Datasets:

doctor3030

/

newsboard-news-categories

like 0

AP News Summary at 12:41 a.m. EDT

Bolivian general arrested after apparent failed coup attempt as government faces new crisis LA PAZ, Bolivia (AP) — Armored vehicles rammed into the doors of Bolivia’s government palace Wednesday as President Luis Arce said the country faced an attempted coup and urged people to mobilize. He called for “democracy to be respected” in a message on his X account. Hours later, Arce announced new heads of the army, navy and air force amid the roar of supporters. The new army head ordered soldiers back to their barracks, and soon after troops and armored vehicles pulled back. Hours later, the Bolivian general who appeared to be behind the rebellion, Juan José Zúñiga, was arrested after the attorney general opened an investigation. How the Biden-Trump debate could change the trajectory of the 2024 campaign ATLANTA (AP) — Both President Joe Biden and his Republican rival, Donald Trump, hope to jolt a campaign that many voters are just beginning to watch. Thursday's debate in Atlanta offers unparalleled opportunities for both candidates to try to shape the political narrative. For Biden, the debate gives him the chance to reassure voters that, at 81, he’s capable of guiding the U.S. through a range of challenges. The 78-year-old Trump, meanwhile, could use the moment to try to move past his recent felony conviction in New York. Their performances have the potential to alter the trajectory of the election. FACT FOCUS: Here's a look at the false claims you might hear during tonight's presidential debate From former President Donald Trump's false claims of a failing economy and skyrocketing crime to President Joe Biden's misrepresentation of inflation and gas prices at the start of his term, The Associated Press examines false and misleading statements made by the candidates as they prepare to face off in a debate Thursday night. First candidate drops out of Iran presidential election, due to take place Friday amid voter apathy DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — A candidate in Iran’s presidential election has withdrawn from the race, becoming the first to back out in order for hard-liners to coalesce around a unity candidate in the vote to replace the late President Ebrahim Raisi. Amirhossein Ghazizadeh Hashemi dropped his candidacy and urged other candidates to do the same “so that the front of the revolution will be strengthened." Such withdrawals are common in the final hours of an Iranian presidential election, particularly in the last 24 hours before the vote is held when campaigns enter a mandatory quiet period without rallies. Ghazizadeh Hasehmi’s decision leaves five other candidates still in the race. Analysts and experts broadly see the race at the moment as a three-way contest between two hard-liners and a reformist candidate. In the searing heat of the Gaza summer, Palestinians are surrounded by sewage and garbage DEIR AL-BALAH, Gaza (AP) — Children trudge through water contaminated with sewage and scale growing mounds of garbage in Gaza’s tent camps for displaced families. People relieve themselves in burlap-covered pits, with nowhere nearby to wash their hands. Gaza’s ability to dispose of garbage, treat sewage and deliver clean water is virtually decimated by eight months of war between Israel and Hamas. Aid groups say it's made grim living conditions worse and raised health risks for hundreds of thousands of people deprived of adequate shelter, food and medicine. Hepatitis A cases are rising. Doctors fear a cholera outbreak is likely. Israeli authorities say they are engaging in efforts to improve the “hygiene situation.” But relief can’t come soon enough. What is the federal law at the center of the Supreme Court's latest abortion case? WASHINGTON (AP) — The U.S. Supreme Court appears ready to release an opinion that will allow doctors in Idaho to perform abortions to stabilize patients at least for now, despite the state's strict abortion ban. The federal law has shaped emergency care over the last 40 years because it requires emergency rooms to stabilize patients with medical emergencies. It is a bipartisan law that was passed decades ago because doctors were dumping patients in bad condition in public hospitals. Doctors and the Biden administration have said that stabilizing treatment for pregnant patients may include terminating a pregnancy in rare, but dire, circumstances. 7 in 10 Americans think Supreme Court justices put ideology over impartiality: AP-NORC poll WASHINGTON (AP) — As the U.S. Supreme Court is expected to rule on a major case involving former President Donald Trump, 7 in 10 Americans think its justices are more likely to shape the law to fit their own ideology, rather than serving as neutral arbiters of government authority. That's according to a new poll from The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research. It found that less than one-third of U.S. adults think the justices are more likely to provide an independent check on other branches of government by being fair and impartial. Confidence in the Supreme Court remains low. Rank-and-file Republicans as well aren’t giving the justices a ringing endorsement. Former Honduran president sentenced to 45 years for helping traffickers get tons of cocaine into US NEW YORK (AP) — Former Honduran President Juan Orlando Hernández has been sentenced to 45 years in prison and fined $8 million for enabling drug traffickers to use his military and national police force to help get tons of cocaine into the United States. The 55-year-old was sentenced in New York on Wednesday after a jury convicted him in March. His two-week trial in federal court was closely followed in his home country. Hernández was arrested at his home in Tegucigalpa, the Honduran capital, three months after leaving office in 2022 and was extradited to the U.S. Prosecutors say Hernández worked with drug traffickers as long ago as 2004, taking millions of dollars in bribes. Few have flood insurance to help recover from devastating Midwest storms SOUTH SIOUX CITY, Neb. (AP) — Many Midwestern homeowners hit by bad flooding this week do not have flood insurance. Data from the Federal Emergency Management Agency shows that the government has issued only about 26,500 policies across Nebraska, South Dakota, Iowa and Minnesota. Because bad floods are rare, many don't realize they are at risk and need insurance. Others worry about the price. The lack of flood insurance will make it harder for some to recover and rebuild. There is help for the uninsured for basic needs like temporary housing, but they are generally less generous than insurance. Nevada judge denies release of ex-gang leader ahead of trial in 1996 killing of Tupac Shakur LAS VEGAS (AP) — An ailing former Los Angeles-area gang leader will stay in jail ahead of his trial in the 1996 killing of music legend Tupac Shakur in Las Vegas. A Nevada judge ruled Wednesday that she couldn’t determine if funds for Duane “Keffe D” Davis' release were obtained legally — and that they didn’t hinge on a TV or movie deal. Davis has pleaded not guilty to first-degree murder. His trial is scheduled for Nov. 4. Davis told the judge during a hearing Tuesday that he has cancer and wanted to post $750,000 bond and be released on house arrest pending trial. A Nevada law prohibits convicted killers from profiting from their crime.

military

AP News Summary at 12:41 a.m. EDT. Bolivian general arrested after apparent failed coup attempt as government faces new crisis LA PAZ, Bolivia (AP) — Armored vehicles rammed into the doors of Bolivia’s government palace Wednesday as President Luis Arce said the country faced an attempted coup and urged people to mobilize. He called for “democracy to be respected” in a message on his X account. Hours later, Arce announced new heads of the army, navy and air force amid the roar of supporters. The new army head ordered soldiers back to their barracks, and soon after troops and armored vehicles pulled back. Hours later, the Bolivian general who appeared to be behind the rebellion, Juan José Zúñiga, was arrested after the attorney general opened an investigation. How the Biden-Trump debate could change the trajectory of the 2024 campaign ATLANTA (AP) — Both President Joe Biden and his Republican rival, Donald Trump, hope to jolt a campaign that many voters are just beginning to watch. Thursday's debate in Atlanta offers unparalleled opportunities for both candidates to try to shape the political narrative. For Biden, the debate gives him the chance to reassure voters that, at 81, he’s capable of guiding the U.S. through a range of challenges. The 78-year-old Trump, meanwhile, could use the moment to try to move past his recent felony conviction in New York. Their performances have the potential to alter the trajectory of the election. FACT FOCUS: Here's a look at the false claims you might hear during tonight's presidential debate From former President Donald Trump's false claims of a failing economy and skyrocketing crime to President Joe Biden's misrepresentation of inflation and gas prices at the start of his term, The Associated Press examines false and misleading statements made by the candidates as they prepare to face off in a debate Thursday night. First candidate drops out of Iran presidential election, due to take place Friday amid voter apathy DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — A candidate in Iran’s presidential election has withdrawn from the race, becoming the first to back out in order for hard-liners to coalesce around a unity candidate in the vote to replace the late President Ebrahim Raisi. Amirhossein Ghazizadeh Hashemi dropped his candidacy and urged other candidates to do the same “so that the front of the revolution will be strengthened." Such withdrawals are common in the final hours of an Iranian presidential election, particularly in the last 24 hours before the vote is held when campaigns enter a mandatory quiet period without rallies. Ghazizadeh Hasehmi’s decision leaves five other candidates still in the race. Analysts and experts broadly see the race at the moment as a three-way contest between two hard-liners and a reformist candidate. In the searing heat of the Gaza summer, Palestinians are surrounded by sewage and garbage DEIR AL-BALAH, Gaza (AP) — Children trudge through water contaminated with sewage and scale growing mounds of garbage in Gaza’s tent camps for displaced families. People relieve themselves in burlap-covered pits, with nowhere nearby to wash their hands. Gaza’s ability to dispose of garbage, treat sewage and deliver clean water is virtually decimated by eight months of war between Israel and Hamas. Aid groups say it's made grim living conditions worse and raised health risks for hundreds of thousands of people deprived of adequate shelter, food and medicine. Hepatitis A cases are rising. Doctors fear a cholera outbreak is likely. Israeli authorities say they are engaging in efforts to improve the “hygiene situation.” But relief can’t come soon enough. What is the federal law at the center of the Supreme Court's latest abortion case? WASHINGTON (AP) — The U.S. Supreme Court appears ready to release an opinion that will allow doctors in Idaho to perform abortions to stabilize patients at least for now, despite the state's strict abortion ban. The federal law has shaped emergency care over the last 40 years because it requires emergency rooms to stabilize patients with medical emergencies. It is a bipartisan law that was passed decades ago because doctors were dumping patients in bad condition in public hospitals. Doctors and the Biden administration have said that stabilizing treatment for pregnant patients may include terminating a pregnancy in rare, but dire, circumstances. 7 in 10 Americans think Supreme Court justices put ideology over impartiality: AP-NORC poll WASHINGTON (AP) — As the U.S. Supreme Court is expected to rule on a major case involving former President Donald Trump, 7 in 10 Americans think its justices are more likely to shape the law to fit their own ideology, rather than serving as neutral arbiters of government authority. That's according to a new poll from The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research. It found that less than one-third of U.S. adults think the justices are more likely to provide an independent check on other branches of government by being fair and impartial. Confidence in the Supreme Court remains low. Rank-and-file Republicans as well aren’t giving the justices a ringing endorsement. Former Honduran president sentenced to 45 years for helping traffickers get tons of cocaine into US NEW YORK (AP) — Former Honduran President Juan Orlando Hernández has been sentenced to 45 years in prison and fined $8 million for enabling drug traffickers to use his military and national police force to help get tons of cocaine into the United States. The 55-year-old was sentenced in New York on Wednesday after a jury convicted him in March. His two-week trial in federal court was closely followed in his home country. Hernández was arrested at his home in Tegucigalpa, the Honduran capital, three months after leaving office in 2022 and was extradited to the U.S. Prosecutors say Hernández worked with drug traffickers as long ago as 2004, taking millions of dollars in bribes. Few have flood insurance to help recover from devastating Midwest storms SOUTH SIOUX CITY, Neb. (AP) — Many Midwestern homeowners hit by bad flooding this week do not have flood insurance. Data from the Federal Emergency Management Agency shows that the government has issued only about 26,500 policies across Nebraska, South Dakota, Iowa and Minnesota. Because bad floods are rare, many don't realize they are at risk and need insurance. Others worry about the price. The lack of flood insurance will make it harder for some to recover and rebuild. There is help for the uninsured for basic needs like temporary housing, but they are generally less generous than insurance. Nevada judge denies release of ex-gang leader ahead of trial in 1996 killing of Tupac Shakur LAS VEGAS (AP) — An ailing former Los Angeles-area gang leader will stay in jail ahead of his trial in the 1996 killing of music legend Tupac Shakur in Las Vegas. A Nevada judge ruled Wednesday that she couldn’t determine if funds for Duane “Keffe D” Davis' release were obtained legally — and that they didn’t hinge on a TV or movie deal. Davis has pleaded not guilty to first-degree murder. His trial is scheduled for Nov. 4. Davis told the judge during a hearing Tuesday that he has cancer and wanted to post $750,000 bond and be released on house arrest pending trial. A Nevada law prohibits convicted killers from profiting from their crime.

ANA Looks To Restore Domestic Capacity, Considers Orders.

aerospace

ANA Looks To Restore Domestic Capacity, Considers Orders..

ESA Sees Vega Industrial Divorce Near, Adds Slovenia.

aerospace,military

ESA Sees Vega Industrial Divorce Near, Adds Slovenia..

Chris Mason: Why Labour are so keen to talk about defence

Mr Corbyn's interview with Andrew Neil on the BBC in 2017. Labour gave the impression, overall, of being equivocal about the UK's nuclear weapons. Mr Corbyn was a longstanding opponent of them and was tied in knots in his interview about what a Labour government under his leadership would do about them. So the current Labour leadership have been going out of their way to try to shift those perceptions. More than two years ago, Sir Keir Starmer visited NATO headquarters in Brussels, and told the BBC that Jeremy Corbyn had been "wrong" about the defence alliance. Mr Corbyn had long been a critic of the defence alliance, although pulling out of it was never Labour policy when he was leader. Sir Keir emphasised then that Labour's commitment to NATO was "unshakeable." A month later the Labour leader met NATO troops in Estonia. back there again just before Christmas last year. Since then, Labour and the Conservatives have been tussling over who can be trusted to fund our armed forces properly. In mid April, on a trip to the BAE Systems factory in Barrow in Furness in Cumbria, where the UK's nuclear submarines are built, Keir Starmer promised to spend 2.5% of national income on defence "as soon as resources allow". At the end of April, when the prospect of a summer election will have been swimming around the mind of the prime minister, I reported on his visit to Warsaw and Berlin to talk about defence – and commit to spending 2.5% of national income on it by 2030. That promise outflanked the Labour Party, because it put a timeframe on the promise. Which brings us to this campaign, and Labour's determination to project a commitment to the military, in the backdrops the party chooses, the candidates it selects and the language it uses. They are talking up the fact that they have 14 ex-military personnel standing for them at this election. The challenge they face is whether people believe this political leopard really has changed its spots. Take nuclear weapons. Just eight years ago under Jeremy Corbyn, around a dozen Labour figures who are now frontbenchers under Keir Starmer voted in the Commons against maintaining the UK's nuclear weapons.

politics

Chris Mason: Why Labour are so keen to talk about defence. Mr Corbyn's interview with Andrew Neil on the BBC in 2017. Labour gave the impression, overall, of being equivocal about the UK's nuclear weapons. Mr Corbyn was a longstanding opponent of them and was tied in knots in his interview about what a Labour government under his leadership would do about them. So the current Labour leadership have been going out of their way to try to shift those perceptions. More than two years ago, Sir Keir Starmer visited NATO headquarters in Brussels, and told the BBC that Jeremy Corbyn had been "wrong" about the defence alliance. Mr Corbyn had long been a critic of the defence alliance, although pulling out of it was never Labour policy when he was leader. Sir Keir emphasised then that Labour's commitment to NATO was "unshakeable." A month later the Labour leader met NATO troops in Estonia. back there again just before Christmas last year. Since then, Labour and the Conservatives have been tussling over who can be trusted to fund our armed forces properly. In mid April, on a trip to the BAE Systems factory in Barrow in Furness in Cumbria, where the UK's nuclear submarines are built, Keir Starmer promised to spend 2.5% of national income on defence "as soon as resources allow". At the end of April, when the prospect of a summer election will have been swimming around the mind of the prime minister, I reported on his visit to Warsaw and Berlin to talk about defence – and commit to spending 2.5% of national income on it by 2030. That promise outflanked the Labour Party, because it put a timeframe on the promise. Which brings us to this campaign, and Labour's determination to project a commitment to the military, in the backdrops the party chooses, the candidates it selects and the language it uses. They are talking up the fact that they have 14 ex-military personnel standing for them at this election. The challenge they face is whether people believe this political leopard really has changed its spots. Take nuclear weapons. Just eight years ago under Jeremy Corbyn, around a dozen Labour figures who are now frontbenchers under Keir Starmer voted in the Commons against maintaining the UK's nuclear weapons.

Space Development Agency opens door to new vendors with ‘HALO’ satellite program

The Hybrid Acquisition for Proliferated LEO program 'will provide opportunities for companies to gain valuable experience working with SDA on demonstration projects' WASHINGTON — The Space Development Agency (SDA) wants to give commercial space companies a chance to prove their mettle for future military satellite contracts. The agency on May 31 released a solicitation for its "Hybrid Acquisition for Proliferated LEO" (HALO) program, which aims to establish a pool of pre-approved vendors eligible to compete for upcoming demonstration projects. The Space Development Agency (SDA), a U.S. Space Force organization tasked with deploying a military low-Earth orbit (LEO) satellite constellation, is looking to bring in new blood from the commercial space industry. Through HALO, selected vendors will be eligible to compete for future demonstration prototype projects. According to a solicitation, SDA plans to award multiple contracts annually. established defense contractors have scooped up the lion's share of SDA's contracts for its planned LEO constellation, the HALO program is designed specifically to attract newer commercial players to try their hand at rapid prototyping and spaceflight demonstrations. Proposals are due July 11, with an industry briefing scheduled for June 17.

aerospace

Space Development Agency opens door to new vendors with ‘HALO’ satellite program. The Hybrid Acquisition for Proliferated LEO program 'will provide opportunities for companies to gain valuable experience working with SDA on demonstration projects' WASHINGTON — The Space Development Agency (SDA) wants to give commercial space companies a chance to prove their mettle for future military satellite contracts. The agency on May 31 released a solicitation for its "Hybrid Acquisition for Proliferated LEO" (HALO) program, which aims to establish a pool of pre-approved vendors eligible to compete for upcoming demonstration projects. The Space Development Agency (SDA), a U.S. Space Force organization tasked with deploying a military low-Earth orbit (LEO) satellite constellation, is looking to bring in new blood from the commercial space industry. Through HALO, selected vendors will be eligible to compete for future demonstration prototype projects. According to a solicitation, SDA plans to award multiple contracts annually. established defense contractors have scooped up the lion's share of SDA's contracts for its planned LEO constellation, the HALO program is designed specifically to attract newer commercial players to try their hand at rapid prototyping and spaceflight demonstrations. Proposals are due July 11, with an industry briefing scheduled for June 17.

