat," but the presumptive Republican nominee maintained that he did not, and accused Biden of being behind his legal cases because "he can't win fair and square." During the CNN Presidential Debate Simulcast Thursday night, Biden pointed to Trump being convicted on all counts out of Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg's investigation related to hush money payments made to adult film actress Stormy Daniels. Stormy Daniels is questioned by defense attorney Susan Necheles during Former U.S. President Donald Trump's criminal trial on charges that he falsified business records to conceal money paid to silence porn star Stormy Daniels in 2016, in Manhattan state court in New York City, U.S., May 9, 2024, in this courtroom sketch. (REUTERS/Jane Rosenberg) TRUMP ORDERED TO PAY MORE THAN $80 MILLION IN E. JEAN CARROLL DEFAMATION TRIAL Biden also pointed to the case brought against Trump by E. Jean Carroll, who accused Trump of rape and defamation. "How many billions of dollars do you owe civil penalties for molesting a woman in public? For doing a whole range of things—having sex with a porn star…while your wife was pregnant?" Biden said. "You have the morals of an alley cat during the night, sir." Former President Donald Trump is leading four percentage points ahead of President Biden, according to a new New York Times/Siena College poll. (Getty Images) In the E. Jean Carroll case, a federal jury decided Trump must pay an $83.3 million to her for denying allegations that he raped her in the 1990s. Trump's legal team has requested a new trial and appealed the ruling, but was rejected in April. But Trump, Thursday night, fired back, defending himself. "I didn't have sex with a porn star, number one," he said. "Number two, that was a case that was started, and they moved a high-ranking official—DOJ—into the Manhattan DA's office to start the case." Trump was referring to Matthew Colangelo, who served as a senior DOJ official in the Biden administration, and left to join Bragg's prosecution team. EX-TOP BIDEN DOJ OFFICIAL NOW PROSECUTING TRUMP WAS ONCE PAID BY DNC FOR 'POLITICAL CONSULTING' A jury found Trump guilty on 34 counts of falsifying business records in the first degree in New York v. Trump. Trump has vowed to appeal that verdict. "That case is going to be appealed and won. We had a very terrible judge, a horrible judge, the prosecutors were all high-ranking Democrats, appointed people," Trump said. Trump accused Biden, saying he "went after his political opponent because he thought it was going to damage me." "But when the public found out about the cases, because they understand it better than he does, he has no idea what these cases are, but when they found about these cases, you know what they did—my poll numbers went way up," Trump said. "You know that—because you're reporting it." CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP Trump also said his campaign "took in more money in the last two weeks than we've ever taken in in the history of any campaign."

politics

Biden accuses Trump of 'having sex with a porn star' and 'the morals of an alley cat'. Fox News host Sean Hannity says former President Trump should focus on the future of the country during the CNN Presidential Debate. President Biden accused former President Trump of "having sex with a porn star" and said he has "the morals of an alley cat," but the presumptive Republican nominee maintained that he did not, and accused Biden of being behind his legal cases because "he can't win fair and square." During the CNN Presidential Debate Simulcast Thursday night, Biden pointed to Trump being convicted on all counts out of Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg's investigation related to hush money payments made to adult film actress Stormy Daniels. Stormy Daniels is questioned by defense attorney Susan Necheles during Former U.S. President Donald Trump's criminal trial on charges that he falsified business records to conceal money paid to silence porn star Stormy Daniels in 2016, in Manhattan state court in New York City, U.S., May 9, 2024, in this courtroom sketch. (REUTERS/Jane Rosenberg) TRUMP ORDERED TO PAY MORE THAN $80 MILLION IN E. JEAN CARROLL DEFAMATION TRIAL Biden also pointed to the case brought against Trump by E. Jean Carroll, who accused Trump of rape and defamation. "How many billions of dollars do you owe civil penalties for molesting a woman in public? For doing a whole range of things—having sex with a porn star…while your wife was pregnant?" Biden said. "You have the morals of an alley cat during the night, sir." Former President Donald Trump is leading four percentage points ahead of President Biden, according to a new New York Times/Siena College poll. (Getty Images) In the E. Jean Carroll case, a federal jury decided Trump must pay an $83.3 million to her for denying allegations that he raped her in the 1990s. Trump's legal team has requested a new trial and appealed the ruling, but was rejected in April. But Trump, Thursday night, fired back, defending himself. "I didn't have sex with a porn star, number one," he said. "Number two, that was a case that was started, and they moved a high-ranking official—DOJ—into the Manhattan DA's office to start the case." Trump was referring to Matthew Colangelo, who served as a senior DOJ official in the Biden administration, and left to join Bragg's prosecution team. EX-TOP BIDEN DOJ OFFICIAL NOW PROSECUTING TRUMP WAS ONCE PAID BY DNC FOR 'POLITICAL CONSULTING' A jury found Trump guilty on 34 counts of falsifying business records in the first degree in New York v. Trump. Trump has vowed to appeal that verdict. "That case is going to be appealed and won. We had a very terrible judge, a horrible judge, the prosecutors were all high-ranking Democrats, appointed people," Trump said. Trump accused Biden, saying he "went after his political opponent because he thought it was going to damage me." "But when the public found out about the cases, because they understand it better than he does, he has no idea what these cases are, but when they found about these cases, you know what they did—my poll numbers went way up," Trump said. "You know that—because you're reporting it." CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP Trump also said his campaign "took in more money in the last two weeks than we've ever taken in in the history of any campaign."

Ammonites' fate sealed by meteor strike that wiped out dinosaurs

Ammonites were not in decline before their extinction, scientists have found. The marine molluscs with coiled shells and one of palaeontology's great icons flourished in Earth's oceans for more than 350 million years until they died out during the same chance event that wiped out the dinosaurs 66 million years ago. Some palaeontologists have argued that their demise was inevitable and that ammonite diversity was decreasing long before they went extinct at the end of the Cretaceous. However new research, published today in Nature Communications and led by palaeontologists at the University of Bristol, shows that their fate was not set in stone. Instead, the final chapter in ammonite evolutionary history is more complex. "Understanding how and why biodiversity has changed through time is very challenging," said lead author Dr Joseph Flannery-Sutherland. "The fossil record tells us some of the story, but it is often an unreliable narrator. Patterns of diversity can just reflect patterns of sampling, essentially where and when we have found new fossil species, rather than actual biological history. "Analysing the existing Late Cretaceous ammonite fossil record as though it were the complete, global story is probably why previous researchers have thought they were in long-term ecological decline." To overcome this issue, the team assembled a new database of Late Cretaceous ammonite fossils to help fill in the sampling gaps in their record. "We drew on museum collections to provide new sources of specimens rather than just relying on what had already been published," said co-author Cameron Crossan, a 2023 graduate of the University of Bristol's Palaeobiology MSc programme. "This way we could be sure that we were getting a more accurate picture of their biodiversity prior to their total extinction." Using their database, the team then analysed how ammonite speciation and extinction rates varied in different parts of the globe. If ammonites were in decline through the Late Cretaceous, then their extinction rates would have been generally higher than their speciation rates wherever the team looked. What the team instead found was that the balance of speciation and extinction changed both through geological time and between different geographic regions. "These differences in ammonoid diversification around the world is a crucial part of why their Late Cretaceous story has been misunderstood," said senior author Dr James Witts of the Natural History Museum, London. "Their fossil record in parts of North America is very well sampled, but if you looked at this alone then you might think that they were struggling, while they were actually flourishing in other regions. Their extinction really was a chance event and not an inevitable outcome." To find out what was responsible for the continued success of ammonites through the Late Cretaceous, the team looked at potential factors might have caused their diversity to change through time. They were particularly interested in whether their speciation and extinction rates were driven mainly by environmental conditions like ocean temperature and sea level (the Court Jester Hypothesis), or by biological processes like pressure from predators and competition between ammonites themselves (the Red Queen Hypothesis). "What we found was that the causes of ammonite speciation and extinction were as geographically varied as the rates themselves," said co-author Dr Corinne Myers of the University of New Mexico. "You couldn't just look at their total fossil record and say that their diversity was driven entirely by changing temperature, for example. It was more complex than that and depended on where in the world they were living." "Palaeontologists are frequently fans of silver bullet narratives for what drove changes in a group's fossil diversity, but our work shows that things are not always so straightforward," Dr Flannery Sutherland concluded. "We can't necessarily trust global fossil datasets and need to analyse them at regional scales. This way we can capture a much more nuanced picture of how diversity changed across space and through time, which also shows how variation in the balance of Red Queen versus Court Jester effects shaped these changes." Copyright 1995-2024 ScienceDaily or by other parties, where indicated. All rights controlled by their respective owners. Content on this website is for information only. It is not intended to provide medical or other professional advice. Views expressed here do not necessarily reflect those of ScienceDaily, contributors or partners. Financial support for ScienceDaily comes from advertisements and referral programs.

science

Ammonites' fate sealed by meteor strike that wiped out dinosaurs. Ammonites were not in decline before their extinction, scientists have found. The marine molluscs with coiled shells and one of palaeontology's great icons flourished in Earth's oceans for more than 350 million years until they died out during the same chance event that wiped out the dinosaurs 66 million years ago. Some palaeontologists have argued that their demise was inevitable and that ammonite diversity was decreasing long before they went extinct at the end of the Cretaceous. However new research, published today in Nature Communications and led by palaeontologists at the University of Bristol, shows that their fate was not set in stone. Instead, the final chapter in ammonite evolutionary history is more complex. "Understanding how and why biodiversity has changed through time is very challenging," said lead author Dr Joseph Flannery-Sutherland. "The fossil record tells us some of the story, but it is often an unreliable narrator. Patterns of diversity can just reflect patterns of sampling, essentially where and when we have found new fossil species, rather than actual biological history. "Analysing the existing Late Cretaceous ammonite fossil record as though it were the complete, global story is probably why previous researchers have thought they were in long-term ecological decline." To overcome this issue, the team assembled a new database of Late Cretaceous ammonite fossils to help fill in the sampling gaps in their record. "We drew on museum collections to provide new sources of specimens rather than just relying on what had already been published," said co-author Cameron Crossan, a 2023 graduate of the University of Bristol's Palaeobiology MSc programme. "This way we could be sure that we were getting a more accurate picture of their biodiversity prior to their total extinction." Using their database, the team then analysed how ammonite speciation and extinction rates varied in different parts of the globe. If ammonites were in decline through the Late Cretaceous, then their extinction rates would have been generally higher than their speciation rates wherever the team looked. What the team instead found was that the balance of speciation and extinction changed both through geological time and between different geographic regions. "These differences in ammonoid diversification around the world is a crucial part of why their Late Cretaceous story has been misunderstood," said senior author Dr James Witts of the Natural History Museum, London. "Their fossil record in parts of North America is very well sampled, but if you looked at this alone then you might think that they were struggling, while they were actually flourishing in other regions. Their extinction really was a chance event and not an inevitable outcome." To find out what was responsible for the continued success of ammonites through the Late Cretaceous, the team looked at potential factors might have caused their diversity to change through time. They were particularly interested in whether their speciation and extinction rates were driven mainly by environmental conditions like ocean temperature and sea level (the Court Jester Hypothesis), or by biological processes like pressure from predators and competition between ammonites themselves (the Red Queen Hypothesis). "What we found was that the causes of ammonite speciation and extinction were as geographically varied as the rates themselves," said co-author Dr Corinne Myers of the University of New Mexico. "You couldn't just look at their total fossil record and say that their diversity was driven entirely by changing temperature, for example. It was more complex than that and depended on where in the world they were living." "Palaeontologists are frequently fans of silver bullet narratives for what drove changes in a group's fossil diversity, but our work shows that things are not always so straightforward," Dr Flannery Sutherland concluded. "We can't necessarily trust global fossil datasets and need to analyse them at regional scales. This way we can capture a much more nuanced picture of how diversity changed across space and through time, which also shows how variation in the balance of Red Queen versus Court Jester effects shaped these changes." Copyright 1995-2024 ScienceDaily or by other parties, where indicated. All rights controlled by their respective owners. Content on this website is for information only. It is not intended to provide medical or other professional advice. Views expressed here do not necessarily reflect those of ScienceDaily, contributors or partners. Financial support for ScienceDaily comes from advertisements and referral programs.

Iran opens voting in an election to replace the late hard-line President Ebrahim Raisi, who died in a helicopter crash

Iran opens voting in an election to replace the late hard-line President Ebrahim Raisi, who died in a helicopter crash

world

Iran opens voting in an election to replace the late hard-line President Ebrahim Raisi, who died in a helicopter crash. Iran opens voting in an election to replace the late hard-line President Ebrahim Raisi, who died in a helicopter crash

METABORA SINGAPORE Updates BORA 3.0 and Adopts Deflationary Tokenomics

SINGAPORE (CEO Gyehan Song) announced that it has updated BORA mainnet to version 3.0 and completed the implementation of deflationary tokenomics These changes include: Integration of the dual-token structure of tBORA and bGAS into a single BORA mainnet token, Introduction of a token gas fee policy to stimulate the BORA chain, Migration of onboarding games and blockchain services deployed on BORA 2.0 to the updated mainnet. Additionally, the previous inflation model has been abandoned in favor of a new 'Dynamic Token Burning Model,' which burns a certain proportion of BORA paid as gas fees. The initial burning rate under this model is set at 50%. With these changes, BORA is set to transition to a deflationary tokenomics model. The plan is to further activate token burning through the enhancement of blockchain services linked to new games and other content scheduled for release in the second half of the year. In line with its business expansion, BORA will also introduce new onboarding content sequentially. This includes the launch of multiple titles in the global market, such as a baseball simulation game based on a major global IP and 'Birdie Squad 2024,' which features live coverage of KLPGA. These initiatives aim to expand the BORA ecosystem into the sports and entertainment content sectors. Through this mainnet update, Metabora Singapore plans to show an evolved BORA service and ecosystem. Meanwhile, METABORA SINGAPORE is expanding cross-chains with various global platforms such as Polygon, Near Protocol, Ethereum, and Binance Chain to expand the global ecosystem of BORA and is preparing for a variety of content services beyond games. Detailed information about BORA 3.0 Mainnet update is available on the BORA Portal website. As a subsidiary of METABORA, a casual and blockchain game developer, and a developer of blockchain platform BORA, METABORA SINGAPORE is servicing user-friendly blockchain-based games and entertainment contents based on a myriad of experiences in development and service. BORA Platform is associated with various partners across the industries capable of bringing a shift and advance in tokenomics, content and blockchain technology, and covers a range of contents from game to entertainment to guild DAO through an aggressive eco fund investment and partnership. Also, it is developing services optimized to GameFi such as NFT trading, token exchange and

entertainment

METABORA SINGAPORE Updates BORA 3.0 and Adopts Deflationary Tokenomics. SINGAPORE (CEO Gyehan Song) announced that it has updated BORA mainnet to version 3.0 and completed the implementation of deflationary tokenomics These changes include: Integration of the dual-token structure of tBORA and bGAS into a single BORA mainnet token, Introduction of a token gas fee policy to stimulate the BORA chain, Migration of onboarding games and blockchain services deployed on BORA 2.0 to the updated mainnet. Additionally, the previous inflation model has been abandoned in favor of a new 'Dynamic Token Burning Model,' which burns a certain proportion of BORA paid as gas fees. The initial burning rate under this model is set at 50%. With these changes, BORA is set to transition to a deflationary tokenomics model. The plan is to further activate token burning through the enhancement of blockchain services linked to new games and other content scheduled for release in the second half of the year. In line with its business expansion, BORA will also introduce new onboarding content sequentially. This includes the launch of multiple titles in the global market, such as a baseball simulation game based on a major global IP and 'Birdie Squad 2024,' which features live coverage of KLPGA. These initiatives aim to expand the BORA ecosystem into the sports and entertainment content sectors. Through this mainnet update, Metabora Singapore plans to show an evolved BORA service and ecosystem. Meanwhile, METABORA SINGAPORE is expanding cross-chains with various global platforms such as Polygon, Near Protocol, Ethereum, and Binance Chain to expand the global ecosystem of BORA and is preparing for a variety of content services beyond games. Detailed information about BORA 3.0 Mainnet update is available on the BORA Portal website. As a subsidiary of METABORA, a casual and blockchain game developer, and a developer of blockchain platform BORA, METABORA SINGAPORE is servicing user-friendly blockchain-based games and entertainment contents based on a myriad of experiences in development and service. BORA Platform is associated with various partners across the industries capable of bringing a shift and advance in tokenomics, content and blockchain technology, and covers a range of contents from game to entertainment to guild DAO through an aggressive eco fund investment and partnership. Also, it is developing services optimized to GameFi such as NFT trading, token exchange and

Child marriage ban welcomed in Sierra Leone

Sierra Leone has brought in a new law banning child marriage with much fanfare at a ceremony organised by First Lady Fatima Bio in the capital, Freetown. Invited guests, including first ladies from Cape Verde and Namibia, watched as her husband President Julius Maada Bio signed the Prohibition of Child Marriage Act into law. Anybody now involved in the marriage of a girl aged under the age of 18 will be jailed for at least 15 years or fined around $ 4,000 (£3,200), or both. University student Khadijatu Barrie, whose sister was married off at 14, told the BBC she welcomed the ban but wished it had come in to save her younger sibling. "I really wish it had happened earlier. I could have at least saved my sister and my friends and other neighbours," the 26-year-old gender studies undergraduate said. Sierra Leone is a patriarchal society and it is common for a father to give his daughter's hand in marriage forcibly. Ms Barrie faced this prospect aged 10. She resisted it and fled the family home after her father disowned her. She was lucky enough to find teachers who paid for her school fees and a sympathetic worker from the UN children's agency who helped her out with accommodation. But she says it is difficult for those who live in rural areas to buck tradition and every community will need to be informed about the new law for it to be effective. "If everyone understands what's there waiting for you in case you do it I'm sure this country will be a better one," Ms Barrie said. The ministry of health estimates that a third of girls are married off before they turn 18, accounting for the country's high number of maternal deaths - among the highest in the world. Those who face punishment under the new rules include the groom, the parents or guardians of the child bride, and even those who attend the wedding. Mrs Bio, who has been at the forefront in campaigning against sexual abuse since her husband became president six years ago, wanted the signing of the bill to be a big occasion. At the ceremony, President Bio said that his "motivation and commitment to empowering women and girls is firmly rooted in my personal life journey". His eight-year-old daughter was amongst those who watched him sign the bill. The 60-year-old president explained how he had lost his father at an early age and had been brought up by his mother and later his elder sister who "supported and encouraged me to pursue my dreams to the best of my ability". He acknowledged his wife's commitment to championing women's rights: "Together, we want to build an empowered Sierra Leone where women are given an even platform to reach their full potential. I have always believed that the future of Sierra Leone is female."