How that new Instagram feature may be using your data

Meta Platforms Inc. has long been using artificial intelligence to help it serve users content and ads it thinks are most likely to interest them, but its new chatbot has thrust the company's use of the technology back into the spotlight. The Meta AI chatbot embedded in the company's platforms — Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp — can be used for searches and to answer questions. A promotional page shows you can ask it for recipes, to generate images or to put together lists of popular guitar songs to play. The information you need to know, sent directly to you: Download the CTV News App But it's also prompted some users to wonder how Meta's AI systems use their data and what, if anything, they can do to opt out of the new feature. Where does Meta get the information it trains its AI models on? Meta doesn't list every source that trains its AI models, but its privacy centre says it makes use of information that is publicly available online or licensed. It also says it uses information shared through its products and services, like posts, photos and their captions. What data does Meta say it doesn't use to train its AI models? Meta's privacy centre says the company does not use private messages exchanged between users for training its AI systems. While Meta's AI systems make use of public information collected from the internet or licensed from other providers, it does not link this data to accounts. For example, if it uses a public blog post featuring an author's name and contact information, the company says it doesn't later connect that content to the user's Meta account. The company also says it did not train its foundational models — Llama 2, Llama 3 — on user data. If I don't use Meta's social networks, could the company still train its AI systems on my data? It's possible. "Even if you don't use our products and services or have an account, we may still process information about you to develop and improve AI at Meta," the company's privacy centre says. "For example, this could happen if you appear anywhere in an image shared on our products or services by someone who does use them or if someone mentions information about you in posts or captions that they share on our products and services." Can you opt out of letting Meta use your data? Meta has a form available in its privacy centre called "Data Subject Rights for Third Party Information Used for AI at Meta." Users can fill out the form and select "I want to delete any personal information from third parties used for building and improving AI at Meta." Meta says it doesn't automatically fulfil requests sent using this form but reviews them to see if they are consistent with local laws that might require them to remove your data from their AI training. How successful have Canadians been with this process? Alanna Smith, a Toronto-based small business owner in the entertainment industry, filled out Meta's form in hopes of getting the company to not use her data for its AI systems. In an email, she said the form was "deeply hidden and tricky to find." It also required her to provide proof that her data has been used to train Meta's AI systems. "How are we to 'prove' that specific data or images are in this infinitely large artificial memory we don't even have access to review?" she questioned. Smith is unsure whether her request was successful because she never got a confirmation acknowledging the request. David Troya-Alvarez, a Meta spokesperson, did not respond to a question about how many Canadians have successfully opted out so far. Other than the opt-out form, is there anything Canadians can do to limit Meta's ability to use their data for training its AI? Brett Caraway, a media economics professor, said users can consider not using the platform altogether, but he realizes many people need the company's technology for their job or interpersonal communication. "If you're either unwilling or unable to do that, I tend to think closely about what is it that I'm posting," says Caraway, who has stopped using Facebook but keeps an inactive account. Rather than fulfilling the itch to get information on the platform right away, he recommends people step away from their devices and decide whether it really needs to be on the platform and whether they're prepared for the company to potentially use the information. Can I disable the Meta AI tool I see in my Facebook and Instagram search? No. Troya-Alvarez, the Meta spokesperson, said in an email to The Canadian Press that Meta AI cannot be disabled. "Meta AI aims to be a helpful assistant and is in the search bar to assist with your questions," he said. Follow the CTV News channel on WhatsApp "You can't disable it from this experience, but you can search how you normally would to engage with a variety of results." While you can't turn the feature off, you can mute it by tapping the blue Meta AI circle in your Facebook or Instagram search bar and then hitting the blue circle with an "i" inside it. From there, you will encounter a "mute" button letting you silence the chatbot. Is Meta saving information from chats I have with its AI tool? Yes. Meta's privacy centre says it saves the messages you send it, the AI's responses and details about you so it can "carry on the conversation." "For example, if you share with the AI that you like Italian food, it will save that detail," the company's privacy centre says. "That way if later you ask for restaurants you might enjoy in New York, it should recommend Italian restaurants." How can I see what information Meta has on me from chats I had with its Meta AI tool? Type in /saved-details in your Meta AI chat window or visit your account centre when logged into Instagram and Facebook. To download the information on WhatsApp, you can also type /download-all-ai-info into a chat with your AI. How can I delete this information? Type /reset-ai into individual chats you had with Meta AI in Messenger, Instagram or WhatsApp. By doing this, Meta says you essentially reset the AI because the move deletes its copy of your messages and the previous context of the conversation. "You'll still see your copy of the chat with the AI, but it won't remember the previous messages," the company says. What about other platforms? Caraway, the University of Toronto professor, says even platforms that aren't using AI models yet might be inclined to later, so it's wise to think about how they could use your information before posting on them. "Most of the social media platforms are incentivized to either pursue their own AI tools, if they can afford it, or to partner with a third-party AI developer," he says. "I would always just assume that either the platform itself is somehow tied to AI or there's another company out there that is ingesting all of the publicly available information for AI training. This is just part of the way the internet is structured now." 'Under threat': U.S. Navy faces intense combat against Yemen's Iran-backed Houthi rebels U.S. attack sub, Canada navy patrol ship arrive in Cuba on heels of Russian warships Ban on rapid-fire gun accessory used in America's deadliest shooting struck down by U.S. court South African President Cyril Ramaphosa set for re-election after dramatic last-minute coalition deal Canada's defence investment plans put it on track to meet NATO guideline, minister says Tesla shareholders approve CEO Musk's US$56 billion pay, company's move to Texas 'I'm going to be rich': Glace Bay, N.S., man wins $1M Maxmillions prize A Glace Bay, N.S., man is $1 million richer after his numbers were selected in the May 28 Lotto Max draw.

tech

How that new Instagram feature may be using your data. Meta Platforms Inc. has long been using artificial intelligence to help it serve users content and ads it thinks are most likely to interest them, but its new chatbot has thrust the company's use of the technology back into the spotlight. The Meta AI chatbot embedded in the company's platforms — Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp — can be used for searches and to answer questions. A promotional page shows you can ask it for recipes, to generate images or to put together lists of popular guitar songs to play. The information you need to know, sent directly to you: Download the CTV News App But it's also prompted some users to wonder how Meta's AI systems use their data and what, if anything, they can do to opt out of the new feature. Where does Meta get the information it trains its AI models on? Meta doesn't list every source that trains its AI models, but its privacy centre says it makes use of information that is publicly available online or licensed. It also says it uses information shared through its products and services, like posts, photos and their captions. What data does Meta say it doesn't use to train its AI models? Meta's privacy centre says the company does not use private messages exchanged between users for training its AI systems. While Meta's AI systems make use of public information collected from the internet or licensed from other providers, it does not link this data to accounts. For example, if it uses a public blog post featuring an author's name and contact information, the company says it doesn't later connect that content to the user's Meta account. The company also says it did not train its foundational models — Llama 2, Llama 3 — on user data. If I don't use Meta's social networks, could the company still train its AI systems on my data? It's possible. "Even if you don't use our products and services or have an account, we may still process information about you to develop and improve AI at Meta," the company's privacy centre says. "For example, this could happen if you appear anywhere in an image shared on our products or services by someone who does use them or if someone mentions information about you in posts or captions that they share on our products and services." Can you opt out of letting Meta use your data? Meta has a form available in its privacy centre called "Data Subject Rights for Third Party Information Used for AI at Meta." Users can fill out the form and select "I want to delete any personal information from third parties used for building and improving AI at Meta." Meta says it doesn't automatically fulfil requests sent using this form but reviews them to see if they are consistent with local laws that might require them to remove your data from their AI training. How successful have Canadians been with this process? Alanna Smith, a Toronto-based small business owner in the entertainment industry, filled out Meta's form in hopes of getting the company to not use her data for its AI systems. In an email, she said the form was "deeply hidden and tricky to find." It also required her to provide proof that her data has been used to train Meta's AI systems. "How are we to 'prove' that specific data or images are in this infinitely large artificial memory we don't even have access to review?" she questioned. Smith is unsure whether her request was successful because she never got a confirmation acknowledging the request. David Troya-Alvarez, a Meta spokesperson, did not respond to a question about how many Canadians have successfully opted out so far. Other than the opt-out form, is there anything Canadians can do to limit Meta's ability to use their data for training its AI? Brett Caraway, a media economics professor, said users can consider not using the platform altogether, but he realizes many people need the company's technology for their job or interpersonal communication. "If you're either unwilling or unable to do that, I tend to think closely about what is it that I'm posting," says Caraway, who has stopped using Facebook but keeps an inactive account. Rather than fulfilling the itch to get information on the platform right away, he recommends people step away from their devices and decide whether it really needs to be on the platform and whether they're prepared for the company to potentially use the information. Can I disable the Meta AI tool I see in my Facebook and Instagram search? No. Troya-Alvarez, the Meta spokesperson, said in an email to The Canadian Press that Meta AI cannot be disabled. "Meta AI aims to be a helpful assistant and is in the search bar to assist with your questions," he said. Follow the CTV News channel on WhatsApp "You can't disable it from this experience, but you can search how you normally would to engage with a variety of results." While you can't turn the feature off, you can mute it by tapping the blue Meta AI circle in your Facebook or Instagram search bar and then hitting the blue circle with an "i" inside it. From there, you will encounter a "mute" button letting you silence the chatbot. Is Meta saving information from chats I have with its AI tool? Yes. Meta's privacy centre says it saves the messages you send it, the AI's responses and details about you so it can "carry on the conversation." "For example, if you share with the AI that you like Italian food, it will save that detail," the company's privacy centre says. "That way if later you ask for restaurants you might enjoy in New York, it should recommend Italian restaurants." How can I see what information Meta has on me from chats I had with its Meta AI tool? Type in /saved-details in your Meta AI chat window or visit your account centre when logged into Instagram and Facebook. To download the information on WhatsApp, you can also type /download-all-ai-info into a chat with your AI. How can I delete this information? Type /reset-ai into individual chats you had with Meta AI in Messenger, Instagram or WhatsApp. By doing this, Meta says you essentially reset the AI because the move deletes its copy of your messages and the previous context of the conversation. "You'll still see your copy of the chat with the AI, but it won't remember the previous messages," the company says. What about other platforms? Caraway, the University of Toronto professor, says even platforms that aren't using AI models yet might be inclined to later, so it's wise to think about how they could use your information before posting on them. "Most of the social media platforms are incentivized to either pursue their own AI tools, if they can afford it, or to partner with a third-party AI developer," he says. "I would always just assume that either the platform itself is somehow tied to AI or there's another company out there that is ingesting all of the publicly available information for AI training. This is just part of the way the internet is structured now." 'Under threat': U.S. Navy faces intense combat against Yemen's Iran-backed Houthi rebels U.S. attack sub, Canada navy patrol ship arrive in Cuba on heels of Russian warships Ban on rapid-fire gun accessory used in America's deadliest shooting struck down by U.S. court South African President Cyril Ramaphosa set for re-election after dramatic last-minute coalition deal Canada's defence investment plans put it on track to meet NATO guideline, minister says Tesla shareholders approve CEO Musk's US$56 billion pay, company's move to Texas 'I'm going to be rich': Glace Bay, N.S., man wins $1M Maxmillions prize A Glace Bay, N.S., man is $1 million richer after his numbers were selected in the May 28 Lotto Max draw.

PewDiePie ‘avenged’ as MrBeast becomes YouTube’s most-subscribed channel

MrBeast is now the most-subscribed YouTube channel. | Photo: Chris Unger / Zuffa LLC via Getty Images Bollywood music label T-Series had the most-subscribed YouTube channel for years after Felix Kjellberg, aka PewDiePie, conceded his protracted and problematic fight for the top spot to it. But now that honor belongs to YouTuber Jimmy Donaldson, who posted yesterday that his MrBeast YouTube operation had ‘avenged’ PewDiePie by overtaking T-Series. The news apparently prompted a rush, as Donaldson published a screenshot showing he’d gained 2 million more yesterday , which he said is a one-day record for the channel. The online tracker Social Blade now puts him at 268 million subscribers . After 6 years we have finally avenged Pewdiepie pic.twitter.com/V1znbyqw27 — MrBeast (@MrBeast) June 2, 2024 Donaldson made a big show of supporting Kjellberg’s campaign to stay on top back in 2019, having plastered every billboard in his town with ads promoting PewDiePie. He also showed up to the Super Bowl with several friends who wore shirts that together spelled out “SUB 2 PEW DIE PIE.” Given his 2-million-subscriber gain yesterday — a number it recently took T-Series a month to accumulate — it seems unlikely that T-Series will be able to catch up.

tech

PewDiePie ‘avenged’ as MrBeast becomes YouTube’s most-subscribed channel. MrBeast is now the most-subscribed YouTube channel. | Photo: Chris Unger / Zuffa LLC via Getty Images Bollywood music label T-Series had the most-subscribed YouTube channel for years after Felix Kjellberg, aka PewDiePie, conceded his protracted and problematic fight for the top spot to it. But now that honor belongs to YouTuber Jimmy Donaldson, who posted yesterday that his MrBeast YouTube operation had ‘avenged’ PewDiePie by overtaking T-Series. The news apparently prompted a rush, as Donaldson published a screenshot showing he’d gained 2 million more yesterday , which he said is a one-day record for the channel. The online tracker Social Blade now puts him at 268 million subscribers . After 6 years we have finally avenged Pewdiepie pic.twitter.com/V1znbyqw27 — MrBeast (@MrBeast) June 2, 2024 Donaldson made a big show of supporting Kjellberg’s campaign to stay on top back in 2019, having plastered every billboard in his town with ads promoting PewDiePie. He also showed up to the Super Bowl with several friends who wore shirts that together spelled out “SUB 2 PEW DIE PIE.” Given his 2-million-subscriber gain yesterday — a number it recently took T-Series a month to accumulate — it seems unlikely that T-Series will be able to catch up.

Sunak continues his fighting talk. At this stage it’s more of a surrender message | Marina Hyde

"I will never stop fighting for this country," ran Rishi Sunak's morning message to a nation that, if the polls are to be believed, overwhelmingly just wants him to stop fighting for this country ASAP. In any case, since almost the start of this campaign, the prime minister has been pegged as a Normandy deserter. He totally wanted to fight on the beaches for this country – but unfortunately he wanted to do a telly interview more. Undeterred, however, Sunak appended the above message to today's exciting new Conservative attack ad. This shows an elderly man, a woman and a child from behind, holding up their hands. We know it's a surrender because the caption is "DON'T SURRENDER YOUR FAMILY'S FUTURE TO LABOUR". Probably the best thing you can say about it is that it's good the actors could get paid the day rate without having to show their faces to the camera. I will never stop fighting for this country. pic.twitter.com/jNB44Ct0at — Rishi Sunak (@RishiSunak) June 27, 2024 That said, the condemnation for the fact it shows a child being held at gunpoint feels somewhat overblown. Can't help feeling it shows a child actor being held at gunpoint, which is qualitatively different, and in any case we don't know the full fake story. It's possible that this trio – call them the Labour family – are felons who have just perpetrated a violent heist, and that their implied surrender is in fact to national protector Rishi Sunak, who is training a vegan stun gun on them just out of shot, or is perhaps threatening to simply debate them into submission. Did you watch it last night? I genuinely couldn't face the last 20 minutes of it and it's my job. Most of the country now feels like the girl in the nightclub picture, getting campaign messages shouted down our earholes whether we like it or not. For nightclub bore Rishi Sunak, then, onwards with the surrender message. Lunchtime found him in Derbyshire, recording a single news clip in which he was once again forced to address the gambling scandal rocking the campaign. By way of an update on that, some candidates may now be under investigation by the Metropolitan police as well as the Gambling Commission, possibly even for misconduct in a public office. But we are still required to distinguish between bets that are bad (being allegedly based on inside knowledge) and bets that may simply be sad. Speaking of which, someone who admits to being the business minister in the current government turns out to have made a bet on the Conservatives to win the election. Maybe that was the growth strategy. news clip was not plain sailing. Had Sunak told his PPS, Craig Williams – one of the suspected gamblers, and a man he himself had said he was with every minute of every day – the date of the election? Not a question it was "right" for Sunak to answer with ongoing inquiries, etc etc. "You CANNOT prejudice an investigation," Sky News's Sam Coates repeatedly pointed out to him. "You absolutely can answer this question … you can only prejudice a jury trial." "No," Sunak bleated, also repeatedly, "it's absolutely not right." There was some other stuff, but I think at this point we can simply assume the prime minister's answer to be a "yes". It is all becoming quite unwatchable. My apologies to the other home nations for this, but the longer England's participation in any international football tournament goes on, the probability that it will become some kind of metaphor for the current state of British politics approaches one. And so it is that the prime minister's campaign has become the only spectacle less appealing than England. Incredible to think that Sunak reportedly hoped before he called the election that there might be some sort of feelgood Euros bounce at this stage of proceedings. Instead, things have got so dire that there have been calls for both him and Gareth Southgate to resign not after but DURING their respective campaigns.

uk

Sunak continues his fighting talk. At this stage it’s more of a surrender message | Marina Hyde. "I will never stop fighting for this country," ran Rishi Sunak's morning message to a nation that, if the polls are to be believed, overwhelmingly just wants him to stop fighting for this country ASAP. In any case, since almost the start of this campaign, the prime minister has been pegged as a Normandy deserter. He totally wanted to fight on the beaches for this country – but unfortunately he wanted to do a telly interview more. Undeterred, however, Sunak appended the above message to today's exciting new Conservative attack ad. This shows an elderly man, a woman and a child from behind, holding up their hands. We know it's a surrender because the caption is "DON'T SURRENDER YOUR FAMILY'S FUTURE TO LABOUR". Probably the best thing you can say about it is that it's good the actors could get paid the day rate without having to show their faces to the camera. I will never stop fighting for this country. pic.twitter.com/jNB44Ct0at — Rishi Sunak (@RishiSunak) June 27, 2024 That said, the condemnation for the fact it shows a child being held at gunpoint feels somewhat overblown. Can't help feeling it shows a child actor being held at gunpoint, which is qualitatively different, and in any case we don't know the full fake story. It's possible that this trio – call them the Labour family – are felons who have just perpetrated a violent heist, and that their implied surrender is in fact to national protector Rishi Sunak, who is training a vegan stun gun on them just out of shot, or is perhaps threatening to simply debate them into submission. Did you watch it last night? I genuinely couldn't face the last 20 minutes of it and it's my job. Most of the country now feels like the girl in the nightclub picture, getting campaign messages shouted down our earholes whether we like it or not. For nightclub bore Rishi Sunak, then, onwards with the surrender message. Lunchtime found him in Derbyshire, recording a single news clip in which he was once again forced to address the gambling scandal rocking the campaign. By way of an update on that, some candidates may now be under investigation by the Metropolitan police as well as the Gambling Commission, possibly even for misconduct in a public office. But we are still required to distinguish between bets that are bad (being allegedly based on inside knowledge) and bets that may simply be sad. Speaking of which, someone who admits to being the business minister in the current government turns out to have made a bet on the Conservatives to win the election. Maybe that was the growth strategy. news clip was not plain sailing. Had Sunak told his PPS, Craig Williams – one of the suspected gamblers, and a man he himself had said he was with every minute of every day – the date of the election? Not a question it was "right" for Sunak to answer with ongoing inquiries, etc etc. "You CANNOT prejudice an investigation," Sky News's Sam Coates repeatedly pointed out to him. "You absolutely can answer this question … you can only prejudice a jury trial." "No," Sunak bleated, also repeatedly, "it's absolutely not right." There was some other stuff, but I think at this point we can simply assume the prime minister's answer to be a "yes". It is all becoming quite unwatchable. My apologies to the other home nations for this, but the longer England's participation in any international football tournament goes on, the probability that it will become some kind of metaphor for the current state of British politics approaches one. And so it is that the prime minister's campaign has become the only spectacle less appealing than England. Incredible to think that Sunak reportedly hoped before he called the election that there might be some sort of feelgood Euros bounce at this stage of proceedings. Instead, things have got so dire that there have been calls for both him and Gareth Southgate to resign not after but DURING their respective campaigns.