world

Child marriage ban welcomed in Sierra Leone. Sierra Leone has brought in a new law banning child marriage with much fanfare at a ceremony organised by First Lady Fatima Bio in the capital, Freetown. Invited guests, including first ladies from Cape Verde and Namibia, watched as her husband President Julius Maada Bio signed the Prohibition of Child Marriage Act into law. Anybody now involved in the marriage of a girl aged under the age of 18 will be jailed for at least 15 years or fined around $ 4,000 (£3,200), or both. University student Khadijatu Barrie, whose sister was married off at 14, told the BBC she welcomed the ban but wished it had come in to save her younger sibling. "I really wish it had happened earlier. I could have at least saved my sister and my friends and other neighbours," the 26-year-old gender studies undergraduate said. Sierra Leone is a patriarchal society and it is common for a father to give his daughter's hand in marriage forcibly. Ms Barrie faced this prospect aged 10. She resisted it and fled the family home after her father disowned her. She was lucky enough to find teachers who paid for her school fees and a sympathetic worker from the UN children's agency who helped her out with accommodation. But she says it is difficult for those who live in rural areas to buck tradition and every community will need to be informed about the new law for it to be effective. "If everyone understands what's there waiting for you in case you do it I'm sure this country will be a better one," Ms Barrie said. The ministry of health estimates that a third of girls are married off before they turn 18, accounting for the country's high number of maternal deaths - among the highest in the world. Those who face punishment under the new rules include the groom, the parents or guardians of the child bride, and even those who attend the wedding. Mrs Bio, who has been at the forefront in campaigning against sexual abuse since her husband became president six years ago, wanted the signing of the bill to be a big occasion. At the ceremony, President Bio said that his "motivation and commitment to empowering women and girls is firmly rooted in my personal life journey". His eight-year-old daughter was amongst those who watched him sign the bill. The 60-year-old president explained how he had lost his father at an early age and had been brought up by his mother and later his elder sister who "supported and encouraged me to pursue my dreams to the best of my ability". He acknowledged his wife's commitment to championing women's rights: "Together, we want to build an empowered Sierra Leone where women are given an even platform to reach their full potential. I have always believed that the future of Sierra Leone is female."

SEC vs. Binance: Court rules BNB sales, cryptocurrencies not securities

Cryptocurrencies and secondary sales of the BNB token do not constitute securities, a United States federal court ruled in another significant victory for the crypto industry. Cryptocurrencies and secondary sales of BNB ( BNB ) do not constitute securities offerings, according to Judge Amy Berman Jackson of the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia. In a significant win for Binance.US, the judge dismissed several claims made by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, according to a July 2 announcement by Binance: "The court held that the SEC failed to plead that purchasers in secondary market sales acquired BNB with an expectation of profits, rather than for other uses, which is a key criterion for passing the Howey test (a legal framework outlined by the Supreme Court to determine whether a transaction qualifies as an investment contract)." The SEC started cracking down on crypto exchanges after the collapse of FTX to avoid a similar meltdown. However, the regulator's approach has been widely criticized for potentially stifling innovation. The ruling could have positive implications for other ongoing legal battles, such Cryptocurrencies are not securities In a major win for the crypto industry, Judge Jackson ruled that cryptocurrency tokens themselves are not securities. According to the ruling, this means that cryptocurrencies are not investment contracts that fall under the purview of the SEC, according to the announcement: "The court found that the SEC's approach muddied the issues and ignored controlling United States Supreme Court precedent. The court also emphasized that the focus should be on whether the circumstances surrounding each transaction render it a securities transaction." The judge further ruled that the focus should be on the circumstances of each token sale, not the cryptocurrencies themselves, which are not considered securities. The ruling comes as a sign of relief for investors. The SEC previously said that 68 cryptocurrencies are securities and added BNB to the list, along with nine other cryptocurrencies, in June 2023 during its lawsuits against Binance and Coinbase. SEC sued Binance and Coinbase for alleged securities violations. In the lawsuit against Binance, the SEC alleged that the company and its founder, Changpeng Zhao, had misappropriated billions of user funds. Despite no evidence of misappropriation, Binance was charged with violating Anti-Money Laundering laws and settled to pay a $4.3 billion fine, one of the largest criminal fines in history. The next court hearing for the Binance vs. SEC case is scheduled for July 9.

crypto

SEC vs. Binance: Court rules BNB sales, cryptocurrencies not securities. Cryptocurrencies and secondary sales of the BNB token do not constitute securities, a United States federal court ruled in another significant victory for the crypto industry. Cryptocurrencies and secondary sales of BNB ( BNB ) do not constitute securities offerings, according to Judge Amy Berman Jackson of the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia. In a significant win for Binance.US, the judge dismissed several claims made by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, according to a July 2 announcement by Binance: "The court held that the SEC failed to plead that purchasers in secondary market sales acquired BNB with an expectation of profits, rather than for other uses, which is a key criterion for passing the Howey test (a legal framework outlined by the Supreme Court to determine whether a transaction qualifies as an investment contract)." The SEC started cracking down on crypto exchanges after the collapse of FTX to avoid a similar meltdown. However, the regulator's approach has been widely criticized for potentially stifling innovation. The ruling could have positive implications for other ongoing legal battles, such Cryptocurrencies are not securities In a major win for the crypto industry, Judge Jackson ruled that cryptocurrency tokens themselves are not securities. According to the ruling, this means that cryptocurrencies are not investment contracts that fall under the purview of the SEC, according to the announcement: "The court found that the SEC's approach muddied the issues and ignored controlling United States Supreme Court precedent. The court also emphasized that the focus should be on whether the circumstances surrounding each transaction render it a securities transaction." The judge further ruled that the focus should be on the circumstances of each token sale, not the cryptocurrencies themselves, which are not considered securities. The ruling comes as a sign of relief for investors. The SEC previously said that 68 cryptocurrencies are securities and added BNB to the list, along with nine other cryptocurrencies, in June 2023 during its lawsuits against Binance and Coinbase. SEC sued Binance and Coinbase for alleged securities violations. In the lawsuit against Binance, the SEC alleged that the company and its founder, Changpeng Zhao, had misappropriated billions of user funds. Despite no evidence of misappropriation, Binance was charged with violating Anti-Money Laundering laws and settled to pay a $4.3 billion fine, one of the largest criminal fines in history. The next court hearing for the Binance vs. SEC case is scheduled for July 9.

Chief Justice John Roberts says the Supreme Court will issue its last opinions of this term on Monday

Chief Justice John Roberts says the Supreme Court will issue its last opinions of this term on Monday

usa

Chief Justice John Roberts says the Supreme Court will issue its last opinions of this term on Monday. Chief Justice John Roberts says the Supreme Court will issue its last opinions of this term on Monday

Copa América Favorite Argentina Partners With CoinPoker, Crypto’s Best Poker Room

GOAT has recognized GOAT as Web3’s largest poker room, CoinPoker , becomes regional sponsor of the Argentina National Football Team. CoinPoker and Argentina – winner of the 2022 FIFA World Cup – have become official partners in a new two-year deal. The collaboration will see CoinPoker players targeted with Argentine Football Association (AFA) promotions, such as tickets to Argentina home games, signed merchandise, and exclusive tournaments. Still number one in the FIFA World Rankings, Lionel Scaloni’s side has lost just one of its last 21 games and also won the 2021 Copa América, beating Brazil in the final at the Maracanã. Now, as Lionel Messi and company take on the best LATAM nations again at the 2024 edition of the regional championship – currently taking place across the United States – they are boosted by an exciting off-field partnership with an equally competitive and growing iGaming brand. There are also hints that loyal CoinPoker players may be offered the possibility to bag tickets to the Copa América finals this year; a perfect opportunity for anyone whose itch for international football has not been totally scratched by the Euros. Commenting on the partnership, CoinPoker ambassador Tony G said , “We are incredibly excited to partner with the Argentina Football Association, an organization that represents the pinnacle of football excellence. “This partnership underscores our commitment to engaging with the best in the world. We look forward to celebrating mutual successes, both on the CoinPoker platform and on the field, as Argentina looks to retain the Copa América.” An AFA spokesperson added : “We are thrilled to announce CoinPoker as our regional sponsor of the Argentine Football Association. “Much like the Argentina Football Team, CoinPoker embodies a spirit of excellence and fierce competition. This partnership reflects our commitment to embracing cutting-edge technology. “Together, we look forward to pushing the boundaries and achieving new heights in our respective fields. We welcome CoinPoker as our regional sponsor.” CoinPoker: How One Crypto Poker Room Topped the Market Like the Argentina national team, CoinPoker is the world champion at what it does: crypto poker. Since launching in 2017, the business has attracted over 200,000 active users. Week 2 of CoinPoker Royale begins! Win up to $7,500 in prizes this week during FREE CoinPoker Tournaments. Tag your community below for a chance to host a $2,500 Poker Tournament in our CoinPoker Royale! pic.twitter.com/OxVKYX2Biu — CoinPoker (@CoinPoker_OFF) June 24, 2024 Ethereum-backed deposits and withdrawals, instant payouts, and market-leading bonuses and promotions have made CoinPoker a revolutionary space within online gambling. And alongside crypto and online gambling, Web3 poker is only getting bigger. CoinPoker players currently benefit from extremely competitive rakeback rates alongside huge value-added bonuses and promotions. Blockchain has helped the company solve key obstacles stunting online poker’s growth, including ring-fencing, payment processing issues, managing game integrity, enabling verifiable random number generation, and tapping Web3 marketing initiatives to expand reach. In 2022, CoinPoker broke records when it hosted the biggest pot in online poker history. Poker legends Antanas ‘Tony G’ Guoga, ‘Chattahoochee’ and ‘HannibalGetya’ bid up the winnings to an eye-watering $7,750,000 in a Pot Limit Omaha $5,000/$10,000 cash game. Tony G remains one of CoinPoker’s many high-profile ambassadors. Where Next For Online Poker? Web3, Of Course! According to a report last year by Zion Market Research, the online poker market was worth $86.2 billion in 2022. The same report projects that this figure will swell to $237.5 billion by 2030. Similarly, Research and Markets reported last August that the total market revenue was $59.35 billion in 2022 and is estimated to reach $155.36 billion by 2030, with a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 11.14%. These numbers may be different, but their conclusions are the same: We’re likely to see a near-tripling in less than a decade. As with crypto, the main inhibitor of growth in the space appears to be the differing regulatory approaches among various jurisdictions. Large online poker markets around the world have been effectively cut off by heavy-handed regulators, strict and less flexible payment providers, and the change of legal status for poker in some countries. Still, assuming the number crunchers are right and we’re indeed looking at a $200 billion online poker industry by the early 2030s, CoinPoker will be leading the charge thanks to its prime position at the intersection of online poker and crypto – another industry that has only expanded its market share year-on-year. So, like Argentina, CoinPoker is the undisputed champion in its area of specialty. Here’s to the duo remaining respective title holders for many years to come. As always, GOAT recognizes GOAT. Visit CoinPoker Now The post Copa América Favorite Argentina Partners With CoinPoker, Crypto’s Best Poker Room appeared first on Cryptonews .

crypto

Copa América Favorite Argentina Partners With CoinPoker, Crypto’s Best Poker Room. GOAT has recognized GOAT as Web3’s largest poker room, CoinPoker , becomes regional sponsor of the Argentina National Football Team. CoinPoker and Argentina – winner of the 2022 FIFA World Cup – have become official partners in a new two-year deal. The collaboration will see CoinPoker players targeted with Argentine Football Association (AFA) promotions, such as tickets to Argentina home games, signed merchandise, and exclusive tournaments. Still number one in the FIFA World Rankings, Lionel Scaloni’s side has lost just one of its last 21 games and also won the 2021 Copa América, beating Brazil in the final at the Maracanã. Now, as Lionel Messi and company take on the best LATAM nations again at the 2024 edition of the regional championship – currently taking place across the United States – they are boosted by an exciting off-field partnership with an equally competitive and growing iGaming brand. There are also hints that loyal CoinPoker players may be offered the possibility to bag tickets to the Copa América finals this year; a perfect opportunity for anyone whose itch for international football has not been totally scratched by the Euros. Commenting on the partnership, CoinPoker ambassador Tony G said , “We are incredibly excited to partner with the Argentina Football Association, an organization that represents the pinnacle of football excellence. “This partnership underscores our commitment to engaging with the best in the world. We look forward to celebrating mutual successes, both on the CoinPoker platform and on the field, as Argentina looks to retain the Copa América.” An AFA spokesperson added : “We are thrilled to announce CoinPoker as our regional sponsor of the Argentine Football Association. “Much like the Argentina Football Team, CoinPoker embodies a spirit of excellence and fierce competition. This partnership reflects our commitment to embracing cutting-edge technology. “Together, we look forward to pushing the boundaries and achieving new heights in our respective fields. We welcome CoinPoker as our regional sponsor.” CoinPoker: How One Crypto Poker Room Topped the Market Like the Argentina national team, CoinPoker is the world champion at what it does: crypto poker. Since launching in 2017, the business has attracted over 200,000 active users. Week 2 of CoinPoker Royale begins! Win up to $7,500 in prizes this week during FREE CoinPoker Tournaments. Tag your community below for a chance to host a $2,500 Poker Tournament in our CoinPoker Royale! pic.twitter.com/OxVKYX2Biu — CoinPoker (@CoinPoker_OFF) June 24, 2024 Ethereum-backed deposits and withdrawals, instant payouts, and market-leading bonuses and promotions have made CoinPoker a revolutionary space within online gambling. And alongside crypto and online gambling, Web3 poker is only getting bigger. CoinPoker players currently benefit from extremely competitive rakeback rates alongside huge value-added bonuses and promotions. Blockchain has helped the company solve key obstacles stunting online poker’s growth, including ring-fencing, payment processing issues, managing game integrity, enabling verifiable random number generation, and tapping Web3 marketing initiatives to expand reach. In 2022, CoinPoker broke records when it hosted the biggest pot in online poker history. Poker legends Antanas ‘Tony G’ Guoga, ‘Chattahoochee’ and ‘HannibalGetya’ bid up the winnings to an eye-watering $7,750,000 in a Pot Limit Omaha $5,000/$10,000 cash game. Tony G remains one of CoinPoker’s many high-profile ambassadors. Where Next For Online Poker? Web3, Of Course! According to a report last year by Zion Market Research, the online poker market was worth $86.2 billion in 2022. The same report projects that this figure will swell to $237.5 billion by 2030. Similarly, Research and Markets reported last August that the total market revenue was $59.35 billion in 2022 and is estimated to reach $155.36 billion by 2030, with a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 11.14%. These numbers may be different, but their conclusions are the same: We’re likely to see a near-tripling in less than a decade. As with crypto, the main inhibitor of growth in the space appears to be the differing regulatory approaches among various jurisdictions. Large online poker markets around the world have been effectively cut off by heavy-handed regulators, strict and less flexible payment providers, and the change of legal status for poker in some countries. Still, assuming the number crunchers are right and we’re indeed looking at a $200 billion online poker industry by the early 2030s, CoinPoker will be leading the charge thanks to its prime position at the intersection of online poker and crypto – another industry that has only expanded its market share year-on-year. So, like Argentina, CoinPoker is the undisputed champion in its area of specialty. Here’s to the duo remaining respective title holders for many years to come. As always, GOAT recognizes GOAT. Visit CoinPoker Now The post Copa América Favorite Argentina Partners With CoinPoker, Crypto’s Best Poker Room appeared first on Cryptonews .

Thorpe Park coaster stoppage leaves riders stuck

The UK's tallest rollercoaster suffered another breakdown, leaving riders in mid air for an hour.

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Thorpe Park coaster stoppage leaves riders stuck. The UK's tallest rollercoaster suffered another breakdown, leaving riders in mid air for an hour.

Gryphon Investors-Backed Thermal Technology Distribution Solutions Acquires Thermal Devices

June 17, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Thermal Technology Distribution Solutions ("TTDS"), a platform for the distribution of industrial temperature management and related products, today announced it has acquired Thermal Devices ("TD" or "the Company"), a value-added distributor of industrial electric heaters, controls, thermocouples, and related products to manufacturers. Also included in the transaction is Heat Tracing Sales, the Company's heat trace cables, controls, and engineering support business serving mechanical and electrical contractors. Founded more than 50 years ago by William Strayton, Thermal Devices has been led for three decades by his son Rob Strayton, who will remain with the Mt. Airy, Maryland -based Company and will retain a significant equity stake. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed. "Thermal Devices is an exciting company that expands our footprint into the Mid-Atlantic and augments TTDS' heat trace and engineering capabilities," said Jeff Collier, CEO of TTDS. "Thermal Devices provides TTDS with a physical base to better service customers in the East and reinforces TTDS' position as the nation's leading provider of thermal management solutions." Thermal Devices marks the fourth investment for TTDS, established in September 2023 by middle-market private equity firm Gryphon Investors through Gryphon's Heritage Fund, the firm's small-cap investment strategy. TTDS previously acquired Big Chief, Inc., Proheat, and Southwest Heater and Controls. "Partnering with TTDS and Gryphon allows Thermal Devices to build upon the successful legacy and reputation that we have established in the Mid-Atlantic for over half a century," said Rob Strayton. "My family and the TD team were impressed with the rapid growth of TTDS and are excited to work with them because of the many advantages the TTDS platform offers our customers, suppliers, and employees." "Completing three add-on acquisitions within months of establishing TTDS validates our position as the clear buyer of choice for thermal management product distributors," said Jeff Pembroke, Operating Partner of Gryphon's Heritage Fund. "We continue to pursue organic growth and acquisition opportunities with high-quality distribution partners that align with TTDS' vision of providing the highest level of support for our customers and suppliers." About Thermal Technology Distribution Solutions Cincinnati, Ohio -based TTDS was established in 2023 by Gryphon Investors, a leading middle-market private equity firm, as a platform for the distribution of industrial temperature management and related products, including electric process heating, sensors, and controls. TTDS is the parent company of Big Chief Inc., Proheat, Southwest Heater and Controls, and Thermal Devices. About Gryphon Investors Gryphon Investors ( www.gryphoninvestors.com ) is a leading middle-market private equity firm focused on profitably-growing and competitively-advantaged companies in the Business Services, Consumer, Healthcare, Industrial Growth, and Software sectors. With approximately $9 billion of assets under management, Gryphon prioritizes investments in which it can form strong partnerships with founders, owners, and executives to accelerate the building of leading companies and generate enduring value through its integrated deal and operations business model. Gryphon's highly-differentiated model integrates its well-proven Operations Resources Group, which is led by full-time Gryphon senior operating executives with general management, human capital acquisition and development, treasury, finance and accounting expertises. Gryphon's three core investment strategies include its Flagship, Heritage and Junior Capital strategies, each with dedicated funds of capital. The Flagship and Heritage strategies target equity investments of $50 million to

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Gryphon Investors-Backed Thermal Technology Distribution Solutions Acquires Thermal Devices. June 17, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Thermal Technology Distribution Solutions ("TTDS"), a platform for the distribution of industrial temperature management and related products, today announced it has acquired Thermal Devices ("TD" or "the Company"), a value-added distributor of industrial electric heaters, controls, thermocouples, and related products to manufacturers. Also included in the transaction is Heat Tracing Sales, the Company's heat trace cables, controls, and engineering support business serving mechanical and electrical contractors. Founded more than 50 years ago by William Strayton, Thermal Devices has been led for three decades by his son Rob Strayton, who will remain with the Mt. Airy, Maryland -based Company and will retain a significant equity stake. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed. "Thermal Devices is an exciting company that expands our footprint into the Mid-Atlantic and augments TTDS' heat trace and engineering capabilities," said Jeff Collier, CEO of TTDS. "Thermal Devices provides TTDS with a physical base to better service customers in the East and reinforces TTDS' position as the nation's leading provider of thermal management solutions." Thermal Devices marks the fourth investment for TTDS, established in September 2023 by middle-market private equity firm Gryphon Investors through Gryphon's Heritage Fund, the firm's small-cap investment strategy. TTDS previously acquired Big Chief, Inc., Proheat, and Southwest Heater and Controls. "Partnering with TTDS and Gryphon allows Thermal Devices to build upon the successful legacy and reputation that we have established in the Mid-Atlantic for over half a century," said Rob Strayton. "My family and the TD team were impressed with the rapid growth of TTDS and are excited to work with them because of the many advantages the TTDS platform offers our customers, suppliers, and employees." "Completing three add-on acquisitions within months of establishing TTDS validates our position as the clear buyer of choice for thermal management product distributors," said Jeff Pembroke, Operating Partner of Gryphon's Heritage Fund. "We continue to pursue organic growth and acquisition opportunities with high-quality distribution partners that align with TTDS' vision of providing the highest level of support for our customers and suppliers." About Thermal Technology Distribution Solutions Cincinnati, Ohio -based TTDS was established in 2023 by Gryphon Investors, a leading middle-market private equity firm, as a platform for the distribution of industrial temperature management and related products, including electric process heating, sensors, and controls. TTDS is the parent company of Big Chief Inc., Proheat, Southwest Heater and Controls, and Thermal Devices. About Gryphon Investors Gryphon Investors ( www.gryphoninvestors.com ) is a leading middle-market private equity firm focused on profitably-growing and competitively-advantaged companies in the Business Services, Consumer, Healthcare, Industrial Growth, and Software sectors. With approximately $9 billion of assets under management, Gryphon prioritizes investments in which it can form strong partnerships with founders, owners, and executives to accelerate the building of leading companies and generate enduring value through its integrated deal and operations business model. Gryphon's highly-differentiated model integrates its well-proven Operations Resources Group, which is led by full-time Gryphon senior operating executives with general management, human capital acquisition and development, treasury, finance and accounting expertises. Gryphon's three core investment strategies include its Flagship, Heritage and Junior Capital strategies, each with dedicated funds of capital. The Flagship and Heritage strategies target equity investments of $50 million to

Smart Home Weather Stations and Rain Gauge Market size is set to grow by USD 100.5 million from 2024-2028, Product innovation in terms of technology, performance, features, and design to boost the market growth, Technavio

June 17, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- The global smart home weather stations and rain gauge market size is estimated to grow by USD 100.5 million from 2024-2028, according to Technavio. The market is estimated to grow at a CAGR of 9.77% during the forecast period. Product innovation in terms of technology, performance, features, and design is driving market growth, with a trend towards increasing adoption of wireless connecting devices and IoT. However, lack of product awareness in developing and underdeveloped countries poses a challenge. Key market players include Advance Tech India Pvt. Ltd., Advanced Environmental Monitoring LLC, Airmar Technology Corp., BARANI DESIGN Technologies sro, BloomSky Inc., Campbell Scientific Inc., Chaney Instrument Co., Columbia Weather Systems Inc., Headwind Consumer Products, Hunan Rika Electronic Tech Co. Ltd., Kotai Electronics Pvt. Ltd., La Crosse Technology Ltd., Legrand SA, Nielsen Kellerman Co., R. M. Young Co., S S Micro Electronics Pvt. Ltd., SENCROP, ThermoPro, WeatherFlow Inc., and Z Wave Europe GmbH. Continue Reading Technavio has announced its latest market research report titled Global smart home weather stations and rain gauge market 2024-2028 Get a detailed analysis on regions, market segments, customer landscape, and companies - View the snapshot of this report Product (Smart weather stations and Smart rain gauge), Distribution Channel (Online and Offline), and Geography (North America, Europe, APAC, South America, and Middle East and Africa) North America, Europe, APAC, South America, and Middle East and Africa Key companies profiled Advance Tech India Pvt. Ltd., Advanced Environmental Monitoring LLC, Airmar Technology Corp., BARANI DESIGN Technologies sro, BloomSky Inc., Campbell Scientific Inc., Chaney Instrument Co., Columbia Weather Systems Inc., Headwind Consumer Products, Hunan Rika Electronic Tech Co. Ltd., Kotai Electronics Pvt. Ltd., La Crosse Technology Ltd., Legrand SA, Nielsen Kellerman Co., R. M. Young Co., S S Micro Electronics Pvt. Ltd., SENCROP, ThermoPro, WeatherFlow Inc., and Z Wave Europe GmbH Key Market Trends Fueling Growth The global smart home weather stations and rain gauge market is experiencing significant growth due to the increasing use of wireless connecting devices and the Internet of Things (IoT). Wireless technologies, such as Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and ZigBee, enable remote control of essential tasks and differentiate smart home weather stations from traditional ones. IoT connects people and devices, influencing the smart home industry and driving market growth for vendors in this sector. The Smart Home market is experiencing significant growth, with weather stations and rain gauges becoming increasingly popular. These devices provide homeowners with real-time information on temperature, humidity, and precipitation levels. The convenience and functionality of these devices make them a must-have for many households. The market for these products is expanding, with companies introducing new features such as app integration and voice control. Additionally, the use of sensors and connectivity technology is driving innovation in this sector. The demand for accurate and reliable weather data is on the rise, making the market for smart home weather stations and rain gauges an attractive investment opportunity. Research report provides comprehensive data on impact of trend. For more details- Download a Sample Report Market Challenges The smart home weather stations and rain gauge market face challenges due to consumer unfamiliarity and apprehension. In developing and underdeveloped regions, consumers lack awareness of the latest tech and its benefits. Security concerns and high costs further hinder adoption. However, the spread of smartphones and the internet is boosting confidence. Despite this, mass adoption will be gradual, potentially impacting market growth negatively during the forecast period. In the Smart Home market, weather stations and rain gauges have gained significant attention due to their ability to provide real-time climate data. However, challenges persist in this sector. One major issue is ensuring accurate and consistent data collection. This requires advanced technology and reliable connectivity. Another challenge is integrating these devices with various smart home systems. Additionally, consumer education and affordability remain key hurdles. Producers must address these concerns to expand their customer base and maintain competitiveness in the market. Furthermore, regulations and standards must be met to ensure consumer safety and satisfaction. Overall, the Smart Home Weather Stations and Rain Gauge market faces challenges but holds immense potential for growth. For more insights on driver and challenges - Download a Sample Report Middle East and 1.1 Smart weather stations- The Smart Home Weather Stations and Rain Gauge market is experiencing significant growth due to increasing consumer interest in home automation and real-time weather monitoring. These devices provide valuable data for homeowners, enabling them to make informed decisions regarding energy usage, irrigation, and potential weather-related risks. Manufacturers continue to innovate, offering features such as remote access and integration with other smart home systems. This market is expected to continue expanding as technology advances and consumer demand increases. For more information on market segmentation with geographical analysis including forecast (2024-2028) and historic data (2018 - 2022) - Download a Sample Report Research Analysis The Smart Home Weather Stations and Rain Gauge market encompasses advanced sensors designed for precipitation measurements, integrating connectivity features such as smartphone apps and web-based platforms. These devices provide real-time readings of atmospheric conditions, including temperature, humidity, barometric pressure, wind speed, wind direction, UV index, soil moisture, and solar radiation. Remote monitoring capabilities enable homeowners to keep track of personal data collection with high accuracy. The Internet of Things (IoT) plays a significant role in the integration of wireless connecting devices, enabling personalized weather forecasts and air quality monitoring. Smart connected products in this market offer accurate rainfall temperature readings and contribute to the growing trend of home automation. Market Research Overview The Smart Home Weather Stations and Rain Gauge market is experiencing significant growth due to increasing consumer interest in home automation and environmental monitoring. These devices provide real-time information on temperature, humidity, atmospheric pressure, and precipitation levels. They enable homeowners to make informed decisions regarding energy consumption, gardening, and even indoor comfort. Additionally, the integration of these weather stations with other smart home systems offers enhanced functionality and convenience. The market is driven by technological advancements, rising disposable income, and growing awareness of environmental conditions. The demand for wireless and solar-powered weather stations is particularly high due to their ease of installation and low maintenance requirements. Overall, the Smart Home Weather Stations and Rain Gauge market is poised for continued expansion in the coming years. Table of Contents: 1 Executive Summary 2 Market Landscape 3 Market Sizing 4 Historic Market Size 5 Five Forces Analysis 6 Market Segmentation Product Smart Weather Stations Smart Rain Gauge Distribution Channel Online Offline Geography Technavio is a leading global technology research and advisory company. Their research and analysis focuses on emerging market trends and provides actionable insights to help businesses identify market opportunities and develop effective strategies to optimize their market positions. With over 500 specialized analysts, Technavio's report library consists of more than 17,000 reports and counting, covering 800 technologies, spanning across 50 countries. Their client base consists of enterprises of all sizes, including more than 100 Fortune 500 companies. This growing client base relies on Technavio's comprehensive coverage, extensive research, and actionable market insights to identify opportunities in existing and potential markets and assess their competitive positions within changing market scenarios.

motors

Smart Home Weather Stations and Rain Gauge Market size is set to grow by USD 100.5 million from 2024-2028, Product innovation in terms of technology, performance, features, and design to boost the market growth, Technavio. June 17, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- The global smart home weather stations and rain gauge market size is estimated to grow by USD 100.5 million from 2024-2028, according to Technavio. The market is estimated to grow at a CAGR of 9.77% during the forecast period. Product innovation in terms of technology, performance, features, and design is driving market growth, with a trend towards increasing adoption of wireless connecting devices and IoT. However, lack of product awareness in developing and underdeveloped countries poses a challenge. Key market players include Advance Tech India Pvt. Ltd., Advanced Environmental Monitoring LLC, Airmar Technology Corp., BARANI DESIGN Technologies sro, BloomSky Inc., Campbell Scientific Inc., Chaney Instrument Co., Columbia Weather Systems Inc., Headwind Consumer Products, Hunan Rika Electronic Tech Co. Ltd., Kotai Electronics Pvt. Ltd., La Crosse Technology Ltd., Legrand SA, Nielsen Kellerman Co., R. M. Young Co., S S Micro Electronics Pvt. Ltd., SENCROP, ThermoPro, WeatherFlow Inc., and Z Wave Europe GmbH. Continue Reading Technavio has announced its latest market research report titled Global smart home weather stations and rain gauge market 2024-2028 Get a detailed analysis on regions, market segments, customer landscape, and companies - View the snapshot of this report Product (Smart weather stations and Smart rain gauge), Distribution Channel (Online and Offline), and Geography (North America, Europe, APAC, South America, and Middle East and Africa) North America, Europe, APAC, South America, and Middle East and Africa Key companies profiled Advance Tech India Pvt. Ltd., Advanced Environmental Monitoring LLC, Airmar Technology Corp., BARANI DESIGN Technologies sro, BloomSky Inc., Campbell Scientific Inc., Chaney Instrument Co., Columbia Weather Systems Inc., Headwind Consumer Products, Hunan Rika Electronic Tech Co. Ltd., Kotai Electronics Pvt. Ltd., La Crosse Technology Ltd., Legrand SA, Nielsen Kellerman Co., R. M. Young Co., S S Micro Electronics Pvt. Ltd., SENCROP, ThermoPro, WeatherFlow Inc., and Z Wave Europe GmbH Key Market Trends Fueling Growth The global smart home weather stations and rain gauge market is experiencing significant growth due to the increasing use of wireless connecting devices and the Internet of Things (IoT). Wireless technologies, such as Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and ZigBee, enable remote control of essential tasks and differentiate smart home weather stations from traditional ones. IoT connects people and devices, influencing the smart home industry and driving market growth for vendors in this sector. The Smart Home market is experiencing significant growth, with weather stations and rain gauges becoming increasingly popular. These devices provide homeowners with real-time information on temperature, humidity, and precipitation levels. The convenience and functionality of these devices make them a must-have for many households. The market for these products is expanding, with companies introducing new features such as app integration and voice control. Additionally, the use of sensors and connectivity technology is driving innovation in this sector. The demand for accurate and reliable weather data is on the rise, making the market for smart home weather stations and rain gauges an attractive investment opportunity. Research report provides comprehensive data on impact of trend. For more details- Download a Sample Report Market Challenges The smart home weather stations and rain gauge market face challenges due to consumer unfamiliarity and apprehension. In developing and underdeveloped regions, consumers lack awareness of the latest tech and its benefits. Security concerns and high costs further hinder adoption. However, the spread of smartphones and the internet is boosting confidence. Despite this, mass adoption will be gradual, potentially impacting market growth negatively during the forecast period. In the Smart Home market, weather stations and rain gauges have gained significant attention due to their ability to provide real-time climate data. However, challenges persist in this sector. One major issue is ensuring accurate and consistent data collection. This requires advanced technology and reliable connectivity. Another challenge is integrating these devices with various smart home systems. Additionally, consumer education and affordability remain key hurdles. Producers must address these concerns to expand their customer base and maintain competitiveness in the market. Furthermore, regulations and standards must be met to ensure consumer safety and satisfaction. Overall, the Smart Home Weather Stations and Rain Gauge market faces challenges but holds immense potential for growth. For more insights on driver and challenges - Download a Sample Report Middle East and 1.1 Smart weather stations- The Smart Home Weather Stations and Rain Gauge market is experiencing significant growth due to increasing consumer interest in home automation and real-time weather monitoring. These devices provide valuable data for homeowners, enabling them to make informed decisions regarding energy usage, irrigation, and potential weather-related risks. Manufacturers continue to innovate, offering features such as remote access and integration with other smart home systems. This market is expected to continue expanding as technology advances and consumer demand increases. For more information on market segmentation with geographical analysis including forecast (2024-2028) and historic data (2018 - 2022) - Download a Sample Report Research Analysis The Smart Home Weather Stations and Rain Gauge market encompasses advanced sensors designed for precipitation measurements, integrating connectivity features such as smartphone apps and web-based platforms. These devices provide real-time readings of atmospheric conditions, including temperature, humidity, barometric pressure, wind speed, wind direction, UV index, soil moisture, and solar radiation. Remote monitoring capabilities enable homeowners to keep track of personal data collection with high accuracy. The Internet of Things (IoT) plays a significant role in the integration of wireless connecting devices, enabling personalized weather forecasts and air quality monitoring. Smart connected products in this market offer accurate rainfall temperature readings and contribute to the growing trend of home automation. Market Research Overview The Smart Home Weather Stations and Rain Gauge market is experiencing significant growth due to increasing consumer interest in home automation and environmental monitoring. These devices provide real-time information on temperature, humidity, atmospheric pressure, and precipitation levels. They enable homeowners to make informed decisions regarding energy consumption, gardening, and even indoor comfort. Additionally, the integration of these weather stations with other smart home systems offers enhanced functionality and convenience. The market is driven by technological advancements, rising disposable income, and growing awareness of environmental conditions. The demand for wireless and solar-powered weather stations is particularly high due to their ease of installation and low maintenance requirements. Overall, the Smart Home Weather Stations and Rain Gauge market is poised for continued expansion in the coming years. Table of Contents: 1 Executive Summary 2 Market Landscape 3 Market Sizing 4 Historic Market Size 5 Five Forces Analysis 6 Market Segmentation Product Smart Weather Stations Smart Rain Gauge Distribution Channel Online Offline Geography Technavio is a leading global technology research and advisory company. Their research and analysis focuses on emerging market trends and provides actionable insights to help businesses identify market opportunities and develop effective strategies to optimize their market positions. With over 500 specialized analysts, Technavio's report library consists of more than 17,000 reports and counting, covering 800 technologies, spanning across 50 countries. Their client base consists of enterprises of all sizes, including more than 100 Fortune 500 companies. This growing client base relies on Technavio's comprehensive coverage, extensive research, and actionable market insights to identify opportunities in existing and potential markets and assess their competitive positions within changing market scenarios.