‘Bridgerton universe’ has added £275m to UK economy, says Netflix

The "Bridgerton effect" has been hard to ignore since the drama first appeared on our screens, inspiring clothing and interiors trends with a period twist and helped make afternoon tea and visiting stately homes sexy. Now Netflix has put a big number on the worth of what it calls the "Bridgerton universe", suggesting the period romp produced by the company Shondaland has given a £275m shot in the arm to the UK's ailing economy over the past five years. Indeed, in a move that served to underscore the franchise's bankability, Shonda Rhimes – the chief executive of Shondaland and the veteran producer behind hits such as Grey's Anatomy – made a cameo in London's financial centre on Friday, opening trading at the London Stock Exchange. While the TV show, now into its third series, may offer escapism, Rhimes suggested its cultural impact was not to be underestimated. "The Bridgerton universe occupies a special space in culture, resonating with young and old alike, creating conversation, starting trends and influencing everything from baby names to weddings," she said. Netflix said Bridgerton had supported almost 5,000 local businesses over the past five years. Photograph: Liam Daniel/Netflix Netflix claimed the production had supported almost 5,000 local businesses over the past five years, with Rhimes stating that it was clear that the "business of art and culture can make a huge economic contribution to local communities". Anna Mallett, the vice-president of Europe, the Middle East and Africa production at Netflix, seconded Rhimes. "As well as an economic boost, the shows have had a huge cultural impact," she said. "The UK is our home and this is one part of our huge investment in creating stories our members will love." The £275m figure was calculated in-house by Netflix and includes direct and indirect spending, through money spent with other companies, getting it on to the screen. The upbeat message comes at a difficult time for UK film and TV studios, where jobs are going as the pandemic streaming boom unwinds. While it is not clear if Julia Hoggett is a Bridgerton fan, the London Stock Exchange chief executive said she was "thrilled to celebrate the significant economic and cultural impact" of the film and creative industries in the UK. The headline figure does not include other money-spinning activities piggybacking on the show, such as themed events and product ranges sold by retailers, or the likely tourism fillip as fans make pilgrimages to grand locations such as Castle Howard in Yorkshire and Ranger's House in Greenwich, London. Bridgerton has inspired visits to locations such as Castle Howard in Yorkshire. Photograph: Loop Images/Universal Images Group/Getty Images Indeed a "Bridgerton tea party" ranked highly in a recent Pinterest report looking at this summer's "hottest trends", with searches up 430% in April compared with a year earlier. Creative tea recipes were trending, it said, as people sought inspiration for what to serve and floral decor ideas. "Regencycore" is also still going strong on the high street with the upmarket London department store Liberty currently hosting an immersive Bridgerton pop-up and selling a dedicated fabric collection. The sumptuous interiors in the show are also said to be prompting the current craze for DIY panelling. While the series has given sales of, perhaps neglected, corsets, empire-waist and baby-doll dresses some oomph, the show's influence has now moved beyond fashion into beauty, with the online retailer Cult Beauty pointing to this summer's "defiant romance" trend of blush cheeks and faux freckles. It is also behind new period-inspired looks for interiors and gardens. Beth Boulton, the marketing director at the home improvement specialist Eurocell, said that since the new series began airing, shoppers were searching online for wisteria plants, pergolas, water fountains and outdoor candles.

uk

‘Bridgerton universe’ has added £275m to UK economy, says Netflix. The "Bridgerton effect" has been hard to ignore since the drama first appeared on our screens, inspiring clothing and interiors trends with a period twist and helped make afternoon tea and visiting stately homes sexy. Now Netflix has put a big number on the worth of what it calls the "Bridgerton universe", suggesting the period romp produced by the company Shondaland has given a £275m shot in the arm to the UK's ailing economy over the past five years. Indeed, in a move that served to underscore the franchise's bankability, Shonda Rhimes – the chief executive of Shondaland and the veteran producer behind hits such as Grey's Anatomy – made a cameo in London's financial centre on Friday, opening trading at the London Stock Exchange. While the TV show, now into its third series, may offer escapism, Rhimes suggested its cultural impact was not to be underestimated. "The Bridgerton universe occupies a special space in culture, resonating with young and old alike, creating conversation, starting trends and influencing everything from baby names to weddings," she said. Netflix said Bridgerton had supported almost 5,000 local businesses over the past five years. Photograph: Liam Daniel/Netflix Netflix claimed the production had supported almost 5,000 local businesses over the past five years, with Rhimes stating that it was clear that the "business of art and culture can make a huge economic contribution to local communities". Anna Mallett, the vice-president of Europe, the Middle East and Africa production at Netflix, seconded Rhimes. "As well as an economic boost, the shows have had a huge cultural impact," she said. "The UK is our home and this is one part of our huge investment in creating stories our members will love." The £275m figure was calculated in-house by Netflix and includes direct and indirect spending, through money spent with other companies, getting it on to the screen. The upbeat message comes at a difficult time for UK film and TV studios, where jobs are going as the pandemic streaming boom unwinds. While it is not clear if Julia Hoggett is a Bridgerton fan, the London Stock Exchange chief executive said she was "thrilled to celebrate the significant economic and cultural impact" of the film and creative industries in the UK. The headline figure does not include other money-spinning activities piggybacking on the show, such as themed events and product ranges sold by retailers, or the likely tourism fillip as fans make pilgrimages to grand locations such as Castle Howard in Yorkshire and Ranger's House in Greenwich, London. Bridgerton has inspired visits to locations such as Castle Howard in Yorkshire. Photograph: Loop Images/Universal Images Group/Getty Images Indeed a "Bridgerton tea party" ranked highly in a recent Pinterest report looking at this summer's "hottest trends", with searches up 430% in April compared with a year earlier. Creative tea recipes were trending, it said, as people sought inspiration for what to serve and floral decor ideas. "Regencycore" is also still going strong on the high street with the upmarket London department store Liberty currently hosting an immersive Bridgerton pop-up and selling a dedicated fabric collection. The sumptuous interiors in the show are also said to be prompting the current craze for DIY panelling. While the series has given sales of, perhaps neglected, corsets, empire-waist and baby-doll dresses some oomph, the show's influence has now moved beyond fashion into beauty, with the online retailer Cult Beauty pointing to this summer's "defiant romance" trend of blush cheeks and faux freckles. It is also behind new period-inspired looks for interiors and gardens. Beth Boulton, the marketing director at the home improvement specialist Eurocell, said that since the new series began airing, shoppers were searching online for wisteria plants, pergolas, water fountains and outdoor candles.

Sila Services Partners With Gary & Sons, Inc. - Further Strengthening of Key Pennsylvania Market

July 3, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Sila Services, LLC is excited to announce its recent acquisition of Gary & Sons, Inc., a market-leading heating and cooling company located in Falls Creek, PA. This represents another significant milestone in Sila Services' expansion strategy and underscores its commitment to delivering exceptional HVAC services throughout Pennsylvania and the entire Mid-Atlantic region. Gary Walborn founded Gary & Sons in 1978 on the foundational pillars of integrity, quality, and friendliness, values the business has upheld for nearly fifty years. Gary & Sons is prominently recognized throughout "I am thrilled to welcome Kurt and the tremendous team at Gary & Sons to the Sila Services family," said Jason Rabbino, CEO of Sila Services. "Their team has built an incredible reputation of service excellence over nearly half a century, that we are honored to help carry forward in partnership with their team of dedicated, customer-focused, and distinctively skilled tradespeople. We are committed to investing in the team through career advancement opportunities, accelerated business growth, technical training, and technology innovations. We look forward to helping Gary & Sons continue to delight their exceptional customers in providing unmatched HVAC and other home services to the Falls Creek community for the next 50+ years." Kurt Walborn, General Manager of Gary & Sons, added, "Joining Sila Services represents an exciting new chapter for our company. This partnership will allow us to leverage Sila Services' extensive resources while maintaining our commitment to our well-established culture that customers have come to depend on to keep their homes safe and comfortable. Working with Sila Services opens new doors for our team and enhances our ability to serve more homeowners across the Falls Creek community. We look forward to combining our strengths to deliver even greater value and more services to our awesome customers." About Sila Services Sila Services is a leading home services platform, operating over 30 brands throughout the Northeast, Mid-Atlantic, and Midwest. The companies of Sila Services, with a history of people-focused trade industry leadership dating back to the early 1900s, offer a complete range of residential and commercial services in HVAC, plumbing, electrical, water treatment, and indoor air quality. The company's mission is to attract, develop and advance the careers of the best people in the home services trades, ensuring an unmatched level of service and customer satisfaction in residential HVAC, Plumbing and Electrical solutions. For more information, visit

business,lifestyle

Sila Services Partners With Gary & Sons, Inc. - Further Strengthening of Key Pennsylvania Market. July 3, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Sila Services, LLC is excited to announce its recent acquisition of Gary & Sons, Inc., a market-leading heating and cooling company located in Falls Creek, PA. This represents another significant milestone in Sila Services' expansion strategy and underscores its commitment to delivering exceptional HVAC services throughout Pennsylvania and the entire Mid-Atlantic region. Gary Walborn founded Gary & Sons in 1978 on the foundational pillars of integrity, quality, and friendliness, values the business has upheld for nearly fifty years. Gary & Sons is prominently recognized throughout "I am thrilled to welcome Kurt and the tremendous team at Gary & Sons to the Sila Services family," said Jason Rabbino, CEO of Sila Services. "Their team has built an incredible reputation of service excellence over nearly half a century, that we are honored to help carry forward in partnership with their team of dedicated, customer-focused, and distinctively skilled tradespeople. We are committed to investing in the team through career advancement opportunities, accelerated business growth, technical training, and technology innovations. We look forward to helping Gary & Sons continue to delight their exceptional customers in providing unmatched HVAC and other home services to the Falls Creek community for the next 50+ years." Kurt Walborn, General Manager of Gary & Sons, added, "Joining Sila Services represents an exciting new chapter for our company. This partnership will allow us to leverage Sila Services' extensive resources while maintaining our commitment to our well-established culture that customers have come to depend on to keep their homes safe and comfortable. Working with Sila Services opens new doors for our team and enhances our ability to serve more homeowners across the Falls Creek community. We look forward to combining our strengths to deliver even greater value and more services to our awesome customers." About Sila Services Sila Services is a leading home services platform, operating over 30 brands throughout the Northeast, Mid-Atlantic, and Midwest. The companies of Sila Services, with a history of people-focused trade industry leadership dating back to the early 1900s, offer a complete range of residential and commercial services in HVAC, plumbing, electrical, water treatment, and indoor air quality. The company's mission is to attract, develop and advance the careers of the best people in the home services trades, ensuring an unmatched level of service and customer satisfaction in residential HVAC, Plumbing and Electrical solutions. For more information, visit

Kanye West accuses former assistant of blackmail

West's legal representative has now called those accusations "baseless" and accused Pisciotta of engaging in "blackmail and extortion" after the star rejected her sexual advances. Lauren Pisciotta says she had 15 years experience in the music industry before working with West Pisciotta is believed to have worked for West from 2021 to 2022, initially on his fashion line before becoming his personal assistant on a salary of $1m (£780,000) per year. She has alleged that, during her employment, the star bombarded her with explicit text, some of which included pornographic videos. Pisciotta also claimed that he masturbated while talking to her on the phone and that, on one occasion, pleasured himself in front of her after "trapping" her in a private room on his plane. In her lawsuit, the former OnlyFans model said she was abruptly fired in 2022, and never received her promised severance package. West's lawyer challenged the story, saying that Pisciotta "was terminated for being unqualified" and "demanding unreasonable sums of money", including an annual salary of $4m (£3.13m). They also accused Pisciotta of "lascivious, unhinged conduct", claiming that she "consistently used sexual coercion" to demand money and material items, including designer handbags and a Lamborghini car. The statement further alleged that, after West rejected her advances, Pisciotta attempted to blackmail him for $60m (£47m). The BBC contacted Ms Pisciotta to request a response, but she did not immediately respond.

canada,world,usa

Kanye West accuses former assistant of blackmail. West's legal representative has now called those accusations "baseless" and accused Pisciotta of engaging in "blackmail and extortion" after the star rejected her sexual advances. Lauren Pisciotta says she had 15 years experience in the music industry before working with West Pisciotta is believed to have worked for West from 2021 to 2022, initially on his fashion line before becoming his personal assistant on a salary of $1m (£780,000) per year. She has alleged that, during her employment, the star bombarded her with explicit text, some of which included pornographic videos. Pisciotta also claimed that he masturbated while talking to her on the phone and that, on one occasion, pleasured himself in front of her after "trapping" her in a private room on his plane. In her lawsuit, the former OnlyFans model said she was abruptly fired in 2022, and never received her promised severance package. West's lawyer challenged the story, saying that Pisciotta "was terminated for being unqualified" and "demanding unreasonable sums of money", including an annual salary of $4m (£3.13m). They also accused Pisciotta of "lascivious, unhinged conduct", claiming that she "consistently used sexual coercion" to demand money and material items, including designer handbags and a Lamborghini car. The statement further alleged that, after West rejected her advances, Pisciotta attempted to blackmail him for $60m (£47m). The BBC contacted Ms Pisciotta to request a response, but she did not immediately respond.

South Africa’s ANC forms unity government with white-led DA

South Africa's African National Congress party struck a deal Friday with the nation's largest opposition party, the Democratic Alliance (DA), to form the nation's first coalition government since the end of apartheid 30 years ago. The agreement will allow ANC leader Cyril Ramaphosa to remain president but marks an end to three decades of outright ANC dominance in the South African government. The ANC lost its parliamentary majority for the first time in the May 29 elections, garnering roughly 40 percent of the vote, with the center-right DA party getting about 21 percent. The governing agreement was formally announced in a televised address by DA party leader John Steenhuisen. He said the agreement came after two weeks of "intense but very mature negotiations," and it "charts a new course for our nation." John Steenhuisen, leader of the Democratic Alliance, addresses the media after signing a governing agreement with the ruling African National Congress (ANC) during the first sitting of the New South African Parliament in Cape Town, June 14, 2024. "At the heart of this government of national unity statement is a shared respect and defense of our Constitution and the rule of law including the bill of rights in its entirety," Steenhuisen said. Two smaller parties, the socially conservative Inkatha Freedom Party and the right-wing Patriotic Alliance, will also take part in the new government. The ANC has been bitter rivals for years with DA, the ANC's fiercest critic. The DA is also the only party with a white leader in a nation that is 80 percent Black. But now, Steenhuisen said, "the DA will no longer only be an opposition party at a national level. Instead, the DA now becomes the second biggest party inside a multi-party national government." After they were sworn in, the new parliament — convening in a Cape Town convention center, after the national assembly building was damaged by fire in 2022 — was set to elect a speaker and the president later Friday. The ANC and the DA hold a majority of seats in the 400-member Parliament, making Ramaphosa's reelection all but certain. The ANC's deal with the pro-business DA was received well in financial markets, as stocks were higher and the South African currency, the rand, was trading about 0.7 percent stronger against the dollar Friday.

africa

South Africa’s ANC forms unity government with white-led DA. South Africa's African National Congress party struck a deal Friday with the nation's largest opposition party, the Democratic Alliance (DA), to form the nation's first coalition government since the end of apartheid 30 years ago. The agreement will allow ANC leader Cyril Ramaphosa to remain president but marks an end to three decades of outright ANC dominance in the South African government. The ANC lost its parliamentary majority for the first time in the May 29 elections, garnering roughly 40 percent of the vote, with the center-right DA party getting about 21 percent. The governing agreement was formally announced in a televised address by DA party leader John Steenhuisen. He said the agreement came after two weeks of "intense but very mature negotiations," and it "charts a new course for our nation." John Steenhuisen, leader of the Democratic Alliance, addresses the media after signing a governing agreement with the ruling African National Congress (ANC) during the first sitting of the New South African Parliament in Cape Town, June 14, 2024. "At the heart of this government of national unity statement is a shared respect and defense of our Constitution and the rule of law including the bill of rights in its entirety," Steenhuisen said. Two smaller parties, the socially conservative Inkatha Freedom Party and the right-wing Patriotic Alliance, will also take part in the new government. The ANC has been bitter rivals for years with DA, the ANC's fiercest critic. The DA is also the only party with a white leader in a nation that is 80 percent Black. But now, Steenhuisen said, "the DA will no longer only be an opposition party at a national level. Instead, the DA now becomes the second biggest party inside a multi-party national government." After they were sworn in, the new parliament — convening in a Cape Town convention center, after the national assembly building was damaged by fire in 2022 — was set to elect a speaker and the president later Friday. The ANC and the DA hold a majority of seats in the 400-member Parliament, making Ramaphosa's reelection all but certain. The ANC's deal with the pro-business DA was received well in financial markets, as stocks were higher and the South African currency, the rand, was trading about 0.7 percent stronger against the dollar Friday.