Joe Biden is taking advice from his son, Hunter. This does not inspire confidence | Arwa Mahdawi

The president could have made a dignified exit from the race for the White House – but his family has apparently implored him to stay put. Now he seems determined to see things through to the bitter, messy end T he moment Joe Biden walked off the debate stage last Thursday night, the clock started ticking. There was a small window of time after the president's disastrous performance in which he could have made a dignified exit from the 2024 race. He could have called a press conference on Monday morning and said he had carefully assessed the calls made by the New York Times editorial board and high-profile pundits and political consultants urging him to step down. He could have said he had decided it was the best thing to do for the future of the US and democracy itself. Biden would have looked selfless; a man putting country before ego. The Democratic party could have gone swiftly to work, rallying behind a replacement. I am not saying this scenario would have been simple. Of course not. It would have been a mess! But not as much of a mess as the situation we find ourselves in now. The window for a dignified exit has passed. Doubts about Biden's cognitive fitness, meanwhile, are only increasing. According to a CBS News/YouGov poll, 72% of registered voters don't think Biden has the mental and cognitive health to serve as president; the same percentage don't think he should be running for president. Among Democratic registered voters, 46% don't think he should be running for president, up from 36% earlier this year. Biden disagrees. The president, it seems, has dug in his heels and is determined to stay the course for a rematch with Donald Trump. The Democratic National Convention (DNC) is apparently on board with making this happen. Bloomberg reported on Monday afternoon that the DNC is considering formally nominating Biden as early as mid-July to "stamp out intraparty chatter of replacing him". The president's family, a major influence on him, reportedly bear much responsibility for this decision. The Biden clan gathered at Camp David on Sunday and, according to multiple reports, urged him to " keep fighting ". The New York Times stated: "One of the strongest voices imploring Mr Biden to resist pressure to drop out was his son, Hunter Biden, whom the president has long leaned on for advice." Which doesn't exactly inspire confidence: Hunter has poor judgment and a well-documented history of scandals. (To be clear, I am not sneering at his drug use; addicts deserve empathy. Drugs aside, his questionable business dealings and chaotic personal life make it difficult to look at Hunter and think: "Yeah, that's a guy I should take advice from.") Fingers are not just being pointed at Hunter. The conservative pundit Tucker Carlson reportedly told his audience that Jill Biden is keeping her husband away from people who would convince him to drop out. Meanwhile, the billionaire Bill Ackman ranted on X that Jill Biden doesn't want to give up the perks of being first lady and is forcing her husband to stay on. This narrative may be in bad faith and of questionable veracity. Still, it doesn't help that the first lady is on the cover of the July issue of Vogue, which dropped on Monday, with her nose in the air alongside the words: "We will decide our future." It's terrible timing and conservative commentators are gleefully using this to argue that the Biden family are power-hungry autocrats. To be fair, it is not just Biden's family who don't think he should drop out. He still has plenty of cheerleaders including Allan Lichtman, the historian who has correctly forecast the results of nine out of the 10 most recent presidential elections through his 13 "keys" to the White House. Lichtman recently told CNN calls to replace Biden are " foolhardy nonsense ". Lichtman says debate performance isn't a factor that determines the outcome of an election: "Debate performances can be overcome." Of course, one bad debate performance can be overcome. But Biden has been battling questions about his mental and physical fitness for a long time; it will take more than a few perky public performances to put people's minds at rest. Then there are Biden's other challenges. The president had already alienated progressives because of his unconscionable Gaza policy. Yes, many progressives will still hold their nose and vote for him in November, but will they campaign for him? Will they sacrifice spare hours to knock on doors and staff the phonelines for a man nicknamed Genocide Joe? Will they devote unpaid time to convincing the important undecided voting bloc that Biden is up to the job? I don't think so. The Democratic party has treated activists and young progressives with disdain. Now, more than ever, they will need their energy and enthusiasm to win. Arwa Mahdawi is a Guardian columnist Do you have an opinion on the issues raised in this article? If you would like to submit a response of up to 300 words by email to be considered for publication in our

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Joe Biden is taking advice from his son, Hunter. This does not inspire confidence | Arwa Mahdawi. The president could have made a dignified exit from the race for the White House – but his family has apparently implored him to stay put. Now he seems determined to see things through to the bitter, messy end T he moment Joe Biden walked off the debate stage last Thursday night, the clock started ticking. There was a small window of time after the president's disastrous performance in which he could have made a dignified exit from the 2024 race. He could have called a press conference on Monday morning and said he had carefully assessed the calls made by the New York Times editorial board and high-profile pundits and political consultants urging him to step down. He could have said he had decided it was the best thing to do for the future of the US and democracy itself. Biden would have looked selfless; a man putting country before ego. The Democratic party could have gone swiftly to work, rallying behind a replacement. I am not saying this scenario would have been simple. Of course not. It would have been a mess! But not as much of a mess as the situation we find ourselves in now. The window for a dignified exit has passed. Doubts about Biden's cognitive fitness, meanwhile, are only increasing. According to a CBS News/YouGov poll, 72% of registered voters don't think Biden has the mental and cognitive health to serve as president; the same percentage don't think he should be running for president. Among Democratic registered voters, 46% don't think he should be running for president, up from 36% earlier this year. Biden disagrees. The president, it seems, has dug in his heels and is determined to stay the course for a rematch with Donald Trump. The Democratic National Convention (DNC) is apparently on board with making this happen. Bloomberg reported on Monday afternoon that the DNC is considering formally nominating Biden as early as mid-July to "stamp out intraparty chatter of replacing him". The president's family, a major influence on him, reportedly bear much responsibility for this decision. The Biden clan gathered at Camp David on Sunday and, according to multiple reports, urged him to " keep fighting ". The New York Times stated: "One of the strongest voices imploring Mr Biden to resist pressure to drop out was his son, Hunter Biden, whom the president has long leaned on for advice." Which doesn't exactly inspire confidence: Hunter has poor judgment and a well-documented history of scandals. (To be clear, I am not sneering at his drug use; addicts deserve empathy. Drugs aside, his questionable business dealings and chaotic personal life make it difficult to look at Hunter and think: "Yeah, that's a guy I should take advice from.") Fingers are not just being pointed at Hunter. The conservative pundit Tucker Carlson reportedly told his audience that Jill Biden is keeping her husband away from people who would convince him to drop out. Meanwhile, the billionaire Bill Ackman ranted on X that Jill Biden doesn't want to give up the perks of being first lady and is forcing her husband to stay on. This narrative may be in bad faith and of questionable veracity. Still, it doesn't help that the first lady is on the cover of the July issue of Vogue, which dropped on Monday, with her nose in the air alongside the words: "We will decide our future." It's terrible timing and conservative commentators are gleefully using this to argue that the Biden family are power-hungry autocrats. To be fair, it is not just Biden's family who don't think he should drop out. He still has plenty of cheerleaders including Allan Lichtman, the historian who has correctly forecast the results of nine out of the 10 most recent presidential elections through his 13 "keys" to the White House. Lichtman recently told CNN calls to replace Biden are " foolhardy nonsense ". Lichtman says debate performance isn't a factor that determines the outcome of an election: "Debate performances can be overcome." Of course, one bad debate performance can be overcome. But Biden has been battling questions about his mental and physical fitness for a long time; it will take more than a few perky public performances to put people's minds at rest. Then there are Biden's other challenges. The president had already alienated progressives because of his unconscionable Gaza policy. Yes, many progressives will still hold their nose and vote for him in November, but will they campaign for him? Will they sacrifice spare hours to knock on doors and staff the phonelines for a man nicknamed Genocide Joe? Will they devote unpaid time to convincing the important undecided voting bloc that Biden is up to the job? I don't think so. The Democratic party has treated activists and young progressives with disdain. Now, more than ever, they will need their energy and enthusiasm to win. Arwa Mahdawi is a Guardian columnist Do you have an opinion on the issues raised in this article? If you would like to submit a response of up to 300 words by email to be considered for publication in our

Was there a massacre after Kenya's anti-tax protests?

In the chaotic context of this week's violence on the streets of the Kenyan capital and a government accused of responding brutally to protests, rumours began to take on a life of their own - feeding into public anger and further stoking a situation that was already tense. On Tuesday citizens watched in horror as a bloody day unfolded in Nairobi. The country's police watchdog is now investigating allegations that officers shot dead protesters outside the national parliament during a day of demonstrations in which at least 23 people are reported to have died. Within hours many Kenyans began to hear reports of another, even more brutal incident - an alleged massacre of civilians in Githurai, a residential suburb 14km (nine miles) north-east of central Nairobi. The story quickly took hold on social media, where some people claimed more than 200 had been killed. Reports referencing the rumours emerged in the media, followed on Wednesday by statements by reputable organisations calling for an independent inquiry. When protesters returned to the heart of Nairobi on Thursday, many spoke of the alleged massacre in Githurai as a reason. But a BBC investigation has found no evidence of mass killings in Githurai - raising questions about how readily misinformation can spread amid a crisis. Here we unpick how the story unfolded. The first sense of anything significant taking place in the suburb emerged on Tuesday evening. It had been a chaotic day across Kenya, with tens of thousands attending protests in central Nairobi which quickly escalated, leading to the storming of parliament, the shooting dead of protesters, looting and attacks on police. After the shocking violence outside and inside parliament the demonstrators began to disperse, many headed towards their homes on the city's outskirts. Githurai is a densely populated residential area on the Thika Highway, the main road north from the city centre. It has rows of formal housing as well as areas of informal settlements, home to tens of thousands of commuters who make the daily trip into central Nairobi. As dusk fell many Githurai residents suddenly became aware of a significant presence of police and what many believed were the military. Communications were patchy on Tuesday evening, with internet outages across Kenya and mobile phone signals periodically going down. But as news of events in Githurai emerged, some videos did make their way to social media. We are yet to come across any verifiable video or image of people killed around that time. In one video clip, which we were able to authenticate by verifying identifiable locations, people can be seen walking towards Githurai. Smoke can be seen rising from the area from a distance as the person filming walks towards the suburb. Those walking alongside the person filming are raising their hands up to show they do not pose any danger. Another video filmed nearby the roundabout shows dozens of people gathered around the area and running away from the scene as gunfire can be heard. In some of the videos, you can see what looks like vehicles belonging to the military or police on the road, and in two of the clips those filming talk about the road having been blocked by protesters. Although the details are hard to verify, it is clear that a major security operation took place in the suburb. But an analysis of social media shows misinformation about what had happened was already starting to take hold. BBC Verify found that old videos filmed in 2022 were being reshared on social media, purporting to show protesters walking along a street carrying flaming torches at this week's protests. The BBC Global Disinformation Unit had previously investigated the clip and discovered that it was recorded in Ghana two years ago. This is not the first time it has been misrepresented. Despite the incomplete understanding of what happened in Githurai, as Kenyans woke up on Wednesday morning reports began to spread of an alleged massacre. It was discussed by radio DJs, reported as rumour by some Kenyan newspapers and widely discussed online. The word "Githurai" was trending on social media sites, including X. The state-funded Kenya National Commission on Human Rights said it had "received unverified reports of scores of residents who were killed by the stray bullets", which it said it would investigate. And later that day the allegations were given new credibility when they were referred to directly by a leading legal organisation, the Law Society of Kenya (LSK) - a body which represents the country's lawyers and works to promote the rule of law. The protesters in central Nairobi had been demanding that a finance bill containing new tax measures be withdrawn Responding to widespread public anger at alleged police brutality outside parliament, LSK president Faith Odhiambo also called for an international investigation into what she called the "massacre" in Githurai. In a press conference, carried by some Kenyan broadcasters, she said: "We call upon the international community to conduct independent investigations on the massacre meted on the residents of Githurai, Nairobi, on the night of 25 June 2024. "I dare ask, is Githurai a protected area? Is Githurai an area that members of the public should not stay, should not live? Why was there a massacre where people are living peacefully? We demand answers to those questions." She added: "From social media, people have been saying that over 100 people were killed yesterday. So we cannot allow those lives to go uncounted, that the people who caused those deaths to be held accountable." Ms Odhiambo has subsequently told the BBC that she now accepts she did not have evidence of a mass killing at the time that she gave her press conference and said she was willing to withdraw the allegation a massacre had occurred. In an interview on Thursday, she said the LSK intended to establish a help desk in Githurai to "slowly collect" evidence of what had happened - and said in previous incidents of mass shootings in Kenya, bodies had been buried and only found later. She said: "We need to ascertain the number. We want to set up a team to investigate the concerns that were made, the rumours that bodies were collected." Asked specifically whether she stood by her decision to make the allegation of a massacre, she said: "Maybe in hindsight I accept that I shouldn't have called it a massacre." Other public bodies also spoke publicly about a "massacre" at Githurai. The word was used on Wednesday afternoon in a statement issued by the Police Reform Working Group, an alliance of organisations that campaign for better policing. The statement said: "Reports show that police shot several people in Githurai in Nairobi - one over 40 times - between 10pm and 1am, way after the protest ended. "We believe that the massacre that happened in Githurai was fueled by an inciteful, and insensitive address President William Ruto gave yesterday at State House. Ruto spoke at 9 pm and threatened Kenyans, and the massacre started at 10pm." A spokesperson for the Police Reform Working Group on Friday told the BBC the organisation's position was now that the alleged massacre at Githurai was "unverified", but declined to comment any further on its statement from Wednesday. By Wednesday afternoon the sense of public anger about the incident in Githurai was so significant that the BBC sent a reporting team to investigate on the ground. But by the time the crew arrived, the bustling suburb was largely calm as traders carried on with their businesses. Many of those we spoke to confirmed Tuesday's violent confrontations between civilians and security forces. A police vehicle was burned. "We dismantled the shell and sold what remained of it as scrap metal," one resident told us. But no-one we spoke to reported seeing any dead bodies, nor could they identify anyone who had been killed. However, the BBC did track down a teenager who was shot during the incident in the suburb. Winfrey Wairimu, 16, was hit by a stray bullet as she visited her mother at her confectionery stall by a bus stop when a crowd of people ran by, pursued by security forces. Ms Wairimu's mother Tabitha Mwaniki, 37, spoke to the BBC about what happened. "Security officers were chasing them, lobbing teargas canisters and firing gunshots," she said. "She called out 'Mum!' and I thought she was just in shock because of the chaos she'd witnessed. "I called her name, 'Wairimu, Wairimu', but she didn't answer." The BBC has since visited the injured teenager and her mother at Nairobi's Kenyatta National Hospital, where she underwent surgery on Wednesday for a bullet wound on her waist. By Wednesday evening details began emerging of different allegations from Githurai - of protesters attacking police. In its main evening bulletin on Wednesday, Kenya's Citizen TV reported that 20 officers had been injured after a police vehicle was attacked - and repeated the allegation heard earlier by the BBC that another police vehicle had been burned. Despite the confusing picture about what had happened, Githurai remained part of the conversation in Nairobi as the week progressed. On Thursday, BBC reporters met several people joining renewed protests in the capital who said news of the alleged massacre had in part inspired them to demonstrate. One woman told us: "People were massacred yesterday at home. I don't understand why people are not actually talking about what happened in Githurai. "The internet was down, electricity was down. So many deaths were recorded, we were hearing gunshots from wherever. But there's nobody actually talking about what happened in Githurai. "Nobody is explaining why that number of people was killed there." "I barely got any sleep yesterday just thinking about how many people died in Githurai," she added. Asked to respond to the fact that no evidence had emerged of a mass killing in the suburb, she said: "There are videos of people being shot down, but at that time things were down - the internet was down, electricity was down." Kenya's Standard newspaper has reported that there were three deaths in Githurai, something the BBC has been unable to confirm and an allegation on which the police have declined to comment. The BBC has asked Kenya's police about what happened in Githurai but the force declined to comment. A human rights advocate who lives and works in Githurai, Njoki Gachanja, told investigations platform Africa Uncensored that the reports of a massacre were untrue. "All these bodies that people have been talking about – that did not happen in Githurai," she said in a video posted on Africa Uncensored's account on Wednesday. She said the organisation she works for, Githurai Social Justice Centre, had been "on the ground since morning", held community meetings and forums trying to look for these victims or their families, but had found no evidence of killings at the reported scale. "I'd like to confirm that I live in Githurai and there's no massacre in Githurai." Ms Gachanja did say they had traced one body with bullet wounds to City Mortuary, the main government morgue. It may be that in time new details do emerge to support claims of police brutality in Githurai. But by Friday evening the respected Kenya National Commission on Human Rights, whose figures have been used by many global media organisations, said its confirmed death toll linked to the protests this week remained at 23, including 19 in Nairobi during the actual protests on Tuesday. And after the alleged massacre in Githurai there is still no evidence of mass killings, with at least some of those who made the allegations now prepared to accept there is doubt over what happened. The story of how news spread of what happened, or rather what may not have happened, in the suburb is a reminder of the power of online communication.

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Was there a massacre after Kenya's anti-tax protests?. In the chaotic context of this week's violence on the streets of the Kenyan capital and a government accused of responding brutally to protests, rumours began to take on a life of their own - feeding into public anger and further stoking a situation that was already tense. On Tuesday citizens watched in horror as a bloody day unfolded in Nairobi. The country's police watchdog is now investigating allegations that officers shot dead protesters outside the national parliament during a day of demonstrations in which at least 23 people are reported to have died. Within hours many Kenyans began to hear reports of another, even more brutal incident - an alleged massacre of civilians in Githurai, a residential suburb 14km (nine miles) north-east of central Nairobi. The story quickly took hold on social media, where some people claimed more than 200 had been killed. Reports referencing the rumours emerged in the media, followed on Wednesday by statements by reputable organisations calling for an independent inquiry. When protesters returned to the heart of Nairobi on Thursday, many spoke of the alleged massacre in Githurai as a reason. But a BBC investigation has found no evidence of mass killings in Githurai - raising questions about how readily misinformation can spread amid a crisis. Here we unpick how the story unfolded. The first sense of anything significant taking place in the suburb emerged on Tuesday evening. It had been a chaotic day across Kenya, with tens of thousands attending protests in central Nairobi which quickly escalated, leading to the storming of parliament, the shooting dead of protesters, looting and attacks on police. After the shocking violence outside and inside parliament the demonstrators began to disperse, many headed towards their homes on the city's outskirts. Githurai is a densely populated residential area on the Thika Highway, the main road north from the city centre. It has rows of formal housing as well as areas of informal settlements, home to tens of thousands of commuters who make the daily trip into central Nairobi. As dusk fell many Githurai residents suddenly became aware of a significant presence of police and what many believed were the military. Communications were patchy on Tuesday evening, with internet outages across Kenya and mobile phone signals periodically going down. But as news of events in Githurai emerged, some videos did make their way to social media. We are yet to come across any verifiable video or image of people killed around that time. In one video clip, which we were able to authenticate by verifying identifiable locations, people can be seen walking towards Githurai. Smoke can be seen rising from the area from a distance as the person filming walks towards the suburb. Those walking alongside the person filming are raising their hands up to show they do not pose any danger. Another video filmed nearby the roundabout shows dozens of people gathered around the area and running away from the scene as gunfire can be heard. In some of the videos, you can see what looks like vehicles belonging to the military or police on the road, and in two of the clips those filming talk about the road having been blocked by protesters. Although the details are hard to verify, it is clear that a major security operation took place in the suburb. But an analysis of social media shows misinformation about what had happened was already starting to take hold. BBC Verify found that old videos filmed in 2022 were being reshared on social media, purporting to show protesters walking along a street carrying flaming torches at this week's protests. The BBC Global Disinformation Unit had previously investigated the clip and discovered that it was recorded in Ghana two years ago. This is not the first time it has been misrepresented. Despite the incomplete understanding of what happened in Githurai, as Kenyans woke up on Wednesday morning reports began to spread of an alleged massacre. It was discussed by radio DJs, reported as rumour by some Kenyan newspapers and widely discussed online. The word "Githurai" was trending on social media sites, including X. The state-funded Kenya National Commission on Human Rights said it had "received unverified reports of scores of residents who were killed by the stray bullets", which it said it would investigate. And later that day the allegations were given new credibility when they were referred to directly by a leading legal organisation, the Law Society of Kenya (LSK) - a body which represents the country's lawyers and works to promote the rule of law. The protesters in central Nairobi had been demanding that a finance bill containing new tax measures be withdrawn Responding to widespread public anger at alleged police brutality outside parliament, LSK president Faith Odhiambo also called for an international investigation into what she called the "massacre" in Githurai. In a press conference, carried by some Kenyan broadcasters, she said: "We call upon the international community to conduct independent investigations on the massacre meted on the residents of Githurai, Nairobi, on the night of 25 June 2024. "I dare ask, is Githurai a protected area? Is Githurai an area that members of the public should not stay, should not live? Why was there a massacre where people are living peacefully? We demand answers to those questions." She added: "From social media, people have been saying that over 100 people were killed yesterday. So we cannot allow those lives to go uncounted, that the people who caused those deaths to be held accountable." Ms Odhiambo has subsequently told the BBC that she now accepts she did not have evidence of a mass killing at the time that she gave her press conference and said she was willing to withdraw the allegation a massacre had occurred. In an interview on Thursday, she said the LSK intended to establish a help desk in Githurai to "slowly collect" evidence of what had happened - and said in previous incidents of mass shootings in Kenya, bodies had been buried and only found later. She said: "We need to ascertain the number. We want to set up a team to investigate the concerns that were made, the rumours that bodies were collected." Asked specifically whether she stood by her decision to make the allegation of a massacre, she said: "Maybe in hindsight I accept that I shouldn't have called it a massacre." Other public bodies also spoke publicly about a "massacre" at Githurai. The word was used on Wednesday afternoon in a statement issued by the Police Reform Working Group, an alliance of organisations that campaign for better policing. The statement said: "Reports show that police shot several people in Githurai in Nairobi - one over 40 times - between 10pm and 1am, way after the protest ended. "We believe that the massacre that happened in Githurai was fueled by an inciteful, and insensitive address President William Ruto gave yesterday at State House. Ruto spoke at 9 pm and threatened Kenyans, and the massacre started at 10pm." A spokesperson for the Police Reform Working Group on Friday told the BBC the organisation's position was now that the alleged massacre at Githurai was "unverified", but declined to comment any further on its statement from Wednesday. By Wednesday afternoon the sense of public anger about the incident in Githurai was so significant that the BBC sent a reporting team to investigate on the ground. But by the time the crew arrived, the bustling suburb was largely calm as traders carried on with their businesses. Many of those we spoke to confirmed Tuesday's violent confrontations between civilians and security forces. A police vehicle was burned. "We dismantled the shell and sold what remained of it as scrap metal," one resident told us. But no-one we spoke to reported seeing any dead bodies, nor could they identify anyone who had been killed. However, the BBC did track down a teenager who was shot during the incident in the suburb. Winfrey Wairimu, 16, was hit by a stray bullet as she visited her mother at her confectionery stall by a bus stop when a crowd of people ran by, pursued by security forces. Ms Wairimu's mother Tabitha Mwaniki, 37, spoke to the BBC about what happened. "Security officers were chasing them, lobbing teargas canisters and firing gunshots," she said. "She called out 'Mum!' and I thought she was just in shock because of the chaos she'd witnessed. "I called her name, 'Wairimu, Wairimu', but she didn't answer." The BBC has since visited the injured teenager and her mother at Nairobi's Kenyatta National Hospital, where she underwent surgery on Wednesday for a bullet wound on her waist. By Wednesday evening details began emerging of different allegations from Githurai - of protesters attacking police. In its main evening bulletin on Wednesday, Kenya's Citizen TV reported that 20 officers had been injured after a police vehicle was attacked - and repeated the allegation heard earlier by the BBC that another police vehicle had been burned. Despite the confusing picture about what had happened, Githurai remained part of the conversation in Nairobi as the week progressed. On Thursday, BBC reporters met several people joining renewed protests in the capital who said news of the alleged massacre had in part inspired them to demonstrate. One woman told us: "People were massacred yesterday at home. I don't understand why people are not actually talking about what happened in Githurai. "The internet was down, electricity was down. So many deaths were recorded, we were hearing gunshots from wherever. But there's nobody actually talking about what happened in Githurai. "Nobody is explaining why that number of people was killed there." "I barely got any sleep yesterday just thinking about how many people died in Githurai," she added. Asked to respond to the fact that no evidence had emerged of a mass killing in the suburb, she said: "There are videos of people being shot down, but at that time things were down - the internet was down, electricity was down." Kenya's Standard newspaper has reported that there were three deaths in Githurai, something the BBC has been unable to confirm and an allegation on which the police have declined to comment. The BBC has asked Kenya's police about what happened in Githurai but the force declined to comment. A human rights advocate who lives and works in Githurai, Njoki Gachanja, told investigations platform Africa Uncensored that the reports of a massacre were untrue. "All these bodies that people have been talking about – that did not happen in Githurai," she said in a video posted on Africa Uncensored's account on Wednesday. She said the organisation she works for, Githurai Social Justice Centre, had been "on the ground since morning", held community meetings and forums trying to look for these victims or their families, but had found no evidence of killings at the reported scale. "I'd like to confirm that I live in Githurai and there's no massacre in Githurai." Ms Gachanja did say they had traced one body with bullet wounds to City Mortuary, the main government morgue. It may be that in time new details do emerge to support claims of police brutality in Githurai. But by Friday evening the respected Kenya National Commission on Human Rights, whose figures have been used by many global media organisations, said its confirmed death toll linked to the protests this week remained at 23, including 19 in Nairobi during the actual protests on Tuesday. And after the alleged massacre in Githurai there is still no evidence of mass killings, with at least some of those who made the allegations now prepared to accept there is doubt over what happened. The story of how news spread of what happened, or rather what may not have happened, in the suburb is a reminder of the power of online communication.

Monogram Health and Memorial Hermann Join Forces to Improve Outcomes for Patients Impacted by Polychronic Conditions

Monogram Health, the nation's leading value-based provider of in-home, evidence-based care and benefit management services for patients living with chronic kidney disease (CKD) and end stage kidney disease (ESKD), announced it is partnering with Memorial Hermann Health System, the largest not-for-profit health system in Southeast Texas, to improve the health outcomes of patients living with polychronic conditions. "Monogram Health has consistently proven to be both an innovator and leader in risk-based in-home care delivery and management," said Feby Abraham, executive vice president and chief strategy officer for Memorial Hermann. "We share a common goal to provide whole-person, outcomes-oriented care, and this strategic partnership will further enable Memorial Hermann to adopt an advanced risk platform that progresses access to high quality care for our patients – inside and outside the 'four walls' of the health system." Monogram's next-generation, specialty risk model has been shown to achieve improved patient outcomes, experience and quality of life while reducing medical costs. The new joint venture connects Monogram's extensive in-home evidence-based care and benefit management services with Memorial Hermann's high-quality, affiliated medical staff and physician teams to work together to slow the progression of CKD and ESKD. "Joining forces with a world-renowned health system like Memorial Hermann is both an honor and a significant opportunity," said Dr. Aash Shah, MD, Chief Growth Officer of Monogram Health. "By aligning our unique kidney care model and specialized expertise with their distinguished physicians and providers, we will accelerate our mutual efforts to continuously enhance and streamline CKD and ESKD care while helping Southeast Texans live happier, more fulfilling lives." This partnership marks the growth of Monogram's footprint in the Texas Gulf Coast. The company has forged partnerships with leading health systems including AdventHealth, Banner Health, Point32Health and the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. About Monogram Health Monogram Health is a leading value-based provider of in-home, evidence-based care and benefit management services for patients living with polychronic conditions, notably, chronic kidney and end stage kidney disease. Through its unique in-home integrated provider services, Monogram Health and its employed providers treat CKD, ESKD and their prevalent co-morbidities including complex metabolic, pulmonary, and cardiovascular diseases. The company deploys a technology-driven array of clinical programs including comprehensive case management, disease management, utilization management, and medication therapy management to enable the delivery of value-based care. Based in Nashville, Tenn., and privately held by Frist Cressey Ventures, Norwest Venture Partners, and TPG Capital, Monogram Health has numerous value-based partnerships with leading health plans, integrated delivery systems, and risk-bearing entities to care for patients across 35 states and all insurance products. To learn more about Monogram Health, please visit employees practice the highest standards of safe, evidence-based, quality care to provide a personalized and outcome-oriented experience across more than 250 care delivery sites. As one of the largest not-for-profit health systems in Southeast Texas, Memorial Hermann has an award-winning and nationally acclaimed Accountable Care Organization, 17* hospitals and numerous specialty programs and services conveniently located throughout the Memorial Hermann-Texas Medical Center is one of the nation's busiest Level I trauma centers and serves as the primary teaching hospital for McGovern Medical School at UTHealth. For more than 116 years, our focus has been the best interest of our community, contributing nearly community benefit programs. Now and for generations to come, the health of our community will be at the center of what we do – charting a better future for all.

business

Monogram Health and Memorial Hermann Join Forces to Improve Outcomes for Patients Impacted by Polychronic Conditions. Monogram Health, the nation's leading value-based provider of in-home, evidence-based care and benefit management services for patients living with chronic kidney disease (CKD) and end stage kidney disease (ESKD), announced it is partnering with Memorial Hermann Health System, the largest not-for-profit health system in Southeast Texas, to improve the health outcomes of patients living with polychronic conditions. "Monogram Health has consistently proven to be both an innovator and leader in risk-based in-home care delivery and management," said Feby Abraham, executive vice president and chief strategy officer for Memorial Hermann. "We share a common goal to provide whole-person, outcomes-oriented care, and this strategic partnership will further enable Memorial Hermann to adopt an advanced risk platform that progresses access to high quality care for our patients – inside and outside the 'four walls' of the health system." Monogram's next-generation, specialty risk model has been shown to achieve improved patient outcomes, experience and quality of life while reducing medical costs. The new joint venture connects Monogram's extensive in-home evidence-based care and benefit management services with Memorial Hermann's high-quality, affiliated medical staff and physician teams to work together to slow the progression of CKD and ESKD. "Joining forces with a world-renowned health system like Memorial Hermann is both an honor and a significant opportunity," said Dr. Aash Shah, MD, Chief Growth Officer of Monogram Health. "By aligning our unique kidney care model and specialized expertise with their distinguished physicians and providers, we will accelerate our mutual efforts to continuously enhance and streamline CKD and ESKD care while helping Southeast Texans live happier, more fulfilling lives." This partnership marks the growth of Monogram's footprint in the Texas Gulf Coast. The company has forged partnerships with leading health systems including AdventHealth, Banner Health, Point32Health and the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. About Monogram Health Monogram Health is a leading value-based provider of in-home, evidence-based care and benefit management services for patients living with polychronic conditions, notably, chronic kidney and end stage kidney disease. Through its unique in-home integrated provider services, Monogram Health and its employed providers treat CKD, ESKD and their prevalent co-morbidities including complex metabolic, pulmonary, and cardiovascular diseases. The company deploys a technology-driven array of clinical programs including comprehensive case management, disease management, utilization management, and medication therapy management to enable the delivery of value-based care. Based in Nashville, Tenn., and privately held by Frist Cressey Ventures, Norwest Venture Partners, and TPG Capital, Monogram Health has numerous value-based partnerships with leading health plans, integrated delivery systems, and risk-bearing entities to care for patients across 35 states and all insurance products. To learn more about Monogram Health, please visit employees practice the highest standards of safe, evidence-based, quality care to provide a personalized and outcome-oriented experience across more than 250 care delivery sites. As one of the largest not-for-profit health systems in Southeast Texas, Memorial Hermann has an award-winning and nationally acclaimed Accountable Care Organization, 17* hospitals and numerous specialty programs and services conveniently located throughout the Memorial Hermann-Texas Medical Center is one of the nation's busiest Level I trauma centers and serves as the primary teaching hospital for McGovern Medical School at UTHealth. For more than 116 years, our focus has been the best interest of our community, contributing nearly community benefit programs. Now and for generations to come, the health of our community will be at the center of what we do – charting a better future for all.

Memorial grows for mother, 4 children and family acquaintance killed in Ottawa

Dozens of stuffed animals, flowers and candles have been placed at a memorial in a Barrhaven park in memory of a mother, her four young children and a family acquaintance killed at their family home this week. As Ottawa police continue to investigate the worst mass killing in the city's history, the community is mourning the deaths and struggling to understand what happened. "I feel so sad for the tragedy that happened," said one woman at the memorial. "It's heartbreaking, as a mother, to see four young children taken away." "It's shocking because I'm a father of four here in this neighbourhood," said a man at the vigil. "It's shocking, I can't believe it." A vigil has been established at Palmadeo Park, at the corner of Palmadeo Drive and Rodeo Drive, in memory of the six victims. A candlelight vigil will be held for the victims on Saturday at 11 a.m. in the park. On Wednesday, officers responding to a 911 call found the bodies of six people inside the home. The suspect was arrested inside the house without incident. The victims have been identified as 35-year-old Darshani Banbaranayake Gama Walwwe Darshani Dilanthika Ekanyake and her four children – Kelly, Rinyana, Ashwini and Inuka. A family acquaintance, 40-year-old Amarakoonmubiayansela Ge Gamini Amarakoon, was also found deceased at the home. Police say the family were newcomers to Canada from Sri Lanka. The Wickramasinghe family is pictured here in this undated image. The four young children and their mother were killed in their Ottawa home on March 6, 2024 alongside a family friend. The father was seriously injured in the attack. A 19-year-old suspect is in custody and is facing multiple counts of first-degree murder. Ottawa Police Chief Eric Stubbs says investigators continue to look into what happened inside the home Wednesday night. "The team has got a plan and they're going to dig in deeper to a lot of those different relationships," Stubbs told Newstalk 580 CFRA's The Morning Rush with Bill Carroll Friday morning. "We certainly have a fairly good idea of sort of the dynamics of what was going on, but still more work to go." The husband and father of the victims continues to recover in hospital. Stubbs says investigators will make sure "we don't push him" as part of the investigation. "We manage him as best as we can so he's comfortable in talking and explaining everything on his time, because, obviously, he's absorbing a lot of physical and mental injuries and we want to make sure his care and his wellness is number one." A moment of silence for the victims was held at Ottawa City Hall before the International Women's Day event. "To the family, neighbours and friends, I want to say that all the people of Ottawa are with you, we stand with you," Mayor Mark Sutcliffe said Friday morning. "Our thoughts and prayers extend to you during this very, very difficult time." Suspect appears in court The suspect made a brief court appearance on Thursday, and is scheduled to appear in court again next week. Febrio De-Zoysa, 19, is facing six counts of first-degree murder and one count of attempted murder. He cannot have contact with five people, including the surviving husband and father. Police say De-Zoysa is a Sri Lankan national who came to Canada to study as an international student. A spokesperson for Algonquin College told CTV News Ottawa he attended classes at the Ottawa college, "It appears that his last semester of attendance was Winter 2023." They went to school but ended up as hostages. 287 children are missing in Nigeria's forests Economy adds 41,000 jobs in February, but other measures paint weaker picture of labour market Truck hauling paper collides and catches fire on Highway 401, shutting down lanes Diet drinks may boost risk of dangerous heart condition by 20 per cent, study says