Canada's Nick Taylor tied for 2nd at Players Championship, 4 shots behind Wyndham Clark

Wyndham Clark holds a four-shot lead over fellow American Xander Schauffele (69) and Nick Taylor of Abbotsford, B.C. (68) at The Players Championship in Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla. The second round was to be completed Saturday morning because of darkness. Posted: Mar 15, 2024 8:26 PM EDT | Last Updated: 12 minutes ago Abbotsford, B.C., native Nick Taylor waves to the gallery after making a birdie putt on the 11th hole during the second round of The Players Championship in Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla., on Friday. (Lynne Sladky/The Associated Press) Social Sharing Scottie Scheffler had his 25th consecutive round under par Friday in The Players Championship, and this was hard work. He felt pain in his neck that required treatment on the course, and he struggled to swing and to stay within range of Wyndham Clark. Feeling fit or not, that turned out to be the goal for everyone. Clark was playing in the group behind, oblivious to Scheffler's injury or anything else. He ran off four straight birdies on the front nine and finished with a 7-under 65, one shot short of the 36-hole record at the TPC Sawgrass in Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla. He had a four-shot lead over fellow American Xander Schauffele (69) and Nick Taylor of Abbotsford, B.C., (68), who played in the afternoon and had to cope with warm, breezy conditions on greens that remained surprisingly soft on the Stadium Course. Corey Conners of Listowel, Ont., is tied for sixth at 8 under. WATCH l Taylor, Conners remain in hunt entering weekend: Taylor, Conners remain in hunt at Players Championship heading into weekend Duration 1:48 Nick Taylor of Abbotsford, B.C. is tied for second place after two rounds at the Players Championship that was suspended by darkness and trails the leader Wyndham Clark of the United States by four strokes. Listowel, Ont., native Corey Conners is tied for sixth place and trails Clark by six shots. Scheffler was simply happy to be done. He felt something wrong on his fourth full swing of the day, a shot that went left on the par-5 11th that kept him from a good look at birdie. He got treatment before his tee shots on three straight holes and managed a 3-under 69. "I felt a little something in my neck, and then I tried to hit my tee shot on 12, and that's when I could barely get the club back," Scheffler said through a PGA Tour official. What to know for golf's 'fifth major' Mackenzie Hughes of Hamilton, Ont., is tied for 55th at 1 under, Ben Silverman of Thornhill, Ont., is tied for 82nd at 1 over, Adam Svensson of Surrey, B.C., is tied for 106th at 3 over, Adam Hadwin of Abbotsford is tied for 114th at 4 over, and Taylor Pendrith of Richmond Hill, Ont., is tied for 125th at 6 over. Current leaderboard <a href=" <a href=" -14<br>T2. <a href=" -10<br>T2. <a href=" <a href=" -9<br>T4. Maverick McNealy<br>T6. <a href=" -8<br>T6. Scottie Scheffler<br>T6. <a href=" <a href=" &mdash; @PGATOUR The hope for Scheffler is he would have free range by the weekend. The concern is that he already was No. 1 in the world and appearing to hit another gear coming off his five-shot victory last week at Bay Hill until this injury interruption. Clark is proving each week to be a serious challenger no matter Scheffler's condition. The U.S. Open champion already shot 60 at Pebble Beach to win in 54 holes because of weather, and he was the only player who mounted any challenge against Scheffler at Bay Hill last week, finishing runner-up. Clark declared Pebble Beach winner after final round wiped out by weather He got through the back nine on another calm, sunny morning in 1 under and then started hitting everything close to perfect — a wedge to 18 inches on No. 1, a simple up-and-down for birdie on the par-5 second, a 12-foot birdie putt on the par-3 third and a wedge to four feet on the fourth hole. "I'm just super excited that kind of had a ho-hum front nine and then turned and really just got into a nice zone and felt really good on the greens and shot an awesome number," Clark said. He closed with a birdie for a 30 on the front nine and was at 14-under 130. The 36-hole record holder for The Players is Webb Simpson in 2018. WATCH l Taylor shoots 66 in opening round: Canada's Taylor, Conners in the hunt at Players Championship Duration 2:01 Nick Taylor of Abbotsford, B.C. shoots 6-under 66 in the opening round at the Players Championship that was suspended by darkness and trails a trio of leaders by one stroke. Listowel, Ont., native Corey Conners is tied for 13th place at 4-under. Schauffele has only one blunder through 36 holes, a hybrid he hit into the water on the par-5 11th that led to double bogey. He got that back with a 7-iron into the par-5 16th for eagle and at least worked his way into the final group. He got there with a 6-iron off the pine straw and under the trees onto the 18th green for par. "I wanted to be in the final group as often as possible, especially being four shots back," Schauffele said. Taylor had three bogeys, each time answering with a birdie to stay in the mix. More golf coverage Former U.S. Open champion Matt Fitzpatrick had a double bogey on No. 4 that slowed his momentum. He had to settle for a 69 and was five shots behind, along with Maverick McNealy, who finished with a 67 in the morning and followed with a 68. Scheffler was in the group at 8-under 136, and by the sound of it, he was happy to be there. "I did enough to keep myself somewhat in the tournament, and so that's really all I could ask for," Scheffler said. "The way I was getting around the course, the way my neck was feeling, I didn't know if I was going to be able to continue playing. So yeah, good fight out there." At least he's still playing. Justin Thomas, Jordan Spieth and Will Zalatoris were among those set to miss the cut — Spieth for the sixth time in 10 appearances, Thomas for the first time. The second round was to be completed Saturday morning because of darkness. Min Woo Lee from 60 feet.<br><br>The second longest putt made on No. 17 since 2003 💪 <a href=" &mdash; @PGATOUR Rory McIlroy didn't make a par until the seventh hole in a wild round of 73 that left him eight shots behind Clark. Scheffler converted two of his four birdie chances at the start, but then he walked briskly up the hill toward the 14th tee with his physio, Marnus Marais. He sat on a chair behind the 14th tee with Marais working on him. Scheffler drilled his drive down the middle and had a 20-foot birdie chance. Then he walked through the palmetto bushes, away from spectators, for more work. Thomas and Rickie Fowler hit their tee shots and waited on Scheffler. The same scene played out after the 15th. Clark, meanwhile, looks to be a daunting target. A year ago at The Players Championship, hardly anyone knew who he was. But the 29-year-old from Denver is working his way into the elite in golf as much with his big titles — two signature events and one major — as his No. 5 world ranking.

sports

Canada's Nick Taylor tied for 2nd at Players Championship, 4 shots behind Wyndham Clark. Wyndham Clark holds a four-shot lead over fellow American Xander Schauffele (69) and Nick Taylor of Abbotsford, B.C. (68) at The Players Championship in Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla. The second round was to be completed Saturday morning because of darkness. Posted: Mar 15, 2024 8:26 PM EDT | Last Updated: 12 minutes ago Abbotsford, B.C., native Nick Taylor waves to the gallery after making a birdie putt on the 11th hole during the second round of The Players Championship in Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla., on Friday. (Lynne Sladky/The Associated Press) Social Sharing Scottie Scheffler had his 25th consecutive round under par Friday in The Players Championship, and this was hard work. He felt pain in his neck that required treatment on the course, and he struggled to swing and to stay within range of Wyndham Clark. Feeling fit or not, that turned out to be the goal for everyone. Clark was playing in the group behind, oblivious to Scheffler's injury or anything else. He ran off four straight birdies on the front nine and finished with a 7-under 65, one shot short of the 36-hole record at the TPC Sawgrass in Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla. He had a four-shot lead over fellow American Xander Schauffele (69) and Nick Taylor of Abbotsford, B.C., (68), who played in the afternoon and had to cope with warm, breezy conditions on greens that remained surprisingly soft on the Stadium Course. Corey Conners of Listowel, Ont., is tied for sixth at 8 under. WATCH l Taylor, Conners remain in hunt entering weekend: Taylor, Conners remain in hunt at Players Championship heading into weekend Duration 1:48 Nick Taylor of Abbotsford, B.C. is tied for second place after two rounds at the Players Championship that was suspended by darkness and trails the leader Wyndham Clark of the United States by four strokes. Listowel, Ont., native Corey Conners is tied for sixth place and trails Clark by six shots. Scheffler was simply happy to be done. He felt something wrong on his fourth full swing of the day, a shot that went left on the par-5 11th that kept him from a good look at birdie. He got treatment before his tee shots on three straight holes and managed a 3-under 69. "I felt a little something in my neck, and then I tried to hit my tee shot on 12, and that's when I could barely get the club back," Scheffler said through a PGA Tour official. What to know for golf's 'fifth major' Mackenzie Hughes of Hamilton, Ont., is tied for 55th at 1 under, Ben Silverman of Thornhill, Ont., is tied for 82nd at 1 over, Adam Svensson of Surrey, B.C., is tied for 106th at 3 over, Adam Hadwin of Abbotsford is tied for 114th at 4 over, and Taylor Pendrith of Richmond Hill, Ont., is tied for 125th at 6 over. Current leaderboard <a href=" <a href=" -14<br>T2. <a href=" -10<br>T2. <a href=" <a href=" -9<br>T4. Maverick McNealy<br>T6. <a href=" -8<br>T6. Scottie Scheffler<br>T6. <a href=" <a href=" &mdash; @PGATOUR The hope for Scheffler is he would have free range by the weekend. The concern is that he already was No. 1 in the world and appearing to hit another gear coming off his five-shot victory last week at Bay Hill until this injury interruption. Clark is proving each week to be a serious challenger no matter Scheffler's condition. The U.S. Open champion already shot 60 at Pebble Beach to win in 54 holes because of weather, and he was the only player who mounted any challenge against Scheffler at Bay Hill last week, finishing runner-up. Clark declared Pebble Beach winner after final round wiped out by weather He got through the back nine on another calm, sunny morning in 1 under and then started hitting everything close to perfect — a wedge to 18 inches on No. 1, a simple up-and-down for birdie on the par-5 second, a 12-foot birdie putt on the par-3 third and a wedge to four feet on the fourth hole. "I'm just super excited that kind of had a ho-hum front nine and then turned and really just got into a nice zone and felt really good on the greens and shot an awesome number," Clark said. He closed with a birdie for a 30 on the front nine and was at 14-under 130. The 36-hole record holder for The Players is Webb Simpson in 2018. WATCH l Taylor shoots 66 in opening round: Canada's Taylor, Conners in the hunt at Players Championship Duration 2:01 Nick Taylor of Abbotsford, B.C. shoots 6-under 66 in the opening round at the Players Championship that was suspended by darkness and trails a trio of leaders by one stroke. Listowel, Ont., native Corey Conners is tied for 13th place at 4-under. Schauffele has only one blunder through 36 holes, a hybrid he hit into the water on the par-5 11th that led to double bogey. He got that back with a 7-iron into the par-5 16th for eagle and at least worked his way into the final group. He got there with a 6-iron off the pine straw and under the trees onto the 18th green for par. "I wanted to be in the final group as often as possible, especially being four shots back," Schauffele said. Taylor had three bogeys, each time answering with a birdie to stay in the mix. More golf coverage Former U.S. Open champion Matt Fitzpatrick had a double bogey on No. 4 that slowed his momentum. He had to settle for a 69 and was five shots behind, along with Maverick McNealy, who finished with a 67 in the morning and followed with a 68. Scheffler was in the group at 8-under 136, and by the sound of it, he was happy to be there. "I did enough to keep myself somewhat in the tournament, and so that's really all I could ask for," Scheffler said. "The way I was getting around the course, the way my neck was feeling, I didn't know if I was going to be able to continue playing. So yeah, good fight out there." At least he's still playing. Justin Thomas, Jordan Spieth and Will Zalatoris were among those set to miss the cut — Spieth for the sixth time in 10 appearances, Thomas for the first time. The second round was to be completed Saturday morning because of darkness. Min Woo Lee from 60 feet.<br><br>The second longest putt made on No. 17 since 2003 💪 <a href=" &mdash; @PGATOUR Rory McIlroy didn't make a par until the seventh hole in a wild round of 73 that left him eight shots behind Clark. Scheffler converted two of his four birdie chances at the start, but then he walked briskly up the hill toward the 14th tee with his physio, Marnus Marais. He sat on a chair behind the 14th tee with Marais working on him. Scheffler drilled his drive down the middle and had a 20-foot birdie chance. Then he walked through the palmetto bushes, away from spectators, for more work. Thomas and Rickie Fowler hit their tee shots and waited on Scheffler. The same scene played out after the 15th. Clark, meanwhile, looks to be a daunting target. A year ago at The Players Championship, hardly anyone knew who he was. But the 29-year-old from Denver is working his way into the elite in golf as much with his big titles — two signature events and one major — as his No. 5 world ranking.

Flow: people who are easily absorbed in an activity may have better mental and cardiovascular health

What do you love? Sofia Zhuravetc/Shutterstock Have you ever lost all sense of space and time when redecorating a room? How about being so focused while playing an instrument that the worries that weighed you down a minute ago just evaporated? Then you’ve probably experienced “flow”. Flow is a term used in psychology to describe a state of heightened concentration, in which you are completely absorbed in an activity. It exists somewhere between boredom and stress – usually experienced during activities which are somewhat challenging but still meet our skill levels . When we experience flow, we tend to be highly effective, feel in control and forget about time. Flow is often a positive experience. So could it be good for our mental health? That’s a question researchers, including me, are currently tackling. Concepts such as flow have been around for a while, take for example the “polarisation of attention” “ which is a state of heightened focus proposed by the Italian educator Maria Montessori in the early 20th century. But the modern, scientific version of flow was developed by the American Hungarian-born psychologist Mihály Csíkszentmihályi in the 1970s. Work by myself and others has shown how often and in which setting we experience flow largely differs between people, and is partly genetically influenced . In other words, some people are more prone to experience flow than others, which is partly due to individual differences in genetic predispositions, but also due to factors in our environment. These may include the circumstances of the specific activities we engage in, the distractions we experience and our mental states. Does flow cause mental health? It has been proposed that being prone to flow may be associated with many positive outcomes , including better mental and cardiovascular health. These associations have generally been interpreted as evidence for flow causing such protective efforts. These proposed benefits of flow have led to the first companies seeing business opportunities and offering flow-promoting training . However, this may be a little premature. To date, most available research does not allow for any conclusions about causal effects of flow on mental or physical health. That’s because the research has primarily been based on small sample sizes and self-reported data. And both the predisposition to experience flow and mental health problems are partly heritable. Our specific predispositions will, together with our environment and experiences, influence how we fare in life, including whether we experience flow or mental health problems. But how exactly our genes and environment work together is still mostly unknown. This implies that the same family factors, including genetic predispositions or early childhood environment, may influence both how prone we are to flow and our mental health. In that case, the associations reported would not be directly causal, but rather be down to a third factor causing both, such as genes or specific childhood experiences. Enter neuroticism Another such third factor could be a concept called "neuroticism”. Neuroticism is a personality trait which describes our tendency to be emotionally unbalanced and easily irritated. People with high neuroticism scores are more susceptible to stress and psychological problems, as well as cardiovascular and other somatic diseases. At the same time, it intuitively makes sense that worry, stress and emotional instability are factors which would keep you from entering flow experiences. So it is quite possible that our predispositions, including neuroticism, would influence both our ability to experience flow and our mental health. Depression is related to the personality trait neuroticism. PeopleImages.com - Yuri A/Shutterstock If we then explore the relationship between flow and mental health without considering neuroticism – as most research has done – we would observe an association. But that’s really driven by neuroticism. Together, this raises the question: can flow really protect against certain health problems? This question was recently investigated by my student Emma Gaston at the University of Melbourne, Australia, and co-supervised by myself and Laura Wesseldijk, a senior researcher in my group at the Max Planck Institute for Empirical Aesthetics (MPIEA) in Frankfurt am Main, Germany. Our paper was published in the journal Translational Psychiatry . We investigated, for the first time, whether neuroticism influences the observed associations between flow and mental health – and whether family factors such as genetic or early family environment may play a role. Also for the first time, the study tested the reverse; whether mental health problems lead to less flow. This was done using real-life diagnoses from 9,300 people in the Swedish patient registry. We found that people who were more prone to experience flow had a lower risk of certain diagnoses, including depression, anxiety, schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, stress-related disorders and cardiovascular disease. This is in line with expectations of a protective effect of flow on mental and cardiovascular health outcomes. However, when considering neuroticism and family factors, flow experiences remained associated only with major depression and (possibly) anxiety, though associations were somewhat diminished. This finding suggests that flow may have some protective effect on those two mental health outcomes, but that the relationship is more complex than thought. On the other hand, the fact that most of these associations disappeared suggests that being prone to flow didn’t directly cause a lower risk for these conditions. Rather third factors, such as genes, may be a better explanation. Does that mean we should engage in flow training to reduce our risk for depression and anxiety? No. Research is lacking to investigate if and how we can even manipulate flow and what consequences that would have. That said, when we are in a state of flow, it is likely that we are spending less time ruminating over our lives or worrying about the future – simply because we are occupied and the experience of flow in itself is rewarding. So if something you love doing makes you lose all sense of space and time, it is likely that it is good for you – at least in that moment. Miriam Mosing does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.

tech,science,uk

Flow: people who are easily absorbed in an activity may have better mental and cardiovascular health. What do you love? Sofia Zhuravetc/Shutterstock Have you ever lost all sense of space and time when redecorating a room? How about being so focused while playing an instrument that the worries that weighed you down a minute ago just evaporated? Then you’ve probably experienced “flow”. Flow is a term used in psychology to describe a state of heightened concentration, in which you are completely absorbed in an activity. It exists somewhere between boredom and stress – usually experienced during activities which are somewhat challenging but still meet our skill levels . When we experience flow, we tend to be highly effective, feel in control and forget about time. Flow is often a positive experience. So could it be good for our mental health? That’s a question researchers, including me, are currently tackling. Concepts such as flow have been around for a while, take for example the “polarisation of attention” “ which is a state of heightened focus proposed by the Italian educator Maria Montessori in the early 20th century. But the modern, scientific version of flow was developed by the American Hungarian-born psychologist Mihály Csíkszentmihályi in the 1970s. Work by myself and others has shown how often and in which setting we experience flow largely differs between people, and is partly genetically influenced . In other words, some people are more prone to experience flow than others, which is partly due to individual differences in genetic predispositions, but also due to factors in our environment. These may include the circumstances of the specific activities we engage in, the distractions we experience and our mental states. Does flow cause mental health? It has been proposed that being prone to flow may be associated with many positive outcomes , including better mental and cardiovascular health. These associations have generally been interpreted as evidence for flow causing such protective efforts. These proposed benefits of flow have led to the first companies seeing business opportunities and offering flow-promoting training . However, this may be a little premature. To date, most available research does not allow for any conclusions about causal effects of flow on mental or physical health. That’s because the research has primarily been based on small sample sizes and self-reported data. And both the predisposition to experience flow and mental health problems are partly heritable. Our specific predispositions will, together with our environment and experiences, influence how we fare in life, including whether we experience flow or mental health problems. But how exactly our genes and environment work together is still mostly unknown. This implies that the same family factors, including genetic predispositions or early childhood environment, may influence both how prone we are to flow and our mental health. In that case, the associations reported would not be directly causal, but rather be down to a third factor causing both, such as genes or specific childhood experiences. Enter neuroticism Another such third factor could be a concept called "neuroticism”. Neuroticism is a personality trait which describes our tendency to be emotionally unbalanced and easily irritated. People with high neuroticism scores are more susceptible to stress and psychological problems, as well as cardiovascular and other somatic diseases. At the same time, it intuitively makes sense that worry, stress and emotional instability are factors which would keep you from entering flow experiences. So it is quite possible that our predispositions, including neuroticism, would influence both our ability to experience flow and our mental health. Depression is related to the personality trait neuroticism. PeopleImages.com - Yuri A/Shutterstock If we then explore the relationship between flow and mental health without considering neuroticism – as most research has done – we would observe an association. But that’s really driven by neuroticism. Together, this raises the question: can flow really protect against certain health problems? This question was recently investigated by my student Emma Gaston at the University of Melbourne, Australia, and co-supervised by myself and Laura Wesseldijk, a senior researcher in my group at the Max Planck Institute for Empirical Aesthetics (MPIEA) in Frankfurt am Main, Germany. Our paper was published in the journal Translational Psychiatry . We investigated, for the first time, whether neuroticism influences the observed associations between flow and mental health – and whether family factors such as genetic or early family environment may play a role. Also for the first time, the study tested the reverse; whether mental health problems lead to less flow. This was done using real-life diagnoses from 9,300 people in the Swedish patient registry. We found that people who were more prone to experience flow had a lower risk of certain diagnoses, including depression, anxiety, schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, stress-related disorders and cardiovascular disease. This is in line with expectations of a protective effect of flow on mental and cardiovascular health outcomes. However, when considering neuroticism and family factors, flow experiences remained associated only with major depression and (possibly) anxiety, though associations were somewhat diminished. This finding suggests that flow may have some protective effect on those two mental health outcomes, but that the relationship is more complex than thought. On the other hand, the fact that most of these associations disappeared suggests that being prone to flow didn’t directly cause a lower risk for these conditions. Rather third factors, such as genes, may be a better explanation. Does that mean we should engage in flow training to reduce our risk for depression and anxiety? No. Research is lacking to investigate if and how we can even manipulate flow and what consequences that would have. That said, when we are in a state of flow, it is likely that we are spending less time ruminating over our lives or worrying about the future – simply because we are occupied and the experience of flow in itself is rewarding. So if something you love doing makes you lose all sense of space and time, it is likely that it is good for you – at least in that moment. Miriam Mosing does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.

OverDrive "All Access" Collections to Enable Millions of Readers to Enjoy Premium Digital Library Books with No Holds or Wait Times

June 19, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- As part of OverDrive's advocacy for flexible and reasonable digital book costs for schools and libraries, OverDrive announced today three new All Access Collections of simultaneous use ebook subscriptions for libraries. Designed to address the significant growth in reader demand for eBooks within the Libby and Sora apps, libraries will delight patrons with access to a growing catalog of in-demand titles without any holds. These genre-specific collections, priced with a fixed annual fee, will add meaningful inventory of popular titles to libraries and supplement other access models available from OverDrive Marketplace. New subscriptions launching this summer from participating publishers include All Access Romance and All Access Mystery. The All Access Romance Collection will launch with over 1,000 titles from Kensington Publishing available for purchase through OverDrive Marketplace. Titles in each collection were selected based on OverDrive data including title circulation, holds, and Notify Me engagements from readers around the world. Each collection will be refreshed regularly to add new titles to satisfy this audience of voracious readers. "The initial success of public library eBook lending was built on the adult fiction categories of romance and mystery over 20 years ago," says Steve Potash, founder and CEO of OverDrive. "All Access collections enable librarians to further optimize the performance of their digital library budget and support simultaneous access to titles for book clubs, community reading programs, and general patron use. Each collection provides something for all. In the Romance collection readers will delight in titles from contemporary to paranormal to western while in the Mystery collection titles span from cozy to police procedural to suspense thrillers." Last year OverDrive introduced simultaneous access to children's eBooks focused on early literacy through its All Access Supersonic Phonics & Decodables collection. This will be joined by the All Access Kids Building Block Library which bundles together five new subcollections: Emotional Wellness, Graphic Nonfiction, Animals & Nature, STEM, and Beginning Reader. Librarians can purchase all 800+ titles or select the subcollections that best fit their readers' needs. "The need for readily available eBooks is ever-growing as the popularity of digital books rises," says Catherine Mason, Digital Buying Lead at Columbus Metropolitan Library in Columbus, OH. "Simultaneous use packages keep our patrons satisfied and engaged while they wait for other books they've placed on hold, without burdening our budgets and librarians." OverDrive All Access Collections build on the success of similar on-demand models such as Kanopy PLUS Packs, All Access Comics & Graphic Novels, All Access Magazines, and OverDrive Max. OverDrive Marketplace recently reached a milestone of over 1 million premium, in-copyright ebooks, and audiobooks available for schools and libraries through the OverDrive Max access model. "Simultaneous use packages have been a fantastic addition to the Ohio Digital Library collection," notes Anne Kennedy, Library Consultant, State Library of Ohio. "Our data shows highlighting 'always available' titles in curated collections and featured title campaigns has increased checkouts and patron satisfaction. I plan on immediately creating new romance curated collections once I buy the first All Access package." "OverDrive's publisher services team has been educating authors, agents, and publishers on the tremendous influence that librarians have to promote book sales for print, digital and audio editions of each work," notes Potash. "When libraries and schools promote always available titles for community reading events and book clubs, retail sales see a boost.* We're looking forward to launching more collections soon." Librarians are invited to stop by booth 1040 at the 2024 American Library Association Annual Conference & Exhibition to learn more about the upcoming All Access Collections. For more information about OverDrive, visit About OverDrive OverDrive is a mission-based company that stands with libraries. Named a Certified B Corp in 2017, OverDrive serves more than 88,000 libraries and schools in 109 countries with the industry's largest digital catalog of eBooks, audiobooks, magazines, video and other content. OverDrive empowers libraries and schools by expanding access for all through tireless industry advocacy and consistent innovation. Award-winning apps and services include the Libby library reading app, the Sora student reading app, Kanopy, the leading video streaming app for libraries and colleges, and TeachingBooks.net, which offers one of the largest catalogs of supplemental materials that enhance literacy outcomes. Founded in 1986, OverDrive is based in

business,lifestyle

OverDrive "All Access" Collections to Enable Millions of Readers to Enjoy Premium Digital Library Books with No Holds or Wait Times. June 19, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- As part of OverDrive's advocacy for flexible and reasonable digital book costs for schools and libraries, OverDrive announced today three new All Access Collections of simultaneous use ebook subscriptions for libraries. Designed to address the significant growth in reader demand for eBooks within the Libby and Sora apps, libraries will delight patrons with access to a growing catalog of in-demand titles without any holds. These genre-specific collections, priced with a fixed annual fee, will add meaningful inventory of popular titles to libraries and supplement other access models available from OverDrive Marketplace. New subscriptions launching this summer from participating publishers include All Access Romance and All Access Mystery. The All Access Romance Collection will launch with over 1,000 titles from Kensington Publishing available for purchase through OverDrive Marketplace. Titles in each collection were selected based on OverDrive data including title circulation, holds, and Notify Me engagements from readers around the world. Each collection will be refreshed regularly to add new titles to satisfy this audience of voracious readers. "The initial success of public library eBook lending was built on the adult fiction categories of romance and mystery over 20 years ago," says Steve Potash, founder and CEO of OverDrive. "All Access collections enable librarians to further optimize the performance of their digital library budget and support simultaneous access to titles for book clubs, community reading programs, and general patron use. Each collection provides something for all. In the Romance collection readers will delight in titles from contemporary to paranormal to western while in the Mystery collection titles span from cozy to police procedural to suspense thrillers." Last year OverDrive introduced simultaneous access to children's eBooks focused on early literacy through its All Access Supersonic Phonics & Decodables collection. This will be joined by the All Access Kids Building Block Library which bundles together five new subcollections: Emotional Wellness, Graphic Nonfiction, Animals & Nature, STEM, and Beginning Reader. Librarians can purchase all 800+ titles or select the subcollections that best fit their readers' needs. "The need for readily available eBooks is ever-growing as the popularity of digital books rises," says Catherine Mason, Digital Buying Lead at Columbus Metropolitan Library in Columbus, OH. "Simultaneous use packages keep our patrons satisfied and engaged while they wait for other books they've placed on hold, without burdening our budgets and librarians." OverDrive All Access Collections build on the success of similar on-demand models such as Kanopy PLUS Packs, All Access Comics & Graphic Novels, All Access Magazines, and OverDrive Max. OverDrive Marketplace recently reached a milestone of over 1 million premium, in-copyright ebooks, and audiobooks available for schools and libraries through the OverDrive Max access model. "Simultaneous use packages have been a fantastic addition to the Ohio Digital Library collection," notes Anne Kennedy, Library Consultant, State Library of Ohio. "Our data shows highlighting 'always available' titles in curated collections and featured title campaigns has increased checkouts and patron satisfaction. I plan on immediately creating new romance curated collections once I buy the first All Access package." "OverDrive's publisher services team has been educating authors, agents, and publishers on the tremendous influence that librarians have to promote book sales for print, digital and audio editions of each work," notes Potash. "When libraries and schools promote always available titles for community reading events and book clubs, retail sales see a boost.* We're looking forward to launching more collections soon." Librarians are invited to stop by booth 1040 at the 2024 American Library Association Annual Conference & Exhibition to learn more about the upcoming All Access Collections. For more information about OverDrive, visit About OverDrive OverDrive is a mission-based company that stands with libraries. Named a Certified B Corp in 2017, OverDrive serves more than 88,000 libraries and schools in 109 countries with the industry's largest digital catalog of eBooks, audiobooks, magazines, video and other content. OverDrive empowers libraries and schools by expanding access for all through tireless industry advocacy and consistent innovation. Award-winning apps and services include the Libby library reading app, the Sora student reading app, Kanopy, the leading video streaming app for libraries and colleges, and TeachingBooks.net, which offers one of the largest catalogs of supplemental materials that enhance literacy outcomes. Founded in 1986, OverDrive is based in

Marge Simpson's likeness found in ancient Egyptian coffin. What does this discovery mean?

The iconic cartoon character Marge Simpson appears to have a doppelganger from ancient Egyptian times. Coffin lids during the New Kingdom era are known for their intricate designs, but this particular cover was remarkable for another reason from the perspective of social media users and fans of the longtime Fox animated sitcom "The Simpsons." Dr. Mustafa Waziri, secretary-general of the Supreme Council of Antiquities of Egypt, said work last year uncovered what archeologists believe were tombs for senior officials and priests in a 3,500-year-old cemetery from the New Kingdom, circa 1539-1075 BC. There were amulets, ornaments, as well as stone and wooden coffins with the mummies, according to Egypt's Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities in a press release Oct. 15, 2023, translated from Arabic to English. The New Kingdom period is commonly known as the "Golden Age" of ancient Egypt, according to TheArchaeologist.org. Although the discovery of the mummy's coffin was announced nine months ago, the image went viral on social media as users pointed out the uncanny resemblance to the beloved matriarch from "The Simpsons." The upper lid of the coffin has an image of a yellow-hued woman with an extremely tall blue crown, resembling Marge Simpson's outsized blue hair, and a strapless green outfit, similar to the cartoon character's own dress. The coffin belonged to Tadi Ist, daughter of the High Priest of Djehouti in Ashmunein, according to The Egyptian Gazette, described as the oldest daily newspaper in the Middle East. The mummy featured a mask and a beaded dress in "excellent condition," the publication reported. The information you need to know, sent directly to you: Download the CTV News App "Egypt predicted Simpsons," wrote Reddit user KenseiHimura. "Or did The Simpsons predict the Egyptians?" wrote Moonhunter7 in the comments thread. "Or Matt Groening really is a time traveler," wrote Thosepassionfruits, referencing "The Simpsons" creator. Called a "significant artifact," the lid featured intricate artistry, according to a blog post from TheArchaeologist.org published June 4. Coffins from the New Kingdom period typically had lids with carvings and paintings depicting the dead, deities and scenes from the Book of the Dead, which contained spells to guide the deceased in the afterlife. "Such discoveries are crucial for historians and archaeologists in reconstructing the timeline of the 20th Dynasty, understanding the socio-economic conditions, and the cultural and religious practices of the period," according to the blog post. Coffin lids from this period also included hieroglyphics, imagery of the dead in a "serene state" with protective deities, and symbolism, it added. Police Hate Crime Unit investigating truck playing 'offensive and hateful' video seen driving around Toronto The Toronto Police Hate Crime Unit is investigating after a cube van was seen driving around the city playing a video which has been called 'offensive' and 'hateful.' Marge Simpson's likeness found in ancient Egyptian coffin. What does this discovery mean? Police look to identify 'nudist runner of the woods' caught on camera in western Quebec The MRC des Collines-de-l'Outaouais police say the owner of a Val-des-Mont business discovered security camera footage of someone running naked across his property on June 8 around 1:30 a.m. Olive oil shortage 'delicate dance' for cash-strapped restaurants House rises for the summer, gov't vows to return 'ruthlessly' focused on improving Canadians' lives The Toronto Police Hate Crime Unit is investigating after a cube van was seen driving around the city playing a video which has been called 'offensive' and 'hateful.' B.C. police complaint commissioner investigating sexual misconduct allegations against Vancouver police sergeant Montreal restaurant hit with projectiles; owner says it's because he is Jewish U.K. prime minister's protection officer arrested over alleged bet on election timing As avian flu spreads in the south, Canadian authorities release 'proactive' monitoring results New evidence Baldwin was reckless with gun before 'Rust' shooting, prosecutors say Glenn Close 'hit hard' with COVID and RSV at same time, forced to delay filming 'Knives Out 3' Tiger Woods' son, Charlie, qualifies for first USGA event Nearly 1.2 million Jeep, Dodge, Chrysler vehicles recalled over rear camera issue Sask. steer auction for teen with rare condition raises more than $50,000 A steer auctioned off on behalf a Saskatchewan teenager with a rare neurological disorder has raised more than $50,000 for an MRI project in his hometown. Space data being used to monitor, protect endangered North Atlantic right whales Cape Breton boy living with arthritis raises nearly $6,000 in charity basketball game B.C. police complaint commissioner investigating sexual misconduct allegations against Vancouver police sergeant A veteran sergeant with the Vancouver Police Department is under investigation by the B.C. police complaint commissioner following allegations of sexual misconduct from seven women, including female police officers and former students of his criminal justice courses. Roads closed, homes evacuated due to 'suspected explosive device' in New Westminster Youth groped by 2 men on the way to school, Surrey RCMP say Quebec has been dealing with a ridge of high pressure, which is responsible for the heat wave we've been seeing this week. Here's the forecast for when it's expected to break. Montreal restaurant hit with projectiles; owner says it's because he is Jewish Montreal police are investigating after a Jewish-owned business in the city's Mile End neighbourhood was hit with projectiles. Rent prices in some Quebec cities are out of control, tenant group says Moving into a new apartment anywhere in Quebec now comes with price tags unseen. Tenant groups say they have observed a pattern of rent increases that show the market is in their view, 'nightmarish.' Oilers take lead from star captain McDavid in clawing way back into Stanley Cup Final Somehow, some way, the Edmonton Oilers are alive in the Stanley Cup Final despite starting the series against the Florida Panthers with three losses. How they did it, you might wonder, is also the reason why you might not have any doubt: their star players, in particular Connor McDavid, ramped up their play to dominate and, importantly, thrived under the pressure of elimination. Drugs, guns, cash seized in Strathcona County RCMP's 'largest bust' RCMP seek witnesses after N.S. man dies, gas-powered bike goes missing Police say northern Ont. suspect resold $94K in rented equipment after removing GPS 'Start cleaning up your buildings': Tenant calls for better safety and security at one of city's newest public housing buildings B.C. police complaint commissioner investigating sexual misconduct allegations against Vancouver police sergeant