canada

Memorial grows for mother, 4 children and family acquaintance killed in Ottawa. Dozens of stuffed animals, flowers and candles have been placed at a memorial in a Barrhaven park in memory of a mother, her four young children and a family acquaintance killed at their family home this week. As Ottawa police continue to investigate the worst mass killing in the city's history, the community is mourning the deaths and struggling to understand what happened. "I feel so sad for the tragedy that happened," said one woman at the memorial. "It's heartbreaking, as a mother, to see four young children taken away." "It's shocking because I'm a father of four here in this neighbourhood," said a man at the vigil. "It's shocking, I can't believe it." A vigil has been established at Palmadeo Park, at the corner of Palmadeo Drive and Rodeo Drive, in memory of the six victims. A candlelight vigil will be held for the victims on Saturday at 11 a.m. in the park. On Wednesday, officers responding to a 911 call found the bodies of six people inside the home. The suspect was arrested inside the house without incident. The victims have been identified as 35-year-old Darshani Banbaranayake Gama Walwwe Darshani Dilanthika Ekanyake and her four children – Kelly, Rinyana, Ashwini and Inuka. A family acquaintance, 40-year-old Amarakoonmubiayansela Ge Gamini Amarakoon, was also found deceased at the home. Police say the family were newcomers to Canada from Sri Lanka. The Wickramasinghe family is pictured here in this undated image. The four young children and their mother were killed in their Ottawa home on March 6, 2024 alongside a family friend. The father was seriously injured in the attack. A 19-year-old suspect is in custody and is facing multiple counts of first-degree murder. Ottawa Police Chief Eric Stubbs says investigators continue to look into what happened inside the home Wednesday night. "The team has got a plan and they're going to dig in deeper to a lot of those different relationships," Stubbs told Newstalk 580 CFRA's The Morning Rush with Bill Carroll Friday morning. "We certainly have a fairly good idea of sort of the dynamics of what was going on, but still more work to go." The husband and father of the victims continues to recover in hospital. Stubbs says investigators will make sure "we don't push him" as part of the investigation. "We manage him as best as we can so he's comfortable in talking and explaining everything on his time, because, obviously, he's absorbing a lot of physical and mental injuries and we want to make sure his care and his wellness is number one." A moment of silence for the victims was held at Ottawa City Hall before the International Women's Day event. "To the family, neighbours and friends, I want to say that all the people of Ottawa are with you, we stand with you," Mayor Mark Sutcliffe said Friday morning. "Our thoughts and prayers extend to you during this very, very difficult time." Suspect appears in court The suspect made a brief court appearance on Thursday, and is scheduled to appear in court again next week. Febrio De-Zoysa, 19, is facing six counts of first-degree murder and one count of attempted murder. He cannot have contact with five people, including the surviving husband and father. Police say De-Zoysa is a Sri Lankan national who came to Canada to study as an international student. A spokesperson for Algonquin College told CTV News Ottawa he attended classes at the Ottawa college, "It appears that his last semester of attendance was Winter 2023." They went to school but ended up as hostages. 287 children are missing in Nigeria's forests Economy adds 41,000 jobs in February, but other measures paint weaker picture of labour market Truck hauling paper collides and catches fire on Highway 401, shutting down lanes Diet drinks may boost risk of dangerous heart condition by 20 per cent, study says

Farage says West 'provoked' Russia's invasion of Ukraine

Nigel Farage has reiterated that he blames the West and NATO for the Russian invasion of Ukraine - as he confirmed that he previously said he "admired" Vladimir Putin as a statesman. Speaking to the BBC, the Reform UK leader was asked about his previous comments on Russia and Ukraine. Asked about Russia's 2022 invasion, Mr Farage told Nick Robinson that he had been saying since the fall of the Berlin Wall that there would be a war in Ukraine due to the "ever-eastward expansion of NATO and the European Union". More bad news for Tory campaign He said this was giving Mr Putin a reason to tell the Russian people "they're coming for us again" and go to war. Reform leader confirmed his belief the West "provoked" the conflict - but said it was "of course" the Russian president's "fault". Follow Sky News on WhatsApp Keep up with all the latest news from the UK and around the world by following Sky News Previous comments Mr Farage made about Mr Putin were also put to him. He was asked about comments he made in 2014 stating that Mr Putin was the statesman he most admired. Mr Farage said he disliked the Russian leader - but "I admired him as a political operator because he's managed to take control" of running the country. "This is the nonsense, you know, you can pick any figure, current or historical, and say, you know, did they have good aspects?" he added. Mr Farage was also asked about Brexit, and how it has impacted the UK. On his party's climate policies, Mr Farage said he wants to "go for nuclear energy" and scrap the existing net zero programme. He rejected that he was "arguing the science" on climate change, but that "we spend too much time hyperventilating about the problem, rather than thinking practically and logically what we can do". This content is provided by Spreaker, which may be using cookies and other technologies. To show you this content, we need your permission to use cookies. You can use the buttons below to amend your preferences to enable Spreaker cookies or to allow those cookies just once. You can change your settings at any time via the

politics

Farage says West 'provoked' Russia's invasion of Ukraine. Nigel Farage has reiterated that he blames the West and NATO for the Russian invasion of Ukraine - as he confirmed that he previously said he "admired" Vladimir Putin as a statesman. Speaking to the BBC, the Reform UK leader was asked about his previous comments on Russia and Ukraine. Asked about Russia's 2022 invasion, Mr Farage told Nick Robinson that he had been saying since the fall of the Berlin Wall that there would be a war in Ukraine due to the "ever-eastward expansion of NATO and the European Union". More bad news for Tory campaign He said this was giving Mr Putin a reason to tell the Russian people "they're coming for us again" and go to war. Reform leader confirmed his belief the West "provoked" the conflict - but said it was "of course" the Russian president's "fault". Follow Sky News on WhatsApp Keep up with all the latest news from the UK and around the world by following Sky News Previous comments Mr Farage made about Mr Putin were also put to him. He was asked about comments he made in 2014 stating that Mr Putin was the statesman he most admired. Mr Farage said he disliked the Russian leader - but "I admired him as a political operator because he's managed to take control" of running the country. "This is the nonsense, you know, you can pick any figure, current or historical, and say, you know, did they have good aspects?" he added. Mr Farage was also asked about Brexit, and how it has impacted the UK. On his party's climate policies, Mr Farage said he wants to "go for nuclear energy" and scrap the existing net zero programme. He rejected that he was "arguing the science" on climate change, but that "we spend too much time hyperventilating about the problem, rather than thinking practically and logically what we can do". This content is provided by Spreaker, which may be using cookies and other technologies. To show you this content, we need your permission to use cookies. You can use the buttons below to amend your preferences to enable Spreaker cookies or to allow those cookies just once. You can change your settings at any time via the

Blaise Taylor, former Arkansas State star, arrested on suspicion of poisoning, killing pregnant girlfriend

Arkansas State football player was arrested Thursday night due to his alleged involvement in the death of his pregnant girlfriend. Blaise Taylor, who currently works as a staffer at Texas A&M, is accused of poisoning Jade Benning, killing her and her unborn child. Benning was rushed to the hospital on February 25 of last year. Taylor called 911, saying that Benning had an allergic reaction. She was unable to speak to police before she died, because, as ESPN notes, her condition had grown critical quickly. CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COM Defensive back Blaise Taylor, #1 of the Arkansas State Red Wolves, attempts to escape a tackle by wide receiver Cody Thompson, #25 of the Toledo Rockets, during the second quarter on January 4, 2015, at Ladd-Peebles Stadium in Mobile, Alabama. At halftime, the Toledo Rockets led the Arkansas State Red Wolves 35-17. (Michael Chang/Getty Images) Benning was five months pregnant at the time. The fetus died on February 27, and Benning died on March 6, her 25th birthday. The alleged incident occurred in Nashville. Because of the fetus' death, Taylor has been hit with two first-degree murder charges. Taylor is believed to have fathered the child. U.S. Marshals arrested Taylor in Utah, serving an indictment from Nashville police. Taylor had worked for the Tennessee Titans. Arkansas State Red Wolves defensive back Blaise Taylor (1) catches a punt during the Cure Bowl between the UCF Knights and Arkansas State Red Wolves on December 17, 2016, at Camping World Stadium in Orlando, Florida. (Joe Petro/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) PLANET FITNESS REVOKES WOMAN'S MEMBERSHIP AFTER SHE SNAPPED PHOTO OF TRANSGENDER WOMAN IN WOMEN'S LOCKER ROOM Taylor was a four-year starter with Arkansas State, where he still holds the school's records for punt return yards (1,151) and pass breakups (30). He had one punt return for a touchdown in each of his four years in college. He also ran back a kickoff for a touchdown in his sophomore year in 2015. He was named a Second-Team All-Sun Belt return specialist in 2014 and 2016 and was named the conference's Special Teams Player of the Week three times during his career. Arkansas State Red Wolves defensive back Blaise Taylor (1) scoops up his fumble and runs for a 63-yard touchdown during the first half against Nebraska on September 2, 2017, at Memorial Stadium in Lincoln, Nebraska. Nebraska beat Arkansas State 43 to 36.

sports

Blaise Taylor, former Arkansas State star, arrested on suspicion of poisoning, killing pregnant girlfriend. Arkansas State football player was arrested Thursday night due to his alleged involvement in the death of his pregnant girlfriend. Blaise Taylor, who currently works as a staffer at Texas A&M, is accused of poisoning Jade Benning, killing her and her unborn child. Benning was rushed to the hospital on February 25 of last year. Taylor called 911, saying that Benning had an allergic reaction. She was unable to speak to police before she died, because, as ESPN notes, her condition had grown critical quickly. CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COM Defensive back Blaise Taylor, #1 of the Arkansas State Red Wolves, attempts to escape a tackle by wide receiver Cody Thompson, #25 of the Toledo Rockets, during the second quarter on January 4, 2015, at Ladd-Peebles Stadium in Mobile, Alabama. At halftime, the Toledo Rockets led the Arkansas State Red Wolves 35-17. (Michael Chang/Getty Images) Benning was five months pregnant at the time. The fetus died on February 27, and Benning died on March 6, her 25th birthday. The alleged incident occurred in Nashville. Because of the fetus' death, Taylor has been hit with two first-degree murder charges. Taylor is believed to have fathered the child. U.S. Marshals arrested Taylor in Utah, serving an indictment from Nashville police. Taylor had worked for the Tennessee Titans. Arkansas State Red Wolves defensive back Blaise Taylor (1) catches a punt during the Cure Bowl between the UCF Knights and Arkansas State Red Wolves on December 17, 2016, at Camping World Stadium in Orlando, Florida. (Joe Petro/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) PLANET FITNESS REVOKES WOMAN'S MEMBERSHIP AFTER SHE SNAPPED PHOTO OF TRANSGENDER WOMAN IN WOMEN'S LOCKER ROOM Taylor was a four-year starter with Arkansas State, where he still holds the school's records for punt return yards (1,151) and pass breakups (30). He had one punt return for a touchdown in each of his four years in college. He also ran back a kickoff for a touchdown in his sophomore year in 2015. He was named a Second-Team All-Sun Belt return specialist in 2014 and 2016 and was named the conference's Special Teams Player of the Week three times during his career. Arkansas State Red Wolves defensive back Blaise Taylor (1) scoops up his fumble and runs for a 63-yard touchdown during the first half against Nebraska on September 2, 2017, at Memorial Stadium in Lincoln, Nebraska. Nebraska beat Arkansas State 43 to 36.

The post-9/11 generation’s path to post-traumatic growth

Veterans who embody the ethos of post-traumatic growth push back against the narrative of the "broken" vet. (Maj. Justin Wright/Army) For my generation of veterans that came of age in the aftermath of the terror attacks on Sept. 11, 2001, and subsequently fought in the longest wars in American history, there is a signature injury that has impacted nearly three in ten of us: post-traumatic stress disorder, or PTSD. PTSD is not just a medical diagnosis but a poignant symbol of a collective, enduring struggle. While we've seen resources and treatments provided for PTSD increase as well as a broader acceptance for those impacted by this injury, we've also seen these men and women viewed as though they're broken. Veterans who embody the ethos of post-traumatic growth — the positive psychological change experienced as a result of overcoming highly challenging and stressful life situations — push back against that "broken" narrative. I urge you to join Josh Goldberg, CEO of Boulder Crest, in marking June 13 on your calendar as National Post-Traumatic Growth Day. We have seen examples of post-traumatic growth throughout history, where significant adversity can spark substantial progress and change. Since our nation's founding, waves of American veterans have demonstrated how they've become incredible civic assets after their military service. From George Washington to Dwight D. Eisenhower, John McCain and Colin Powell, these veterans became icons of American statesmanship. Post-traumatic growth doesn't just apply to politics and public service. We also see growth in the entrepreneurial spirit in veterans who started small businesses and went on to become titans of industry. Today, there are 2.5 million veteran-owned companies, exemplified by decorated Iraq War veterans like Blake Hall and After Hall's 2004 Vanderbilt Army ROTC commissioning, he became a rifle platoon leader and served in Iraq, twice earning the Bronze Star. After his Army service, he graduated from Harvard Business School and started ID.me in 2010, which simplifies how individuals securely prove and share their identity online. Dawn Halfaker, a 2001 West Point graduate, earned the Purple Heart and Bronze Star for her service in Iraq in 2004. She came home as an amputee and founded Halfaker and Associates two years later. She now runs HAFCO Holdings LLC as well as Continuing to Serve, a non-profit supporting veteran entrepreneurs. John F. Kennedy was once asked what actions led him to become a war hero, which launched his career in public service. "It was involuntary — they sank my boat," he said. My post-traumatic growth occurred in the same vein. I returned from an Iraq deployment with the 82nd Airborne Division's Falcon Brigade in 2004 with the burden of 19 paratroopers killed in action. Spurred to live a life worth their sacrifice, I aimed to become the man I thought they would want me to be, and to live a life of meaning. I became the first Iraq War veteran elected to Congress, leading the effort to repeal "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" and serving as the co-sponsor of the Post-9/11 G.I. Bill, which has sent more than 1.1 million people to college. As the 32nd Undersecretary of the Army, I pushed for policies to reduce the stigma of seeking help, resulting in the addition of embedded behavioral health teams at the battalion level. One key way to experience growth after service is by stoking the fires of the post-9/11 generation's entrepreneurial spirit. This is why I've leaned on a generation of veterans who preceded me, like Alex Gorsky, the former CEO of Johnson & Johnson and Bob McDonald, the former CEO of Proctor & Gamble and the 8th Secretary of the Department of Veterans Affairs. These former soldiers and business leaders helped me achieve post-traumatic growth in the way I hope to see from others. Our generation has collectively survived the crucible of combat — running a business is a purpose-driven mission that veterans can collectively appreciate. World War II veterans came home and took part in that same mission, and in the process, built the world's most iconic brands, including the largest sports apparel company (Nike), the largest retailer (Walmart), and the world's biggest media company (Comcast). In contrast, fewer than 5% of post-9/11 veterans start their own business today. But it's more than just access to capital. As post-9/11 veterans, we must define who we are and, more importantly, who we can become. It took more than five decades for the WWII generation to be defined as "the greatest generation" by Tom Brokaw — after two decades of war, we cannot afford to wait five more decades to define our generation's continued service. This generation's veterans are more likely to be employed, more likely to vote in elections, and yes, more likely to start a successful small business. The Halls and Halfakers will become the next Phil Knight or Ralph Lauren if given the chance. This begins today, on National Post-Traumatic Growth Day, as we recognize, celebrate, and properly frame post-traumatic growth — the opportunity our generation has to overcome the toughest of circumstances to turn our struggle into success. Patrick J. Murphy is a decorated Iraq War veteran, venture capitalist, Wharton Business School lecturer. He was the first Iraq War veteran elected to Congress and served as the 32nd Undersecretary of the Army. As a partner in Stony Lonesome Group, Murphy's venture capital group is an ID.me investor. He serves with Dawn Halfacre on the board of Drexel Hamilton. In Other News Navy chief rescue swimmer dies during refresher course training Chief Naval Aircrewman Peter Lagosh was attending refresher training at NAS Jacksonville at the time of his death, officials said. Congressman accuses Army of political attacks over combat badge Rep. Troy Nehls has received criticism for wearing a Combat Infantry Badge lapel pin after the service revoked the award last year. Junior enlisted would see only a small pay boost under Senate plan A Senate panel supports an extra 1% pay bump for young enlisted troops next year, far less than what House lawmakers want. Congress still waiting on Osprey crash, safety documents from Pentagon Lawmakers haven't received more details on Osprey proprotor gearboxes, a component that was a factor in the 2023 crash off Japan that killed eight airmen. VA home loan program added $4 trillion to US economy since WWII