tech

Marge Simpson's likeness found in ancient Egyptian coffin. What does this discovery mean?. The iconic cartoon character Marge Simpson appears to have a doppelganger from ancient Egyptian times. Coffin lids during the New Kingdom era are known for their intricate designs, but this particular cover was remarkable for another reason from the perspective of social media users and fans of the longtime Fox animated sitcom "The Simpsons." Dr. Mustafa Waziri, secretary-general of the Supreme Council of Antiquities of Egypt, said work last year uncovered what archeologists believe were tombs for senior officials and priests in a 3,500-year-old cemetery from the New Kingdom, circa 1539-1075 BC. There were amulets, ornaments, as well as stone and wooden coffins with the mummies, according to Egypt's Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities in a press release Oct. 15, 2023, translated from Arabic to English. The New Kingdom period is commonly known as the "Golden Age" of ancient Egypt, according to TheArchaeologist.org. Although the discovery of the mummy's coffin was announced nine months ago, the image went viral on social media as users pointed out the uncanny resemblance to the beloved matriarch from "The Simpsons." The upper lid of the coffin has an image of a yellow-hued woman with an extremely tall blue crown, resembling Marge Simpson's outsized blue hair, and a strapless green outfit, similar to the cartoon character's own dress. The coffin belonged to Tadi Ist, daughter of the High Priest of Djehouti in Ashmunein, according to The Egyptian Gazette, described as the oldest daily newspaper in the Middle East. The mummy featured a mask and a beaded dress in "excellent condition," the publication reported. The information you need to know, sent directly to you: Download the CTV News App "Egypt predicted Simpsons," wrote Reddit user KenseiHimura. "Or did The Simpsons predict the Egyptians?" wrote Moonhunter7 in the comments thread. "Or Matt Groening really is a time traveler," wrote Thosepassionfruits, referencing "The Simpsons" creator. Called a "significant artifact," the lid featured intricate artistry, according to a blog post from TheArchaeologist.org published June 4. Coffins from the New Kingdom period typically had lids with carvings and paintings depicting the dead, deities and scenes from the Book of the Dead, which contained spells to guide the deceased in the afterlife. "Such discoveries are crucial for historians and archaeologists in reconstructing the timeline of the 20th Dynasty, understanding the socio-economic conditions, and the cultural and religious practices of the period," according to the blog post. Coffin lids from this period also included hieroglyphics, imagery of the dead in a "serene state" with protective deities, and symbolism, it added. Police Hate Crime Unit investigating truck playing 'offensive and hateful' video seen driving around Toronto The Toronto Police Hate Crime Unit is investigating after a cube van was seen driving around the city playing a video which has been called 'offensive' and 'hateful.' Marge Simpson's likeness found in ancient Egyptian coffin. What does this discovery mean? Police look to identify 'nudist runner of the woods' caught on camera in western Quebec The MRC des Collines-de-l'Outaouais police say the owner of a Val-des-Mont business discovered security camera footage of someone running naked across his property on June 8 around 1:30 a.m. Olive oil shortage 'delicate dance' for cash-strapped restaurants House rises for the summer, gov't vows to return 'ruthlessly' focused on improving Canadians' lives The Toronto Police Hate Crime Unit is investigating after a cube van was seen driving around the city playing a video which has been called 'offensive' and 'hateful.' B.C. police complaint commissioner investigating sexual misconduct allegations against Vancouver police sergeant Montreal restaurant hit with projectiles; owner says it's because he is Jewish U.K. prime minister's protection officer arrested over alleged bet on election timing As avian flu spreads in the south, Canadian authorities release 'proactive' monitoring results New evidence Baldwin was reckless with gun before 'Rust' shooting, prosecutors say Glenn Close 'hit hard' with COVID and RSV at same time, forced to delay filming 'Knives Out 3' Tiger Woods' son, Charlie, qualifies for first USGA event Nearly 1.2 million Jeep, Dodge, Chrysler vehicles recalled over rear camera issue Sask. steer auction for teen with rare condition raises more than $50,000 A steer auctioned off on behalf a Saskatchewan teenager with a rare neurological disorder has raised more than $50,000 for an MRI project in his hometown. Space data being used to monitor, protect endangered North Atlantic right whales Cape Breton boy living with arthritis raises nearly $6,000 in charity basketball game B.C. police complaint commissioner investigating sexual misconduct allegations against Vancouver police sergeant A veteran sergeant with the Vancouver Police Department is under investigation by the B.C. police complaint commissioner following allegations of sexual misconduct from seven women, including female police officers and former students of his criminal justice courses. Roads closed, homes evacuated due to 'suspected explosive device' in New Westminster Youth groped by 2 men on the way to school, Surrey RCMP say Quebec has been dealing with a ridge of high pressure, which is responsible for the heat wave we've been seeing this week. Here's the forecast for when it's expected to break. Montreal restaurant hit with projectiles; owner says it's because he is Jewish Montreal police are investigating after a Jewish-owned business in the city's Mile End neighbourhood was hit with projectiles. Rent prices in some Quebec cities are out of control, tenant group says Moving into a new apartment anywhere in Quebec now comes with price tags unseen. Tenant groups say they have observed a pattern of rent increases that show the market is in their view, 'nightmarish.' Oilers take lead from star captain McDavid in clawing way back into Stanley Cup Final Somehow, some way, the Edmonton Oilers are alive in the Stanley Cup Final despite starting the series against the Florida Panthers with three losses. How they did it, you might wonder, is also the reason why you might not have any doubt: their star players, in particular Connor McDavid, ramped up their play to dominate and, importantly, thrived under the pressure of elimination. Drugs, guns, cash seized in Strathcona County RCMP's 'largest bust' RCMP seek witnesses after N.S. man dies, gas-powered bike goes missing Police say northern Ont. suspect resold $94K in rented equipment after removing GPS 'Start cleaning up your buildings': Tenant calls for better safety and security at one of city's newest public housing buildings B.C. police complaint commissioner investigating sexual misconduct allegations against Vancouver police sergeant

Retired U.S. Navy admiral charged in bribery scheme with tech CEOs for $500,000 salary

A retired four-star U.S. Navy admiral, who was once the military branch's second-highest-ranking officer, was arrested for a bribery scheme with two New York-based tech CEOs, the Department of Justice announced. Former Admiral Robert Burke allegedly used his high-ranking status in the Navy to help Next Jump co-CEOs Yongchul "Charlie" Kim and Meghan Messenger win hundreds of thousands of dollars in military contracts. In exchange, Kim and Messenger allegedly promised Burke employment at their company where he began working for $500,000 a year in 2022. From 2020 to 2022, Robert Burke, a 62-year-old resident of Coconut Creek, Fla., allegedly used his high-ranking status in the Navy to help Yongchul "Charlie" Kim and Meghan Messenger, the co-CEOs of New York-based workplace tech platform Next Jump, win military contracts, according to the DOJ. In 2021, Burke allegedly told his staff to award Kim and Messenger a $355,000 military contract. In exchange, Kim and Messenger allegedly promised Burke employment at their company in the future.

usa

Retired U.S. Navy admiral charged in bribery scheme with tech CEOs for $500,000 salary. A retired four-star U.S. Navy admiral, who was once the military branch's second-highest-ranking officer, was arrested for a bribery scheme with two New York-based tech CEOs, the Department of Justice announced. Former Admiral Robert Burke allegedly used his high-ranking status in the Navy to help Next Jump co-CEOs Yongchul "Charlie" Kim and Meghan Messenger win hundreds of thousands of dollars in military contracts. In exchange, Kim and Messenger allegedly promised Burke employment at their company where he began working for $500,000 a year in 2022. From 2020 to 2022, Robert Burke, a 62-year-old resident of Coconut Creek, Fla., allegedly used his high-ranking status in the Navy to help Yongchul "Charlie" Kim and Meghan Messenger, the co-CEOs of New York-based workplace tech platform Next Jump, win military contracts, according to the DOJ. In 2021, Burke allegedly told his staff to award Kim and Messenger a $355,000 military contract. In exchange, Kim and Messenger allegedly promised Burke employment at their company in the future.

UK FINANCIAL MARKETS STEADY ON ELECTION DAY: CAXTON FX EXPERTS TO STAY VIGILANT

July 4, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- As the UK heads to the polls today, financial markets are holding steady as forecasts predict a new Labour government. The long-anticipated shift seems imminent, with Labour maintaining a consistent 20-point lead in key polls since October 2022. Payments firm, Caxton, analyst David Stritch says that Labour's proposed economic policies are fiscally orthodox and align closely with those of the Conservatives. "The fundamental UK outlook is left largely unchanged," Strict explains. "We do not anticipate a Brexit-style depreciation in Sterling and could even see a modest appreciation as the uncertainty is removed." Despite the market's current stability, Caxton remains vigilant. The firm's FX desk will operate through the night, ready to assist clients in capitalising on potential Sterling gains or mitigating any losses from minor fluctuations. For non-domiciled individuals, the upcoming changes in tax rules, effective from April 2025, signify a notable shift in the UK's tax landscape. Alana Parsons, Caxton's Chief Operating Officer, said, "While these changes introduce new challenges, they also present opportunities for strategic planning. Jurisdictions like Gibraltar offer appealing alternatives for those looking to optimise their tax position while maintaining a high quality of life. We are working closely with our clients to navigate these changes effectively." As the UK stands on the brink of potential political change, the fintech sector continues to adapt, demonstrating resilience and strategic foresight in the face of evolving economic policies. About Caxton Caxton is an award winning fintech payments company which processes tens of millions of international and domestic transactions each year. Website:

business

UK FINANCIAL MARKETS STEADY ON ELECTION DAY: CAXTON FX EXPERTS TO STAY VIGILANT. July 4, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- As the UK heads to the polls today, financial markets are holding steady as forecasts predict a new Labour government. The long-anticipated shift seems imminent, with Labour maintaining a consistent 20-point lead in key polls since October 2022. Payments firm, Caxton, analyst David Stritch says that Labour's proposed economic policies are fiscally orthodox and align closely with those of the Conservatives. "The fundamental UK outlook is left largely unchanged," Strict explains. "We do not anticipate a Brexit-style depreciation in Sterling and could even see a modest appreciation as the uncertainty is removed." Despite the market's current stability, Caxton remains vigilant. The firm's FX desk will operate through the night, ready to assist clients in capitalising on potential Sterling gains or mitigating any losses from minor fluctuations. For non-domiciled individuals, the upcoming changes in tax rules, effective from April 2025, signify a notable shift in the UK's tax landscape. Alana Parsons, Caxton's Chief Operating Officer, said, "While these changes introduce new challenges, they also present opportunities for strategic planning. Jurisdictions like Gibraltar offer appealing alternatives for those looking to optimise their tax position while maintaining a high quality of life. We are working closely with our clients to navigate these changes effectively." As the UK stands on the brink of potential political change, the fintech sector continues to adapt, demonstrating resilience and strategic foresight in the face of evolving economic policies. About Caxton Caxton is an award winning fintech payments company which processes tens of millions of international and domestic transactions each year. Website:

The Strawberry Moon will be at its peak tonight. What to know

The moon is seen at 98 percent full as it rises out of the clouds Monday, June 13, 2022, beyond Winthrop, Mass. The moon will reach its full stage on Friday, during a phenomenon known as a supermoon because its proximity to Earth, and it is also labeled as the "Strawberry Moon" because it is the full moon at strawberry harvest time. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel) Summer is officially here and this year a rare full moon will mark the occasion with a name that couldn't be more fitting. The so-called Strawberry Moon will appear across Ontario's skies and beyond to coincide with the summer solstice, which started Thursday and reaches its fullest point on Friday at about 9 p.m. Get the latest local updates right to your inbox While you may be expecting to look up at that time and see a big berry-like ball of red in the sky, Walter Stoddard, researcher-programmer at the Ontario Science Centre, says that's won't be the case. "It has nothing to do with the color of the moon," he said, adding that the name is derived from Indigenous tradition and the timing of the seasonal strawberry harvest, although its name does vary geographically. So what will the Strawberry Moon actually look like? Stoddard explained that while the moon may have a golden-like tinge and appear larger than normal, that's largely due to what's known as "moon illusion." "Full moons are opposite the sun. So on the summer solstice, the sun is the highest it is in the sky. So that means the full moon will be the lowest the moon gets in the sky, which means the light from the full moon has a lot of atmosphere to filter through for us to see it," he said. Because of its height in the sky, Stoddard said the moon will look "especially brilliant" in relation to the horizon. "You can compare the moon to the size of other objects, and you get to realize how much of the sky it takes up. It's huge. So seeing the moon next to the flagpole or next to the schoolhouse or next to your own house, you realize how big the moon really is," he said. Ontarians will want to take some time to look up Friday night as the event is quite rare. As Stoddard explained, a full moon that coincides with a summer solstice only happens about every two decades. "So a full moon happens just about every month. Summer solstice, just about every year. Full Moon on a summer solstice? Now you're lining up those two things: every 20 years," he said. 4 members of a billionaire family get prison in Switzerland for exploiting domestic workers An Indian-born billionaire and three family members were sentenced to prison on Friday for exploiting domestic workers at their lakeside villa in Switzerland by seizing their passports, barring them from going out and making them work up to 18 hours a day. Heritage minister views next election as a referendum on Canadian cultural reforms

tech

The Strawberry Moon will be at its peak tonight. What to know. The moon is seen at 98 percent full as it rises out of the clouds Monday, June 13, 2022, beyond Winthrop, Mass. The moon will reach its full stage on Friday, during a phenomenon known as a supermoon because its proximity to Earth, and it is also labeled as the "Strawberry Moon" because it is the full moon at strawberry harvest time. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel) Summer is officially here and this year a rare full moon will mark the occasion with a name that couldn't be more fitting. The so-called Strawberry Moon will appear across Ontario's skies and beyond to coincide with the summer solstice, which started Thursday and reaches its fullest point on Friday at about 9 p.m. Get the latest local updates right to your inbox While you may be expecting to look up at that time and see a big berry-like ball of red in the sky, Walter Stoddard, researcher-programmer at the Ontario Science Centre, says that's won't be the case. "It has nothing to do with the color of the moon," he said, adding that the name is derived from Indigenous tradition and the timing of the seasonal strawberry harvest, although its name does vary geographically. So what will the Strawberry Moon actually look like? Stoddard explained that while the moon may have a golden-like tinge and appear larger than normal, that's largely due to what's known as "moon illusion." "Full moons are opposite the sun. So on the summer solstice, the sun is the highest it is in the sky. So that means the full moon will be the lowest the moon gets in the sky, which means the light from the full moon has a lot of atmosphere to filter through for us to see it," he said. Because of its height in the sky, Stoddard said the moon will look "especially brilliant" in relation to the horizon. "You can compare the moon to the size of other objects, and you get to realize how much of the sky it takes up. It's huge. So seeing the moon next to the flagpole or next to the schoolhouse or next to your own house, you realize how big the moon really is," he said. Ontarians will want to take some time to look up Friday night as the event is quite rare. As Stoddard explained, a full moon that coincides with a summer solstice only happens about every two decades. "So a full moon happens just about every month. Summer solstice, just about every year. Full Moon on a summer solstice? Now you're lining up those two things: every 20 years," he said. 4 members of a billionaire family get prison in Switzerland for exploiting domestic workers An Indian-born billionaire and three family members were sentenced to prison on Friday for exploiting domestic workers at their lakeside villa in Switzerland by seizing their passports, barring them from going out and making them work up to 18 hours a day. Heritage minister views next election as a referendum on Canadian cultural reforms

WestJet Encore pilots issue strike notice amid ongoing labour dispute

A WestJet Encore Dash 8-400. Adrian Edwards Photo On the afternoon of May 29, WestJet Encore pilots, represented by the Air Line Pilots Association, Int’l (ALPA), issued a 72-hour strike notice to WestJet Encore management and the government, initiating a countdown to either negotiate a fair contract or potentially commence job action under the Canada Labour Code. ALPA says “some progress” has been made during the past two weeks of negotiations — which followed the pilots’ rejection of a tentative agreement (TA) — but significant issues remain unresolved. “After eight months of negotiating, and a failed TA, unfortunately management has not recognized the pilots’ needs,” said Capt Carin Kenny, chair of the WestJet Encore ALPA Master Executive Council. “Until WestJet Encore management negotiates a contract that recognizes the current labour market conditions in Canada’s airline industry, and addresses the needs of our pilots, management will continue to struggle to attract and retain the well-trained, highly skilled pilots required to help our airline be successful.” Kenny emphasized that while flight disruptions are undesirable, the goal remains to secure a fair contract. “We are ready for all outcomes, should the Company continue to ignore the value and experience we bring to our airline and ignore what is required to ensure that current and future pilots see the WestJet Group as a career destination.” ALPA said it “remains committed to the bargaining process.” If an agreement has not been reached by the end of the 72-hour notice, Encore pilots may legally commence job action on June 1. In response to the pilots’ strike notice, WestJet on May 29 issued an advance lockout notice to ALPA. A work stoppage could occur as early as 6 p.m. MT on June 1, unless an agreement is reached. “The decision to issue notice was not made lightly, and we sincerely apologize for the uncertainty this causes for our guests and the Western Canadian regions that rely on WestJet Encore service,” said Diederik Pen, president of WestJet Airline and Group Chief Operating Officer. “Our tentative agreement represented a robust negotiation process that got us to our final offer. Given this, over the past two weeks, we have been working diligently to understand where we could better align priorities within the financial framework presented. Unfortunately, given the pace of progress and our steadfast priority to protect the summer travel plans of Canadians, a lockout notice was required to provide certainty for our guests and employees by bringing this to a final resolution.” The WestJet Group has been in active labour negotiations with ALPA since September 2023. According to the airline, “the rejected tentative agreement presented an offer that would make WestJet Encore pilots the highest paid regional pilots in Canada, while delivering industry leading work-life balance standards and commitments to career progression.” Pen said while WestJet is aiming to reach an agreement to avoid travel disruption, “we are equally committed to holding firm on what is reasonable, as we cannot sacrifice our ability to provide affordable air travel for the millions of guests we serve, or our responsibility to provide job security for our employees.” The airline emphasized that issuing a lockout notice does not guarantee travel disruption. In the coming days, WestJet said it will take steps to manage potential impacts, including preparing for a reduced Encore schedule, managing changes and cancellations, and offering flexible options for guests to make alternative arrangements. ALPA, representing more than 77,000 pilots at 41 U.S. and Canadian airlines, continues to advocate for a fair resolution. With strike centres in Calgary and Toronto fully operational, the union is ready for all possible outcomes as the 72-hour notice period concludes. The post WestJet Encore pilots issue strike notice amid ongoing labour dispute appeared first on Skies Mag .