military

The post-9/11 generation’s path to post-traumatic growth. Veterans who embody the ethos of post-traumatic growth push back against the narrative of the "broken" vet. (Maj. Justin Wright/Army) For my generation of veterans that came of age in the aftermath of the terror attacks on Sept. 11, 2001, and subsequently fought in the longest wars in American history, there is a signature injury that has impacted nearly three in ten of us: post-traumatic stress disorder, or PTSD. PTSD is not just a medical diagnosis but a poignant symbol of a collective, enduring struggle. While we've seen resources and treatments provided for PTSD increase as well as a broader acceptance for those impacted by this injury, we've also seen these men and women viewed as though they're broken. Veterans who embody the ethos of post-traumatic growth — the positive psychological change experienced as a result of overcoming highly challenging and stressful life situations — push back against that "broken" narrative. I urge you to join Josh Goldberg, CEO of Boulder Crest, in marking June 13 on your calendar as National Post-Traumatic Growth Day. We have seen examples of post-traumatic growth throughout history, where significant adversity can spark substantial progress and change. Since our nation's founding, waves of American veterans have demonstrated how they've become incredible civic assets after their military service. From George Washington to Dwight D. Eisenhower, John McCain and Colin Powell, these veterans became icons of American statesmanship. Post-traumatic growth doesn't just apply to politics and public service. We also see growth in the entrepreneurial spirit in veterans who started small businesses and went on to become titans of industry. Today, there are 2.5 million veteran-owned companies, exemplified by decorated Iraq War veterans like Blake Hall and After Hall's 2004 Vanderbilt Army ROTC commissioning, he became a rifle platoon leader and served in Iraq, twice earning the Bronze Star. After his Army service, he graduated from Harvard Business School and started ID.me in 2010, which simplifies how individuals securely prove and share their identity online. Dawn Halfaker, a 2001 West Point graduate, earned the Purple Heart and Bronze Star for her service in Iraq in 2004. She came home as an amputee and founded Halfaker and Associates two years later. She now runs HAFCO Holdings LLC as well as Continuing to Serve, a non-profit supporting veteran entrepreneurs. John F. Kennedy was once asked what actions led him to become a war hero, which launched his career in public service. "It was involuntary — they sank my boat," he said. My post-traumatic growth occurred in the same vein. I returned from an Iraq deployment with the 82nd Airborne Division's Falcon Brigade in 2004 with the burden of 19 paratroopers killed in action. Spurred to live a life worth their sacrifice, I aimed to become the man I thought they would want me to be, and to live a life of meaning. I became the first Iraq War veteran elected to Congress, leading the effort to repeal "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" and serving as the co-sponsor of the Post-9/11 G.I. Bill, which has sent more than 1.1 million people to college. As the 32nd Undersecretary of the Army, I pushed for policies to reduce the stigma of seeking help, resulting in the addition of embedded behavioral health teams at the battalion level. One key way to experience growth after service is by stoking the fires of the post-9/11 generation's entrepreneurial spirit. This is why I've leaned on a generation of veterans who preceded me, like Alex Gorsky, the former CEO of Johnson & Johnson and Bob McDonald, the former CEO of Proctor & Gamble and the 8th Secretary of the Department of Veterans Affairs. These former soldiers and business leaders helped me achieve post-traumatic growth in the way I hope to see from others. Our generation has collectively survived the crucible of combat — running a business is a purpose-driven mission that veterans can collectively appreciate. World War II veterans came home and took part in that same mission, and in the process, built the world's most iconic brands, including the largest sports apparel company (Nike), the largest retailer (Walmart), and the world's biggest media company (Comcast). In contrast, fewer than 5% of post-9/11 veterans start their own business today. But it's more than just access to capital. As post-9/11 veterans, we must define who we are and, more importantly, who we can become. It took more than five decades for the WWII generation to be defined as "the greatest generation" by Tom Brokaw — after two decades of war, we cannot afford to wait five more decades to define our generation's continued service. This generation's veterans are more likely to be employed, more likely to vote in elections, and yes, more likely to start a successful small business. The Halls and Halfakers will become the next Phil Knight or Ralph Lauren if given the chance. This begins today, on National Post-Traumatic Growth Day, as we recognize, celebrate, and properly frame post-traumatic growth — the opportunity our generation has to overcome the toughest of circumstances to turn our struggle into success. Patrick J. Murphy is a decorated Iraq War veteran, venture capitalist, Wharton Business School lecturer. He was the first Iraq War veteran elected to Congress and served as the 32nd Undersecretary of the Army. As a partner in Stony Lonesome Group, Murphy's venture capital group is an ID.me investor. He serves with Dawn Halfacre on the board of Drexel Hamilton. In Other News Navy chief rescue swimmer dies during refresher course training Chief Naval Aircrewman Peter Lagosh was attending refresher training at NAS Jacksonville at the time of his death, officials said. Congressman accuses Army of political attacks over combat badge Rep. Troy Nehls has received criticism for wearing a Combat Infantry Badge lapel pin after the service revoked the award last year. Junior enlisted would see only a small pay boost under Senate plan A Senate panel supports an extra 1% pay bump for young enlisted troops next year, far less than what House lawmakers want. Congress still waiting on Osprey crash, safety documents from Pentagon Lawmakers haven't received more details on Osprey proprotor gearboxes, a component that was a factor in the 2023 crash off Japan that killed eight airmen. VA home loan program added $4 trillion to US economy since WWII

Functional Foods and Beverages Market size is set to grow by USD 141.4 billion from 2024-2028, Product innovations to boost the market growth, Technavio

June 3, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- The global functional foods and beverages market size is estimated to grow by USD 141.4 billion from 2024-2028, according to Technavio. The market is estimated to grow at a CAGR of almost 7.45% during the forecast period. For comprehensive forecast and historic data on regions, market segments, customer landscape, and companies- Product (Functional foods and Functional beverages), Distribution Channel (Offline and Online), and Geography (APAC, North America, Europe, Middle East and Africa, and South America) Key companies profiled Archer Daniels Midland Co., Arla Foods amba, Campbell Soup Co., Danone SA, Del Monte Pacific Ltd., Fonterra Cooperative Group Ltd., General Mills Inc., Hildur Functional Foods Pvt. Ltd., Kellogg Co., Keurig Dr Pepper Inc., Nestle SA, Otsuka Holdings Co. Ltd., PepsiCo Inc., Suntory Holdings Ltd., T.C. Pharmaceutical Industries Co. Ltd., The Coca Cola Co., The Kraft Heinz Co., Tyson Foods Inc., Unilever PLC, and Zbiotics Inc. Key Market Trends Fueling Growth The functional foods and beverages market is experiencing significant growth due to increasing consumer awareness of their health benefits. These products, including oats, tea, yogurt, and superfruits, are marketed for their ability to reduce the risk of chronic diseases and improve cognitive health, heart health, and weight management. Functional beverages, such as herbal teas, offer additional benefits like improved immunity, digestion, and energy boost. Examples include Yerba mate, Hibiscus tea, Lemongrass tea, and Chamomile tea, which provide antioxidants, vitamins, and various health advantages. This trend is expected to continue driving the growth of the global functional foods and beverages market. The functional foods and beverages market is experiencing significant growth, driven by consumer preferences for healthier options. Daily necessities such as fruits, vegetables, and dairy products are in high demand due to their nutritional benefits. Proteins, probiotics, and fibers are popular functional ingredients. Fruit and vegetable juices, functional waters, and energy drinks are trending beverage categories. Probiotics and functional snacks are also gaining popularity. Sustainability and eco-friendliness are key considerations for many consumers. The market is expected to continue growing, driven by increasing health awareness and consumer demand for convenient, nutritious options. Market Challenges The functional foods and beverages market faces skepticism due to concerns over their efficiency and potential health risks. A study by H. Virtanen et al. revealed that excessive energy drink consumption can negatively impact oral glucose tolerance in adolescents. Some popular energy drink ingredients have side effects and exceed recommended harmful chemical levels. The mixing of energy-boosting and blood pressure-lowering beverages can cause adverse effects. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention warns that consuming alcohol with caffeinated energy drinks increases binge drinking risk. Manufacturers must label products with warnings to prevent harmful effects from mixing different types of functional drinks. These factors may hinder market growth during the forecast period. The Functional Foods and Beverages market faces several challenges. These include the need for consistent product quality and safety, especially with the increasing demand for organic and natural products. Another challenge is the rising consumer awareness and preference for healthier options, leading to a higher demand for functional ingredients like probiotics, fiber, and antioxidants. Additionally, the market is witnessing intense competition, with new players entering the market frequently. Regulations and compliance with various food safety standards also pose a significant challenge. Furthermore, the market is witnessing a shift towards sustainable and eco-friendly packaging solutions. Overall, the market requires continuous innovation and adaptation to meet evolving consumer preferences and regulatory requirements. Research report provides comprehensive data on impact of trend, driver and challenges - Download a Sample Report Segment Overview Product 1.1 Functional foods 1.2 Functional beverages Distribution Channel 2.1 Offline 2.2 Online Geography 3.1 APAC 3.2 South America 1.1 Functional foods- The functional foods and beverages market is experiencing consistent growth due to product and ingredient innovations. Factors such as the aging population, health-conscious adults, and concerned parents are driving demand. However, strict regulations on health claims pose a challenge. Consumers prefer organic functional foods due to their higher nutritional value and simple processing methods. Organic certification bodies ensure compliance with organic conditions and standards. Awareness of the health benefits of functional foods is increasing, fueling market growth. For more information on market segmentation with geographical analysis including forecast (2024-2028) and historic data (2018 - 2022) - Download a Sample Report Research Analysis The Functional Foods and Beverages Market encompasses a wide range of products that go beyond basic nutritional value, addressing consumers' needs for preventive healthcare and improved gut health. Dairy products, such as yogurt, play a significant role due to their functional benefits derived from Lactobacilli, proteins, and fatty acids. Functional dairy products are essential value-added food categories, as they contribute to immunity enhancement and digestive function. The market is influenced by raw ingredient sourcing, farming practices, and processing techniques, adapting to evolving lifestyles and the retail sector's demands. Consumers increasingly seek functional foods and beverages to combat sedentary lifestyles, Type 2 diabetes, and infections, making this market a vital segment in the food & beverage sector. Market Research Overview The Functional Foods and Beverages market encompasses products that provide health and nutritional benefits beyond their basic nutritional functions. These include foods and beverages fortified with vitamins, minerals, proteins, and other functional ingredients. The market is driven by increasing consumer awareness and preference for healthier options, as well as the growing trend of convenience and on-the-go consumption. The market is segmented based on product types, such as dairy products, fruits and vegetables, grains and cereals, and beverages. The market is also influenced by factors such as demographic trends, regulatory policies, and technological advancements. The future outlook for the market is positive, with increasing demand for functional foods and beverages in both developed and emerging markets. Table of Contents: 1 Executive Summary 2 Market Landscape 3 Market Sizing 4 Historic Market Size 5 Five Forces Analysis 6 Market Segmentation Product Functional Foods Functional Beverages Distribution Channel Offline Online Geography APAC Technavio is a leading global technology research and advisory company. Their research and analysis focuses on emerging market trends and provides actionable insights to help businesses identify market opportunities and develop effective strategies to optimize their market positions. With over 500 specialized analysts, Technavio's report library consists of more than 17,000 reports and counting, covering 800 technologies, spanning across 50 countries. Their client base consists of enterprises of all sizes, including more than 100 Fortune 500 companies. This growing client base relies on Technavio's comprehensive coverage, extensive research, and actionable market insights to identify opportunities in existing and potential markets and assess their competitive positions within changing market scenarios.

entertainment

Functional Foods and Beverages Market size is set to grow by USD 141.4 billion from 2024-2028, Product innovations to boost the market growth, Technavio. June 3, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- The global functional foods and beverages market size is estimated to grow by USD 141.4 billion from 2024-2028, according to Technavio. The market is estimated to grow at a CAGR of almost 7.45% during the forecast period. For comprehensive forecast and historic data on regions, market segments, customer landscape, and companies- Product (Functional foods and Functional beverages), Distribution Channel (Offline and Online), and Geography (APAC, North America, Europe, Middle East and Africa, and South America) Key companies profiled Archer Daniels Midland Co., Arla Foods amba, Campbell Soup Co., Danone SA, Del Monte Pacific Ltd., Fonterra Cooperative Group Ltd., General Mills Inc., Hildur Functional Foods Pvt. Ltd., Kellogg Co., Keurig Dr Pepper Inc., Nestle SA, Otsuka Holdings Co. Ltd., PepsiCo Inc., Suntory Holdings Ltd., T.C. Pharmaceutical Industries Co. Ltd., The Coca Cola Co., The Kraft Heinz Co., Tyson Foods Inc., Unilever PLC, and Zbiotics Inc. Key Market Trends Fueling Growth The functional foods and beverages market is experiencing significant growth due to increasing consumer awareness of their health benefits. These products, including oats, tea, yogurt, and superfruits, are marketed for their ability to reduce the risk of chronic diseases and improve cognitive health, heart health, and weight management. Functional beverages, such as herbal teas, offer additional benefits like improved immunity, digestion, and energy boost. Examples include Yerba mate, Hibiscus tea, Lemongrass tea, and Chamomile tea, which provide antioxidants, vitamins, and various health advantages. This trend is expected to continue driving the growth of the global functional foods and beverages market. The functional foods and beverages market is experiencing significant growth, driven by consumer preferences for healthier options. Daily necessities such as fruits, vegetables, and dairy products are in high demand due to their nutritional benefits. Proteins, probiotics, and fibers are popular functional ingredients. Fruit and vegetable juices, functional waters, and energy drinks are trending beverage categories. Probiotics and functional snacks are also gaining popularity. Sustainability and eco-friendliness are key considerations for many consumers. The market is expected to continue growing, driven by increasing health awareness and consumer demand for convenient, nutritious options. Market Challenges The functional foods and beverages market faces skepticism due to concerns over their efficiency and potential health risks. A study by H. Virtanen et al. revealed that excessive energy drink consumption can negatively impact oral glucose tolerance in adolescents. Some popular energy drink ingredients have side effects and exceed recommended harmful chemical levels. The mixing of energy-boosting and blood pressure-lowering beverages can cause adverse effects. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention warns that consuming alcohol with caffeinated energy drinks increases binge drinking risk. Manufacturers must label products with warnings to prevent harmful effects from mixing different types of functional drinks. These factors may hinder market growth during the forecast period. The Functional Foods and Beverages market faces several challenges. These include the need for consistent product quality and safety, especially with the increasing demand for organic and natural products. Another challenge is the rising consumer awareness and preference for healthier options, leading to a higher demand for functional ingredients like probiotics, fiber, and antioxidants. Additionally, the market is witnessing intense competition, with new players entering the market frequently. Regulations and compliance with various food safety standards also pose a significant challenge. Furthermore, the market is witnessing a shift towards sustainable and eco-friendly packaging solutions. Overall, the market requires continuous innovation and adaptation to meet evolving consumer preferences and regulatory requirements. Research report provides comprehensive data on impact of trend, driver and challenges - Download a Sample Report Segment Overview Product 1.1 Functional foods 1.2 Functional beverages Distribution Channel 2.1 Offline 2.2 Online Geography 3.1 APAC 3.2 South America 1.1 Functional foods- The functional foods and beverages market is experiencing consistent growth due to product and ingredient innovations. Factors such as the aging population, health-conscious adults, and concerned parents are driving demand. However, strict regulations on health claims pose a challenge. Consumers prefer organic functional foods due to their higher nutritional value and simple processing methods. Organic certification bodies ensure compliance with organic conditions and standards. Awareness of the health benefits of functional foods is increasing, fueling market growth. For more information on market segmentation with geographical analysis including forecast (2024-2028) and historic data (2018 - 2022) - Download a Sample Report Research Analysis The Functional Foods and Beverages Market encompasses a wide range of products that go beyond basic nutritional value, addressing consumers' needs for preventive healthcare and improved gut health. Dairy products, such as yogurt, play a significant role due to their functional benefits derived from Lactobacilli, proteins, and fatty acids. Functional dairy products are essential value-added food categories, as they contribute to immunity enhancement and digestive function. The market is influenced by raw ingredient sourcing, farming practices, and processing techniques, adapting to evolving lifestyles and the retail sector's demands. Consumers increasingly seek functional foods and beverages to combat sedentary lifestyles, Type 2 diabetes, and infections, making this market a vital segment in the food & beverage sector. Market Research Overview The Functional Foods and Beverages market encompasses products that provide health and nutritional benefits beyond their basic nutritional functions. These include foods and beverages fortified with vitamins, minerals, proteins, and other functional ingredients. The market is driven by increasing consumer awareness and preference for healthier options, as well as the growing trend of convenience and on-the-go consumption. The market is segmented based on product types, such as dairy products, fruits and vegetables, grains and cereals, and beverages. The market is also influenced by factors such as demographic trends, regulatory policies, and technological advancements. The future outlook for the market is positive, with increasing demand for functional foods and beverages in both developed and emerging markets. Table of Contents: 1 Executive Summary 2 Market Landscape 3 Market Sizing 4 Historic Market Size 5 Five Forces Analysis 6 Market Segmentation Product Functional Foods Functional Beverages Distribution Channel Offline Online Geography APAC Technavio is a leading global technology research and advisory company. Their research and analysis focuses on emerging market trends and provides actionable insights to help businesses identify market opportunities and develop effective strategies to optimize their market positions. With over 500 specialized analysts, Technavio's report library consists of more than 17,000 reports and counting, covering 800 technologies, spanning across 50 countries. Their client base consists of enterprises of all sizes, including more than 100 Fortune 500 companies. This growing client base relies on Technavio's comprehensive coverage, extensive research, and actionable market insights to identify opportunities in existing and potential markets and assess their competitive positions within changing market scenarios.