aerospace

WestJet Encore pilots issue strike notice amid ongoing labour dispute. A WestJet Encore Dash 8-400. Adrian Edwards Photo On the afternoon of May 29, WestJet Encore pilots, represented by the Air Line Pilots Association, Int’l (ALPA), issued a 72-hour strike notice to WestJet Encore management and the government, initiating a countdown to either negotiate a fair contract or potentially commence job action under the Canada Labour Code. ALPA says “some progress” has been made during the past two weeks of negotiations — which followed the pilots’ rejection of a tentative agreement (TA) — but significant issues remain unresolved. “After eight months of negotiating, and a failed TA, unfortunately management has not recognized the pilots’ needs,” said Capt Carin Kenny, chair of the WestJet Encore ALPA Master Executive Council. “Until WestJet Encore management negotiates a contract that recognizes the current labour market conditions in Canada’s airline industry, and addresses the needs of our pilots, management will continue to struggle to attract and retain the well-trained, highly skilled pilots required to help our airline be successful.” Kenny emphasized that while flight disruptions are undesirable, the goal remains to secure a fair contract. “We are ready for all outcomes, should the Company continue to ignore the value and experience we bring to our airline and ignore what is required to ensure that current and future pilots see the WestJet Group as a career destination.” ALPA said it “remains committed to the bargaining process.” If an agreement has not been reached by the end of the 72-hour notice, Encore pilots may legally commence job action on June 1. In response to the pilots’ strike notice, WestJet on May 29 issued an advance lockout notice to ALPA. A work stoppage could occur as early as 6 p.m. MT on June 1, unless an agreement is reached. “The decision to issue notice was not made lightly, and we sincerely apologize for the uncertainty this causes for our guests and the Western Canadian regions that rely on WestJet Encore service,” said Diederik Pen, president of WestJet Airline and Group Chief Operating Officer. “Our tentative agreement represented a robust negotiation process that got us to our final offer. Given this, over the past two weeks, we have been working diligently to understand where we could better align priorities within the financial framework presented. Unfortunately, given the pace of progress and our steadfast priority to protect the summer travel plans of Canadians, a lockout notice was required to provide certainty for our guests and employees by bringing this to a final resolution.” The WestJet Group has been in active labour negotiations with ALPA since September 2023. According to the airline, “the rejected tentative agreement presented an offer that would make WestJet Encore pilots the highest paid regional pilots in Canada, while delivering industry leading work-life balance standards and commitments to career progression.” Pen said while WestJet is aiming to reach an agreement to avoid travel disruption, “we are equally committed to holding firm on what is reasonable, as we cannot sacrifice our ability to provide affordable air travel for the millions of guests we serve, or our responsibility to provide job security for our employees.” The airline emphasized that issuing a lockout notice does not guarantee travel disruption. In the coming days, WestJet said it will take steps to manage potential impacts, including preparing for a reduced Encore schedule, managing changes and cancellations, and offering flexible options for guests to make alternative arrangements. ALPA, representing more than 77,000 pilots at 41 U.S. and Canadian airlines, continues to advocate for a fair resolution. With strike centres in Calgary and Toronto fully operational, the union is ready for all possible outcomes as the 72-hour notice period concludes. The post WestJet Encore pilots issue strike notice amid ongoing labour dispute appeared first on Skies Mag .

First Mover Americas: Bitcoin Falls Below $64K Following $900M in ETF Outflows

interests in a variety of blockchain and digital asset businesses and significant holdings of digital assets, including bitcoin. CoinDesk operates as an independent subsidiary with an editorial committee to protect journalistic independence. CoinDesk employees, including journalists, may receive options in the Bullish group as part of their compensation.

crypto

First Mover Americas: Bitcoin Falls Below $64K Following $900M in ETF Outflows. interests in a variety of blockchain and digital asset businesses and significant holdings of digital assets, including bitcoin. CoinDesk operates as an independent subsidiary with an editorial committee to protect journalistic independence. CoinDesk employees, including journalists, may receive options in the Bullish group as part of their compensation.

'Bling Bishop' lashes out at FBI after being convicted of fraud, attempted extortion, lying to feds

"Bling Bishop" Lamor Whitehead claimed his conviction for fraud came after he refused to be an FBI informant against New York City Mayor Adams. The FBI declined to comment on the claim. Join Fox News for access to this content Plus special access to select articles and other premium content with your account - free of charge. Please enter a valid email address. Privacy Policy, which includes our Notice of Financial Incentive. To access the content, check your email and follow the instructions provided. Having trouble? Click here. Lamor Whitehead, a Brooklyn preacher nicknamed the "Bling Bishop" for his ostentatious clothes and flashy cars, claimed Tuesday that his conviction for defrauding an elderly parishioner and trying to extort a business owner was part of a larger scheme by the FBI of trying to make him become an informant against New York City Mayor Adams. Whitehead, 45, posted a video message to his 1.3 million followers on Tuesday from inside his Rolls-Royce, saying he refused to dish on Adams to the FBI. Adams' campaign has faced a federal corruption investigation. "This wasn't about me…. I was not going to be an informant for the FBI against NYC Mayor Eric Adams," Whitehead wrote in the caption of the video. "This was politically driven," Whitehead said. "This was about Mayor Eric Adams." BROOKLYN'S 'BLING BISHOP' LAMOR WHITEHEAD DENIES STEALING FROM PARISHIONER'S MOTHER ON DAY 1 OF FRAUD TRIAL Lamor Whitehead, left, with Eric Adams, then Brooklyn borough president, walking at the West Indian Parade in Crown Heights, Brooklyn, on Sept. 5, 2016. (Stefan Jeremiah) Whitehead was found guilty on five counts, including wire fraud, attempted extortion and making false statements to federal law enforcement agents, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office in the Southern District of New York. Whitehead was convicted of inducing Pauline Anderson to invest around $90,000 of her retirement savings with him by promising to use the money to help her buy a home. Instead, prosecutors say Whitehead splashed the money on luxury goods from Louis Vuitton and Foot Locker as well as car payments. When Anderson demanded to be paid back, Whitehead lied to avoid returning the money, the U.S. Attorney's Office said. Whitehead also extorted Bronx auto body shop owner Brandon Belmonte for $5,000 and then attempted to convince the businessman to lend him $500,000 and give him a stake in certain real estate transactions in return for favorable actions from Adams, even though prosecutors say Whitehead knew he could not obtain the favors he promised, prosecutors said. NYC BISHOP ROBBED OF $1M IN JEWELRY MID-SERMON FILES $20M LAWSUITS AGAINST SOCIAL MEDIA CRITICS CLAIMING HOAX Whitehead, of Paramus, New Jersey, faces decades in prison. "Bling Bishop" Lamor Whitehead, left, was convicted of wire fraud on Monday but claims that the trial arose after he refused to become an FBI informant against Mayor Eric Adams, right. (Instagram/ @iambishopwhitehead) "As a unanimous jury found, Lamor Whitehead abused the trust placed in him by a parishioner, tried to obtain a fraudulent loan using fake bank records, bullied a businessman for $5,000, tried to defraud him out of far more than that, and lied to federal agents," U.S. Attorney Damian Williams said. "Whitehead's reprehensible lies and criminal conduct have caught up with him, as he now stands convicted of five federal crimes and faces time in prison." Whitehead claimed he was "targeted" and vowed to appeal. He said the FBI showed up to his home on June 8 looking for information on the mayor and told him he was not under arrest but that they had a search warrant to take his phone. "And what they said to me, was, 'we don't want you, we want the mayor of New York [City],'" he said. "And just because I was not going to be a federal informant… the FBI said they [were] going to make my life a living hell, and that's what you guys are seeing." Whitehead said he is innocent. The FBI investigation into Adams burst into the public domain in November when the home of one of his campaign consultants was raided. The FBI told Fox News Digital it would not be commenting on Whitehead's claims. Bishop Lamor Whitehead speaks during a news conference in Brooklyn on July 29, 2022. (Theodore Parisienne/New York Daily News/Tribune News Service via Getty Images) In a July 2021 Instagram post, Whitehead posted a collage of photographs of himself with Adams before Adams assumed office, writing, "Congratulations to my mentor, friend and someone who I can say really help me become a man!" Whitehead had sought to follow in Adams' footsteps by becoming the Brooklyn borough president. But Adams would not endorse Whitehead and admonished him for using his name in a "misleading" campaign ad, according to the New York Times, citing text messages prosecutors showed during the trial. Whitehead sought Belmonte to give him a loan of $500,000 while promising him access to Adams. One of Whitehead's lawyers played down his client's relationship with Adams at the trial, saying that he could get a meeting with Adams "faster than most people" – and that statement, he contended, was true. But prosecutors also showed messages from Whitehead to Adams in early 2022 that went unanswered, the New York Times reports. Adams told reporters last month that legal filings by the prosecution "stated that clearly [Whitehead] did not have authorization and there was no connectivity to the actions of [the] mayor or borough president." At a press briefing earlier today, Adams said he had no part in the investigation and that prosecutors in the case said there were "no benefits coming from government." Pauline Anderson, meanwhile, said she trusted Whitehead to buy her a house since she could not afford one due to low credit. "He was a man of God," she said, according to the New York Times. "I believed him as the leader of his church." "Bling Bishop" Lamor Whitehead claims that his trial arose after he refused to become an FBI informant against Mayor Eric Adams. (Instagram/@iambishopwhitehead) CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP Whitehead has previous criminal convictions for identity theft and grand larceny, which resulted in a five-year prison stint. He became a bishop when he founded the Leaders of Tomorrow International Ministries in 2013. The Brooklyn preacher owns a $1.6 million home in Paramus, New Jersey, and an apartment in Hartford, Connecticut. Whitehead has been free on $500,000 bail since his arrest, which came only months after he was the victim of a robbery when $1 million in jewelry was stolen from him by gunmen who surprised him during a church service.

politics

'Bling Bishop' lashes out at FBI after being convicted of fraud, attempted extortion, lying to feds. "Bling Bishop" Lamor Whitehead claimed his conviction for fraud came after he refused to be an FBI informant against New York City Mayor Adams. The FBI declined to comment on the claim. Join Fox News for access to this content Plus special access to select articles and other premium content with your account - free of charge. Please enter a valid email address. Privacy Policy, which includes our Notice of Financial Incentive. To access the content, check your email and follow the instructions provided. Having trouble? Click here. Lamor Whitehead, a Brooklyn preacher nicknamed the "Bling Bishop" for his ostentatious clothes and flashy cars, claimed Tuesday that his conviction for defrauding an elderly parishioner and trying to extort a business owner was part of a larger scheme by the FBI of trying to make him become an informant against New York City Mayor Adams. Whitehead, 45, posted a video message to his 1.3 million followers on Tuesday from inside his Rolls-Royce, saying he refused to dish on Adams to the FBI. Adams' campaign has faced a federal corruption investigation. "This wasn't about me…. I was not going to be an informant for the FBI against NYC Mayor Eric Adams," Whitehead wrote in the caption of the video. "This was politically driven," Whitehead said. "This was about Mayor Eric Adams." BROOKLYN'S 'BLING BISHOP' LAMOR WHITEHEAD DENIES STEALING FROM PARISHIONER'S MOTHER ON DAY 1 OF FRAUD TRIAL Lamor Whitehead, left, with Eric Adams, then Brooklyn borough president, walking at the West Indian Parade in Crown Heights, Brooklyn, on Sept. 5, 2016. (Stefan Jeremiah) Whitehead was found guilty on five counts, including wire fraud, attempted extortion and making false statements to federal law enforcement agents, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office in the Southern District of New York. Whitehead was convicted of inducing Pauline Anderson to invest around $90,000 of her retirement savings with him by promising to use the money to help her buy a home. Instead, prosecutors say Whitehead splashed the money on luxury goods from Louis Vuitton and Foot Locker as well as car payments. When Anderson demanded to be paid back, Whitehead lied to avoid returning the money, the U.S. Attorney's Office said. Whitehead also extorted Bronx auto body shop owner Brandon Belmonte for $5,000 and then attempted to convince the businessman to lend him $500,000 and give him a stake in certain real estate transactions in return for favorable actions from Adams, even though prosecutors say Whitehead knew he could not obtain the favors he promised, prosecutors said. NYC BISHOP ROBBED OF $1M IN JEWELRY MID-SERMON FILES $20M LAWSUITS AGAINST SOCIAL MEDIA CRITICS CLAIMING HOAX Whitehead, of Paramus, New Jersey, faces decades in prison. "Bling Bishop" Lamor Whitehead, left, was convicted of wire fraud on Monday but claims that the trial arose after he refused to become an FBI informant against Mayor Eric Adams, right. (Instagram/ @iambishopwhitehead) "As a unanimous jury found, Lamor Whitehead abused the trust placed in him by a parishioner, tried to obtain a fraudulent loan using fake bank records, bullied a businessman for $5,000, tried to defraud him out of far more than that, and lied to federal agents," U.S. Attorney Damian Williams said. "Whitehead's reprehensible lies and criminal conduct have caught up with him, as he now stands convicted of five federal crimes and faces time in prison." Whitehead claimed he was "targeted" and vowed to appeal. He said the FBI showed up to his home on June 8 looking for information on the mayor and told him he was not under arrest but that they had a search warrant to take his phone. "And what they said to me, was, 'we don't want you, we want the mayor of New York [City],'" he said. "And just because I was not going to be a federal informant… the FBI said they [were] going to make my life a living hell, and that's what you guys are seeing." Whitehead said he is innocent. The FBI investigation into Adams burst into the public domain in November when the home of one of his campaign consultants was raided. The FBI told Fox News Digital it would not be commenting on Whitehead's claims. Bishop Lamor Whitehead speaks during a news conference in Brooklyn on July 29, 2022. (Theodore Parisienne/New York Daily News/Tribune News Service via Getty Images) In a July 2021 Instagram post, Whitehead posted a collage of photographs of himself with Adams before Adams assumed office, writing, "Congratulations to my mentor, friend and someone who I can say really help me become a man!" Whitehead had sought to follow in Adams' footsteps by becoming the Brooklyn borough president. But Adams would not endorse Whitehead and admonished him for using his name in a "misleading" campaign ad, according to the New York Times, citing text messages prosecutors showed during the trial. Whitehead sought Belmonte to give him a loan of $500,000 while promising him access to Adams. One of Whitehead's lawyers played down his client's relationship with Adams at the trial, saying that he could get a meeting with Adams "faster than most people" – and that statement, he contended, was true. But prosecutors also showed messages from Whitehead to Adams in early 2022 that went unanswered, the New York Times reports. Adams told reporters last month that legal filings by the prosecution "stated that clearly [Whitehead] did not have authorization and there was no connectivity to the actions of [the] mayor or borough president." At a press briefing earlier today, Adams said he had no part in the investigation and that prosecutors in the case said there were "no benefits coming from government." Pauline Anderson, meanwhile, said she trusted Whitehead to buy her a house since she could not afford one due to low credit. "He was a man of God," she said, according to the New York Times. "I believed him as the leader of his church." "Bling Bishop" Lamor Whitehead claims that his trial arose after he refused to become an FBI informant against Mayor Eric Adams. (Instagram/@iambishopwhitehead) CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP Whitehead has previous criminal convictions for identity theft and grand larceny, which resulted in a five-year prison stint. He became a bishop when he founded the Leaders of Tomorrow International Ministries in 2013. The Brooklyn preacher owns a $1.6 million home in Paramus, New Jersey, and an apartment in Hartford, Connecticut. Whitehead has been free on $500,000 bail since his arrest, which came only months after he was the victim of a robbery when $1 million in jewelry was stolen from him by gunmen who surprised him during a church service.