TikTok users being fed misleading election news, BBC finds

Young voters in key election battlegrounds are being recommended fake AI-generated videos featuring party leaders, misinformation, and clips littered with abusive comments, the BBC has found. With TikTok emerging as a new social media battleground in this election, the political parties have begun a war of memes on the app in a bid to reach its audience of young voters. But a BBC project to investigate the content promoted by social media algorithms has found - alongside funny montages - young people on TikTok are being exposed to misleading and divisive content. It is being shared by everyone from students and political activists to comedians and anonymous bot-like accounts. Videos which have racked up hundreds of thousands of views have promoted unfounded rumours that a major scandal prompted Rishi Sunak to call an early election and the baseless claim that Sir Keir Starmer was responsible for the failure to prosecute serial paedophile Jimmy Savile. Satirical, fake AI-generated clips show Rishi Sunak declaring, "Please don't vote us out, we would be proper gutted!" and making unevidenced claims about how the Conservative leader is spending public money - including how he will send his "mates loads of dosh". Watch: Marianna Spring explains the Undercover Voters project in 60 seconds Other AI-generated videos share misleading claims about his national service pledge for 18-year-olds, suggesting young people would be sent to current war zones in Ukraine and Gaza. Some of these are described as satire or parody in captions, but the comments suggest some users are confused about which claims are factual. TikTok told the BBC it had increased its investment in countering misinformation for the UK general election, including adding a fact-checking expert to existing resources and employing AI-labelling technology. The videos were spotted as part of the BBC's Undercover Voters project, which has created profiles for 24 fictional people on all the major social media sites, based on In a satirical deepfake, Rishi Sunak appeared to say he would be "proper gutted" if he lost - but some users were confused about whether it was real The fictional profiles represent a range of voters in battleground constituencies across the UK, giving an insight into what content is promoted to different types of people. The profiles are private, with no friends. They just like, follow and watch content relevant to their character traits informed by the Natcen research. I examined the feeds of the profiles of three of these fictional voters in the former "red wall" constituency of Bishop Auckland, a target for Labour which is currently held by the Conservatives - and where our Undercover Voters are younger. Their social media feeds revealed that, while other sites have also experienced a flurry of political content, TikTok had the most lively conversation, particularly among younger voters. TikTok has boomed since the last election. According to media regulator Ofcom, it was the fastest-growing source of news in the UK for the second year in a row in 2023 - used by 10% of adults in this way. One in 10 teenagers say it is their most important news source. TikTok is engaging a new generation in the democratic process. Whether you use the social media app or not, what is unfolding on its site could shape narratives about the election and its candidates - including in ways that may be unfounded. A video made reference to the unfounded story that Sir Keir Starmer was involved in the decision not to prosecute serial paedophile Jimmy Savile Several other videos repeated the unfounded allegations about Sir Keir and Jimmy Savile. Other videos Jack was served on his feed included clips with threats in the comments about "euthanizing" Rishi Sunak and racist remarks about him. Messages such as "vote Reform UK" were shared repeatedly in the comments of many videos, much more than those I saw in support of any other party. TikTok users have begun to notice the comments, with many calling the posters "Reform bots", suggesting they could be fake, automated accounts. I contacted some of the commenters who had photos and names on their profiles, and they told me they were real people based in the UK with no official affiliation to Reform UK and with no encouragement or instruction from the party. But others were anonymous with no profile image and numerical usernames - common hallmarks of fake accounts - and they did not respond to my messages. Repeated comments supporting Reform UK have prompted the nickname "Reform bots" Whether they are real people or not, their comments can create the impression that their preferred party has greater support. Another Undercover Voter character based in Bishop Auckland, 25-year-old Chloe, was created to have no prior interest in politics. But about one in 10 posts on her TikTok feed was a political meme or funny video, including official content coming from the Labour Party, Conservatives, Liberal Democrats and Reform UK. These include Rishi Sunak's first TikTok on the Conservatives' new account about national service, clarifying that he is not forcing all 18-year-olds to join the army. One post claimed without evidence that the election had been called because a scandal about Rishi Sunak was "about to erupt" A third Undercover Voter named Louise - in her 50s and politically undecided - was pushed more TikToks targeting political leaders with abusive comments, as well as satirical montages and parody videos about policy announcements such as national service. I tracked down some of the people behind the videos and posts shown to our Undercover Voters. One 16-year-old from the south of England, who made a satirical edit of that first Rishi Sunak TikTok about national service, said she was surprised how quickly her content took off. "I didn't specifically create this account for the election and the reason I made the TikTok initially was just for a joke - I didn't expect to get over 400k bloody views," she said, adding that she is not affiliated with any party and has not received any money for creating the TikTok. "Social media really is the only platform for young people to have a voice nowadays in my opinion." She said she knows satirical content can be "controversial" and she understands how her video "could mislead people" but would hope people could tell it was supposed to be a bit of fun. There are 24 Undercover Voters in eight consituencies across the UK. For this story, we looked at three in Bishop Auckland Dozens of other users I messaged who are creating this content are also in their late teens or early 20s, and want to get involved in creating political videos to engage other people their age in the election. They all tell me that while they may support a political party, they have not been paid for their posts and are not officially affiliated with any of the campaigns. One politics student tells me they "don't worry about misleading people because the parties mislead others with their opinions about other parties". Another person based in Coventry, who shares his videos about Reform UK, tells me he hopes to "boost their popularity in an unofficial way" and says he set up his account back in February. He say he is a member of the party and has not received any money for making his TikToks. He is concerned that satirical content - including his own - might unintentionally mislead people on TikTok. His account was restricted by TikTok for posting spam. A spokesperson for TikTok told the BBC that it had increased its investment "in efforts to ensure reliable information can be found on TikTok", launching a "UK Election Centre with a fact-checking expert" and adopting an "industry-leading AI labelling technology".

world,uk

TikTok users being fed misleading election news, BBC finds. Young voters in key election battlegrounds are being recommended fake AI-generated videos featuring party leaders, misinformation, and clips littered with abusive comments, the BBC has found. With TikTok emerging as a new social media battleground in this election, the political parties have begun a war of memes on the app in a bid to reach its audience of young voters. But a BBC project to investigate the content promoted by social media algorithms has found - alongside funny montages - young people on TikTok are being exposed to misleading and divisive content. It is being shared by everyone from students and political activists to comedians and anonymous bot-like accounts. Videos which have racked up hundreds of thousands of views have promoted unfounded rumours that a major scandal prompted Rishi Sunak to call an early election and the baseless claim that Sir Keir Starmer was responsible for the failure to prosecute serial paedophile Jimmy Savile. Satirical, fake AI-generated clips show Rishi Sunak declaring, "Please don't vote us out, we would be proper gutted!" and making unevidenced claims about how the Conservative leader is spending public money - including how he will send his "mates loads of dosh". Watch: Marianna Spring explains the Undercover Voters project in 60 seconds Other AI-generated videos share misleading claims about his national service pledge for 18-year-olds, suggesting young people would be sent to current war zones in Ukraine and Gaza. Some of these are described as satire or parody in captions, but the comments suggest some users are confused about which claims are factual. TikTok told the BBC it had increased its investment in countering misinformation for the UK general election, including adding a fact-checking expert to existing resources and employing AI-labelling technology. The videos were spotted as part of the BBC's Undercover Voters project, which has created profiles for 24 fictional people on all the major social media sites, based on In a satirical deepfake, Rishi Sunak appeared to say he would be "proper gutted" if he lost - but some users were confused about whether it was real The fictional profiles represent a range of voters in battleground constituencies across the UK, giving an insight into what content is promoted to different types of people. The profiles are private, with no friends. They just like, follow and watch content relevant to their character traits informed by the Natcen research. I examined the feeds of the profiles of three of these fictional voters in the former "red wall" constituency of Bishop Auckland, a target for Labour which is currently held by the Conservatives - and where our Undercover Voters are younger. Their social media feeds revealed that, while other sites have also experienced a flurry of political content, TikTok had the most lively conversation, particularly among younger voters. TikTok has boomed since the last election. According to media regulator Ofcom, it was the fastest-growing source of news in the UK for the second year in a row in 2023 - used by 10% of adults in this way. One in 10 teenagers say it is their most important news source. TikTok is engaging a new generation in the democratic process. Whether you use the social media app or not, what is unfolding on its site could shape narratives about the election and its candidates - including in ways that may be unfounded. A video made reference to the unfounded story that Sir Keir Starmer was involved in the decision not to prosecute serial paedophile Jimmy Savile Several other videos repeated the unfounded allegations about Sir Keir and Jimmy Savile. Other videos Jack was served on his feed included clips with threats in the comments about "euthanizing" Rishi Sunak and racist remarks about him. Messages such as "vote Reform UK" were shared repeatedly in the comments of many videos, much more than those I saw in support of any other party. TikTok users have begun to notice the comments, with many calling the posters "Reform bots", suggesting they could be fake, automated accounts. I contacted some of the commenters who had photos and names on their profiles, and they told me they were real people based in the UK with no official affiliation to Reform UK and with no encouragement or instruction from the party. But others were anonymous with no profile image and numerical usernames - common hallmarks of fake accounts - and they did not respond to my messages. Repeated comments supporting Reform UK have prompted the nickname "Reform bots" Whether they are real people or not, their comments can create the impression that their preferred party has greater support. Another Undercover Voter character based in Bishop Auckland, 25-year-old Chloe, was created to have no prior interest in politics. But about one in 10 posts on her TikTok feed was a political meme or funny video, including official content coming from the Labour Party, Conservatives, Liberal Democrats and Reform UK. These include Rishi Sunak's first TikTok on the Conservatives' new account about national service, clarifying that he is not forcing all 18-year-olds to join the army. One post claimed without evidence that the election had been called because a scandal about Rishi Sunak was "about to erupt" A third Undercover Voter named Louise - in her 50s and politically undecided - was pushed more TikToks targeting political leaders with abusive comments, as well as satirical montages and parody videos about policy announcements such as national service. I tracked down some of the people behind the videos and posts shown to our Undercover Voters. One 16-year-old from the south of England, who made a satirical edit of that first Rishi Sunak TikTok about national service, said she was surprised how quickly her content took off. "I didn't specifically create this account for the election and the reason I made the TikTok initially was just for a joke - I didn't expect to get over 400k bloody views," she said, adding that she is not affiliated with any party and has not received any money for creating the TikTok. "Social media really is the only platform for young people to have a voice nowadays in my opinion." She said she knows satirical content can be "controversial" and she understands how her video "could mislead people" but would hope people could tell it was supposed to be a bit of fun. There are 24 Undercover Voters in eight consituencies across the UK. For this story, we looked at three in Bishop Auckland Dozens of other users I messaged who are creating this content are also in their late teens or early 20s, and want to get involved in creating political videos to engage other people their age in the election. They all tell me that while they may support a political party, they have not been paid for their posts and are not officially affiliated with any of the campaigns. One politics student tells me they "don't worry about misleading people because the parties mislead others with their opinions about other parties". Another person based in Coventry, who shares his videos about Reform UK, tells me he hopes to "boost their popularity in an unofficial way" and says he set up his account back in February. He say he is a member of the party and has not received any money for making his TikToks. He is concerned that satirical content - including his own - might unintentionally mislead people on TikTok. His account was restricted by TikTok for posting spam. A spokesperson for TikTok told the BBC that it had increased its investment "in efforts to ensure reliable information can be found on TikTok", launching a "UK Election Centre with a fact-checking expert" and adopting an "industry-leading AI labelling technology".

Sourcepass is named in the prestigious 2024 Channel Futures MSP501 rankings

June 20, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Sourcepass, an innovative IT Services and Cybersecurity provider, has been named as one of the world's top-performing managed service providers in the prestigious 2024 Channel Futures MSP 501 rankings. The Channel Futures MSP 501 list, a technology industry benchmark, ranks companies based on their growth, profitability, and innovation. The Channel Futures MSP 501 survey uses a quantitative methodology to rank companies based on their annual revenue, profitability measured by EBITDA, and recurring revenue. MSPs that qualify for the list must also pass a rigorous review conducted by the Channel Futures research team and editors, which weighs financial performance according to long-term health and viability, commitment to recurring revenue and operational efficiency. Channel Futures is pleased to name Sourcepass to the 2024 MSP 501. "Being named to the 2024 Channel Futures MSP 501 list is a testament to the dedication and innovation of our entire team," said Chuck Canton, CEO of Sourcepass. "This recognition demonstrates our commitment to our clients and our role in driving their successes. We are honored to be included among the best in the industry and will continue to strive for excellence." This year's list is one of the most competitive in the survey's history. Winners will be recognized on the Channel Futures website and honored during a special ceremony at MSP Summit, $25 billion with average growth or recurring revenue of 19%. These are truly the best of the best. Many of their services and technology offerings focus on customer needs in the areas of AI, cloud, security, collaboration, networking, help desk and remote monitoring and management.

business

Sourcepass is named in the prestigious 2024 Channel Futures MSP501 rankings. June 20, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Sourcepass, an innovative IT Services and Cybersecurity provider, has been named as one of the world's top-performing managed service providers in the prestigious 2024 Channel Futures MSP 501 rankings. The Channel Futures MSP 501 list, a technology industry benchmark, ranks companies based on their growth, profitability, and innovation. The Channel Futures MSP 501 survey uses a quantitative methodology to rank companies based on their annual revenue, profitability measured by EBITDA, and recurring revenue. MSPs that qualify for the list must also pass a rigorous review conducted by the Channel Futures research team and editors, which weighs financial performance according to long-term health and viability, commitment to recurring revenue and operational efficiency. Channel Futures is pleased to name Sourcepass to the 2024 MSP 501. "Being named to the 2024 Channel Futures MSP 501 list is a testament to the dedication and innovation of our entire team," said Chuck Canton, CEO of Sourcepass. "This recognition demonstrates our commitment to our clients and our role in driving their successes. We are honored to be included among the best in the industry and will continue to strive for excellence." This year's list is one of the most competitive in the survey's history. Winners will be recognized on the Channel Futures website and honored during a special ceremony at MSP Summit, $25 billion with average growth or recurring revenue of 19%. These are truly the best of the best. Many of their services and technology offerings focus on customer needs in the areas of AI, cloud, security, collaboration, networking, help desk and remote monitoring and management.

Capital gains tax changes could lead to 'brain drain,' harm productivity as some fear tech exodus

Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland laid out plans for the inclusion rate on all annual capital gains for corporations and trusts — as well as capital gains above $250,000 for individuals — to rise to two-thirds from one half through amendments to the Income Tax Act, effective June 25, 2024. John Ruffolo, managing partner of Maverix Private Equity and founder of OMERS Ventures, said there may be several unintended consequences of the tax changes, including scores of innovators leaving Canada. "The job and wealth creators in this country are the scale-ups, which would hopefully far exceed the caps," he said, adding that the tax change is also likely to result in a decrease in capital available in Canada to invest in funds and innovators. Ruffolo predicted a dire outcome. Then, if a startup is successful, much of the initial founders' gains, which are captured via equity, will be taxed away when the time comes to sell. Economists at Toronto-Dominion Bank said the federal government partially offset negative impacts of the capital gains changes by raising lifetime capital gains exemptions as well as introducing a progressive, graduated rate for entrepreneurs — but they concluded this doesn't go far enough to remove a disincentive to do business in Canada. "A higher tax on divestment could very well be the straw that breaks the camel's back and pushes that new firm elsewhere in a globally competitive environment," wrote the group, led by chief economist Beata Caranci, in report published following Tuesday's budget. "In our current economic environment, it is at best unhelpful in promoting capital investment that Canada desperately needs." Entrepreneurs are not looking to sacrifice everything to make $250,000 — their dreams are much more ambitious than that Adam Felesky Some private equity and venture players said the tax changes will also make it difficult to attract skilled tech workers to Canada, something that is already a challenge. "Brain drain will re-emerge," said Adam Felesky, co-founder and CEO of Portage, a global investment platform focused on fintech and financial services, who concurred with others that the tax changes create a disincentive for innovators to set up their businesses in Canada. "Entrepreneurs are not looking to sacrifice everything to make $250,000 — their dreams are much more ambitious than that," he said. "Why not start in a more favourable jurisdiction from the get-go?" He said a typical entrepreneur would face a 33 per cent tax increase once they breached the $250,000 cap as a result of budget's increase in the capital gains inclusion rate. He based his estimate on a tax bill of $33 per $100 of gains for someone in a 50 per cent tax bracket, compared to the $25 they would have paid when the inclusion rate was set at half rather than two-thirds of the capital gain. Tobi Lutke, founder and CEO of Shopify, one of Canada's largest and most successful tech firms, reposted a handful of messages critical of the tax change on X (formerly Twitter) after the budget was released. He topped one post with the words "Message from a friend" and followed that with: "Canada has heard rumors about innovation and is determined to will leave no stone unturned in deterring it."

tech

Capital gains tax changes could lead to 'brain drain,' harm productivity as some fear tech exodus. Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland laid out plans for the inclusion rate on all annual capital gains for corporations and trusts — as well as capital gains above $250,000 for individuals — to rise to two-thirds from one half through amendments to the Income Tax Act, effective June 25, 2024. John Ruffolo, managing partner of Maverix Private Equity and founder of OMERS Ventures, said there may be several unintended consequences of the tax changes, including scores of innovators leaving Canada. "The job and wealth creators in this country are the scale-ups, which would hopefully far exceed the caps," he said, adding that the tax change is also likely to result in a decrease in capital available in Canada to invest in funds and innovators. Ruffolo predicted a dire outcome. Then, if a startup is successful, much of the initial founders' gains, which are captured via equity, will be taxed away when the time comes to sell. Economists at Toronto-Dominion Bank said the federal government partially offset negative impacts of the capital gains changes by raising lifetime capital gains exemptions as well as introducing a progressive, graduated rate for entrepreneurs — but they concluded this doesn't go far enough to remove a disincentive to do business in Canada. "A higher tax on divestment could very well be the straw that breaks the camel's back and pushes that new firm elsewhere in a globally competitive environment," wrote the group, led by chief economist Beata Caranci, in report published following Tuesday's budget. "In our current economic environment, it is at best unhelpful in promoting capital investment that Canada desperately needs." Entrepreneurs are not looking to sacrifice everything to make $250,000 — their dreams are much more ambitious than that Adam Felesky Some private equity and venture players said the tax changes will also make it difficult to attract skilled tech workers to Canada, something that is already a challenge. "Brain drain will re-emerge," said Adam Felesky, co-founder and CEO of Portage, a global investment platform focused on fintech and financial services, who concurred with others that the tax changes create a disincentive for innovators to set up their businesses in Canada. "Entrepreneurs are not looking to sacrifice everything to make $250,000 — their dreams are much more ambitious than that," he said. "Why not start in a more favourable jurisdiction from the get-go?" He said a typical entrepreneur would face a 33 per cent tax increase once they breached the $250,000 cap as a result of budget's increase in the capital gains inclusion rate. He based his estimate on a tax bill of $33 per $100 of gains for someone in a 50 per cent tax bracket, compared to the $25 they would have paid when the inclusion rate was set at half rather than two-thirds of the capital gain. Tobi Lutke, founder and CEO of Shopify, one of Canada's largest and most successful tech firms, reposted a handful of messages critical of the tax change on X (formerly Twitter) after the budget was released. He topped one post with the words "Message from a friend" and followed that with: "Canada has heard rumors about innovation and is determined to will leave no stone unturned in deterring it."