MGM Resorts International Announces Agreement to Acquire Tipico's U.S. Sportsbook

MGM ) ("MGM Resorts" or the "Company") today announced that its subsidiary, LeoVegas Group ("LeoVegas"), has entered into an agreement to acquire the product and technology platform constituting the U.S sportsbook and online casino from Tipico Group Ltd ("Tipico"). This acquisition is the second major investment by LeoVegas, following the acquisition of game developer Push Gaming in 2023. The acquisition will allow LeoVegas to operate a purpose-built proprietary sportsbook across all international markets and brands, with the exception of those exclusive to the BetMGM JV, with a focus on a clean, fast consumer experience with top-class product, pricing and functionality. Tipico will wind down its U.S. operations prior to the closing of the acquisition. As part of the transaction, LeoVegas will acquire certain of Tipico's U.S. facing management, technology and trading teams across the U.S., Colombia and Europe. "The acquisition of Tipico's award winning U.S. platform marks a significant milestone in the strategic development of MGM Resorts' global digital gaming business, allowing us to operate a proprietary sports betting platform," said Gary Fritz, President, MGM Resorts International Interactive, "This acquisition gives us control of our entire technology ecosystem, and we are delighted to bring Tipico's U.S. team, with their track record of developing high quality product and pricing capabilities, into our business." LeoVegas CEO Gustaf Hagman added: "By controlling our own sportsbook technology, we ensure that we will deliver the world's greatest iGaming experience to customers across all our markets and brands. Powering our strong brands with a competitive and innovative sports product will enable us to grow and strengthen our sportsbook offering in both new and existing markets. I look forward to welcoming the talented teams from Tipico's U.S. business into the LeoVegas Group very soon." The transaction is subject to customary closing conditions and is expected to be completed in the third quarter of 2024. About MGM Resorts International MGM Resorts International (NYSE: MGM ) is an S&P 500® global gaming and entertainment company with national and international locations featuring best-in-class hotels and casinos, state-of-the-art meetings and conference spaces, incredible live and theatrical entertainment experiences, and an extensive array of restaurant, nightlife and retail offerings. MGM Resorts creates immersive, iconic experiences through its suite of Las Vegas -inspired brands. The MGM Resorts portfolio encompasses 31 unique hotel and gaming destinations globally, including some of the most recognizable resort brands in the industry. The Company's 50/50 venture, BetMGM, LLC, offers sports betting and online gaming in North America through market-leading brands, including BetMGM and partypoker, and the Company's subsidiary, LV Lion Holding Limited, offers sports betting and online gaming through market-leading brands in several jurisdictions throughout Europe. The Company is currently pursuing targeted expansion in Asia through the integrated resort opportunity in Japan. Through its "Focused on What Matters: Embracing Humanity and Protecting the Planet" philosophy, MGM Resorts commits to creating a more sustainable future, while striving to make a bigger difference in the lives of its employees, guests, and in the communities where it operates. The global employees of MGM Resorts are proud of their company for being recognized as one of FORTUNE® Magazine's World's Most Admired Companies®. For more information, please visit us at www.mgmresorts.com. Please also connect with us @MGMResortsIntl on Twitter as well as Facebook and Instagram. About LeoVegas Group LeoVegas Group is a leading international igaming company with a clear vision to create the world's greatest igaming experience. LeoVegas offers online casino, live casino, and sports betting via 9 brands in 10 jurisdictions. LeoVegas continues to grow rapidly, currently employing over 1,400 people in Europe, including at its headquarters in Stockholm and operations hub in Forward Looking Statements Statements in this release that are not historical facts are forward-looking statements, within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, as amended, and involve risks and/or uncertainties, including those described in the Company's public filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as "believes," "expects," "could," "may," "will," "should," "seeks," "likely," "intends," "plans," "pro forma," "projects," "estimates" or "anticipates" or the negative of these words and phrases or similar words or phrases that are predictions of or indicate future events or trends and that do not relate solely to historical matters. The Company has based forward-looking statements on management's current expectations and assumptions and not on historical facts. Examples of these statements include, but are not limited to, the Company's expectations regarding the closing of the transaction and any benefits expected to be received from the transaction. These forward-looking statements involve a number of risks and uncertainties. Among the important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those indicated in such forward-looking statements include the effects of economic conditions and market conditions in the markets in which the Company operates and competition with other destination travel locations throughout the United States and the world, the design, timing and costs of expansion projects, including the proposed integrated resort in Japan, risks relating to international development, operations, permits, licenses, financings, approvals and other contingencies described in the Company's Form 10-K, Form 10-Q and Form 8-K reports (including all amendments to those reports). In providing forward-looking statements, the Company is not undertaking any duty or obligation to update these statements publicly as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by law. If the Company updates one or more forward-looking statements, no inference should be drawn that it will make additional updates with respect to those other forward-looking statements.

lifestyle

MGM Resorts International Announces Agreement to Acquire Tipico's U.S. Sportsbook. MGM ) ("MGM Resorts" or the "Company") today announced that its subsidiary, LeoVegas Group ("LeoVegas"), has entered into an agreement to acquire the product and technology platform constituting the U.S sportsbook and online casino from Tipico Group Ltd ("Tipico"). This acquisition is the second major investment by LeoVegas, following the acquisition of game developer Push Gaming in 2023. The acquisition will allow LeoVegas to operate a purpose-built proprietary sportsbook across all international markets and brands, with the exception of those exclusive to the BetMGM JV, with a focus on a clean, fast consumer experience with top-class product, pricing and functionality. Tipico will wind down its U.S. operations prior to the closing of the acquisition. As part of the transaction, LeoVegas will acquire certain of Tipico's U.S. facing management, technology and trading teams across the U.S., Colombia and Europe. "The acquisition of Tipico's award winning U.S. platform marks a significant milestone in the strategic development of MGM Resorts' global digital gaming business, allowing us to operate a proprietary sports betting platform," said Gary Fritz, President, MGM Resorts International Interactive, "This acquisition gives us control of our entire technology ecosystem, and we are delighted to bring Tipico's U.S. team, with their track record of developing high quality product and pricing capabilities, into our business." LeoVegas CEO Gustaf Hagman added: "By controlling our own sportsbook technology, we ensure that we will deliver the world's greatest iGaming experience to customers across all our markets and brands. Powering our strong brands with a competitive and innovative sports product will enable us to grow and strengthen our sportsbook offering in both new and existing markets. I look forward to welcoming the talented teams from Tipico's U.S. business into the LeoVegas Group very soon." The transaction is subject to customary closing conditions and is expected to be completed in the third quarter of 2024. About MGM Resorts International MGM Resorts International (NYSE: MGM ) is an S&P 500® global gaming and entertainment company with national and international locations featuring best-in-class hotels and casinos, state-of-the-art meetings and conference spaces, incredible live and theatrical entertainment experiences, and an extensive array of restaurant, nightlife and retail offerings. MGM Resorts creates immersive, iconic experiences through its suite of Las Vegas -inspired brands. The MGM Resorts portfolio encompasses 31 unique hotel and gaming destinations globally, including some of the most recognizable resort brands in the industry. The Company's 50/50 venture, BetMGM, LLC, offers sports betting and online gaming in North America through market-leading brands, including BetMGM and partypoker, and the Company's subsidiary, LV Lion Holding Limited, offers sports betting and online gaming through market-leading brands in several jurisdictions throughout Europe. The Company is currently pursuing targeted expansion in Asia through the integrated resort opportunity in Japan. Through its "Focused on What Matters: Embracing Humanity and Protecting the Planet" philosophy, MGM Resorts commits to creating a more sustainable future, while striving to make a bigger difference in the lives of its employees, guests, and in the communities where it operates. The global employees of MGM Resorts are proud of their company for being recognized as one of FORTUNE® Magazine's World's Most Admired Companies®. For more information, please visit us at www.mgmresorts.com. Please also connect with us @MGMResortsIntl on Twitter as well as Facebook and Instagram. About LeoVegas Group LeoVegas Group is a leading international igaming company with a clear vision to create the world's greatest igaming experience. LeoVegas offers online casino, live casino, and sports betting via 9 brands in 10 jurisdictions. LeoVegas continues to grow rapidly, currently employing over 1,400 people in Europe, including at its headquarters in Stockholm and operations hub in Forward Looking Statements Statements in this release that are not historical facts are forward-looking statements, within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, as amended, and involve risks and/or uncertainties, including those described in the Company's public filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as "believes," "expects," "could," "may," "will," "should," "seeks," "likely," "intends," "plans," "pro forma," "projects," "estimates" or "anticipates" or the negative of these words and phrases or similar words or phrases that are predictions of or indicate future events or trends and that do not relate solely to historical matters. The Company has based forward-looking statements on management's current expectations and assumptions and not on historical facts. Examples of these statements include, but are not limited to, the Company's expectations regarding the closing of the transaction and any benefits expected to be received from the transaction. These forward-looking statements involve a number of risks and uncertainties. Among the important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those indicated in such forward-looking statements include the effects of economic conditions and market conditions in the markets in which the Company operates and competition with other destination travel locations throughout the United States and the world, the design, timing and costs of expansion projects, including the proposed integrated resort in Japan, risks relating to international development, operations, permits, licenses, financings, approvals and other contingencies described in the Company's Form 10-K, Form 10-Q and Form 8-K reports (including all amendments to those reports). In providing forward-looking statements, the Company is not undertaking any duty or obligation to update these statements publicly as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by law. If the Company updates one or more forward-looking statements, no inference should be drawn that it will make additional updates with respect to those other forward-looking statements.

Jennifer Lopez abruptly cancels This Is Me... Live concert tour, including 3 Canadian dates

Jennifer Lopez abruptly cancels This Is Me. Live concert tour, including 3 Canadian dates Jennifer Lopez said on Friday that her "This Is Me. Live" summer concert tour has been canceled so she can take time to be with her family. Posted: May 31, 2024 10:38 PM EDT | Last Updated: 2 minutes ago Jennifer Lopez, seen in a June 2023 photo, has announced the cancellation of her This Is Me. Live summer tour that was to include stops in Toronto and Montreal. (Mike Blake/Reuters) Social Sharing Jennifer Lopez said on Friday that her This Is Me. Live summer concert tour has been cancelled so she can take time to be with her family. wrote on her website that she is "completely heartsick and devastated" about letting her fans down. "Please know that I wouldn't do this if I didn't feel that it was absolutely necessary. I promise I will make it up to you and we will all be together again," she added. Representatives for concert promoter Live Nation also announced on Friday that the On the Floor singer needs a break to be with "her children, family and close friends." Lopez had been slated to play shows in Toronto and Montreal in August. The Canadian Ticketmaster website did not appear to list any other related tour dates on this side of the border as of Friday evening. The tour cancellation comes amid rampant speculation in the media that Lopez's marriage to actor Ben Affleck is on the rocks and may lead to their separation. 7 shows previously cancelled Lopez had already cancelled seven dates of the North American tour in early May. The 54-year-old was going to be performing songs from her recent 2024 album This is Me. Now as a companion to the Amazon MGM documentary of the same name. Both the album and the documentary were released in February with the album peaking at number 38 on the Billboard album charts. The tour was originally set to begin in Orlando, Fla., on June 26 and finish on Aug. 17 at New York's Madison Square Garden. From Jennifer Lopez to The Black Keys, why aren't concerts selling well? In recent weeks, big-name acts like The Black Keys, Jennifer Lopez, and Bad Bunny have either cancelled shows or reorganized their tours reportedly due to low ticket sales. Are these merely isolated setbacks, or do they point to a more troubling future for the big-ticket concert industry in the streaming age? Music journalists Jem Aswad and Maura Johnston will explain the challenges even popular acts are facing in the current climate. Plus, film critic David Ehrlich joins Elamin to discuss the buzz surrounding the film 'Universal Language' at this year's Cannes Film Festival.

entertainment

Jennifer Lopez abruptly cancels This Is Me... Live concert tour, including 3 Canadian dates. Jennifer Lopez abruptly cancels This Is Me. Live concert tour, including 3 Canadian dates Jennifer Lopez said on Friday that her "This Is Me. Live" summer concert tour has been canceled so she can take time to be with her family. Posted: May 31, 2024 10:38 PM EDT | Last Updated: 2 minutes ago Jennifer Lopez, seen in a June 2023 photo, has announced the cancellation of her This Is Me. Live summer tour that was to include stops in Toronto and Montreal. (Mike Blake/Reuters) Social Sharing Jennifer Lopez said on Friday that her This Is Me. Live summer concert tour has been cancelled so she can take time to be with her family. wrote on her website that she is "completely heartsick and devastated" about letting her fans down. "Please know that I wouldn't do this if I didn't feel that it was absolutely necessary. I promise I will make it up to you and we will all be together again," she added. Representatives for concert promoter Live Nation also announced on Friday that the On the Floor singer needs a break to be with "her children, family and close friends." Lopez had been slated to play shows in Toronto and Montreal in August. The Canadian Ticketmaster website did not appear to list any other related tour dates on this side of the border as of Friday evening. The tour cancellation comes amid rampant speculation in the media that Lopez's marriage to actor Ben Affleck is on the rocks and may lead to their separation. 7 shows previously cancelled Lopez had already cancelled seven dates of the North American tour in early May. The 54-year-old was going to be performing songs from her recent 2024 album This is Me. Now as a companion to the Amazon MGM documentary of the same name. Both the album and the documentary were released in February with the album peaking at number 38 on the Billboard album charts. The tour was originally set to begin in Orlando, Fla., on June 26 and finish on Aug. 17 at New York's Madison Square Garden. From Jennifer Lopez to The Black Keys, why aren't concerts selling well? In recent weeks, big-name acts like The Black Keys, Jennifer Lopez, and Bad Bunny have either cancelled shows or reorganized their tours reportedly due to low ticket sales. Are these merely isolated setbacks, or do they point to a more troubling future for the big-ticket concert industry in the streaming age? Music journalists Jem Aswad and Maura Johnston will explain the challenges even popular acts are facing in the current climate. Plus, film critic David Ehrlich joins Elamin to discuss the buzz surrounding the film 'Universal Language' at this year's Cannes Film Festival.

4th human case of bird flu linked to dairy cow outbreak: CDC

The fourth human case of bird flu linked to the current dairy cow outbreak was confirmed on Wednesday in a dairy worker in Colorado, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Previously, one human case had been reported in Texas and two human cases reported in Michigan. As with the previous cases, the patient is a dairy farm worker who came into contact with cows that tested positive for the H5N1 strain of bird flu, or avian influenza. MORE: What to know about the bird flu outbreak in the US after virus fragments found in milk samples The worker was previously being monitored because of their exposure to infected cattle and reported symptoms to state health officials. Testing results were inconclusive at the state level, but specimens forwarded to the CDC for additional testing were positive for influenza A, the federal health agency said. The patient reported eye symptoms only. They received treatment with oseltamivir, an antiviral drug used to treat influenza, and have since recovered. Cows are seen here in this undated file photo. STOCK PHOTO/Getty Images The CDC said the risk to the general public remains low, but advises people to avoid close, long or unprotected exposures to sick or dead animals. People are also advised to avoid unprotected exposure to animal excrement, litter, unpasteurized milk or materials that have been touched by -- or close to -- animals with suspected or confirmed bird flu. In early March, the U.S. Department of Agriculture announced a bird flu strain that had sickened millions of birds across the U.S. was identified in several mammals this year. A few weeks later, federal and state public health officials said they were investigating an illness among primarily older dairy cows in Kansas, New Mexico and Texas and causing symptoms including decreased lactation and low appetite. MORE: WHO acknowledges bird flu patient in Mexico died of other medical conditions The USDA said in a statement at the time that "there is no concern about the safety of the commercial milk supply or that this circumstance poses a risk to consumer health." Currently, Colorado is reporting more cases of bird flu in livestock than any other state with 23 livestock herds affected in the last 30 days as of July 1, according to a USDA interactive dashboard. In late April, reports emerged that bird flu fragments had been found in samples of pasteurized milk. However, the fragments are inactive remnants of the virus and cannot cause infection. Federal agencies maintain the U.S. commercial milk supply remains safe because milk is pasteurized and dairy farmers are required to dispose of any milk from sick cows, so it does not enter the supply. In May, the CDC said in a summary that it is preparing for the "possibility of increased risk to human health" from bird flu as part of the federal government's preparedness efforts, including filling doses of bird flu vaccine into vials to shore up the national stockpile.

world

4th human case of bird flu linked to dairy cow outbreak: CDC. The fourth human case of bird flu linked to the current dairy cow outbreak was confirmed on Wednesday in a dairy worker in Colorado, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Previously, one human case had been reported in Texas and two human cases reported in Michigan. As with the previous cases, the patient is a dairy farm worker who came into contact with cows that tested positive for the H5N1 strain of bird flu, or avian influenza. MORE: What to know about the bird flu outbreak in the US after virus fragments found in milk samples The worker was previously being monitored because of their exposure to infected cattle and reported symptoms to state health officials. Testing results were inconclusive at the state level, but specimens forwarded to the CDC for additional testing were positive for influenza A, the federal health agency said. The patient reported eye symptoms only. They received treatment with oseltamivir, an antiviral drug used to treat influenza, and have since recovered. Cows are seen here in this undated file photo. STOCK PHOTO/Getty Images The CDC said the risk to the general public remains low, but advises people to avoid close, long or unprotected exposures to sick or dead animals. People are also advised to avoid unprotected exposure to animal excrement, litter, unpasteurized milk or materials that have been touched by -- or close to -- animals with suspected or confirmed bird flu. In early March, the U.S. Department of Agriculture announced a bird flu strain that had sickened millions of birds across the U.S. was identified in several mammals this year. A few weeks later, federal and state public health officials said they were investigating an illness among primarily older dairy cows in Kansas, New Mexico and Texas and causing symptoms including decreased lactation and low appetite. MORE: WHO acknowledges bird flu patient in Mexico died of other medical conditions The USDA said in a statement at the time that "there is no concern about the safety of the commercial milk supply or that this circumstance poses a risk to consumer health." Currently, Colorado is reporting more cases of bird flu in livestock than any other state with 23 livestock herds affected in the last 30 days as of July 1, according to a USDA interactive dashboard. In late April, reports emerged that bird flu fragments had been found in samples of pasteurized milk. However, the fragments are inactive remnants of the virus and cannot cause infection. Federal agencies maintain the U.S. commercial milk supply remains safe because milk is pasteurized and dairy farmers are required to dispose of any milk from sick cows, so it does not enter the supply. In May, the CDC said in a summary that it is preparing for the "possibility of increased risk to human health" from bird flu as part of the federal government's preparedness efforts, including filling doses of bird flu vaccine into vials to shore up the national stockpile.

Flame Resistant and Retardant Fabric Market is Anticipated to reach US$ 13.39 Billion by 2034: Fact.MR Report

Use of Flame Resistant and Retardant Fabrics Rising in Compliance with Stringent Fire Safety Standards in Potentially Hazardous Workplace Environments June 19, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Global revenue of Flame Resistant And Retardant Fabrics Market size is set to reach US$ 6.5 billion in 2024. According to a recently updated research report compiled by Fact.MR, the market is evaluated to expand at 7.5% CAGR, to reach a valuation of US$ 13.39 billion from 2024 to 2034. Flame-resistant and retardant fabrics are engineered to self-extinguish or resist the spread of flames by minimizing the risk of devastating fires and potential loss of life. Demand growth for these fabrics is being led by stringent fire safety regulations and heightened awareness of workplace hazards, especially in critical sectors such as oil & gas exploration, mining, and manufacturing. Get Free Sample Copy of This Report: The aerospace and automotive sectors rely on flame-resistant materials to enhance passenger safety in case of emergencies. As the world becomes increasingly conscious of safety measures, the market for these fabrics is projected to grow at a significant pace driven by technological advancements, stricter regulations, and persistent focus on mitigating fire-related risks across diverse industries. North America is the leading regional market for flame-resistant and retardant fabrics, with East Asia not far behind. The oil & gas sector is the leading end user of these fabrics and will continue holding the pole position over the next ten years. Key Takeaways from Market Study Revenue from the global flame resistant and retardant fabric market is projected to reach US$ 13.39 billion by 2034-end. Sales of flame resistant and retardant fabrics in Canada is calculated to expand at 7.9% CAGR through 2034. "Continuous innovation in textile engineering is leading to the development of advanced materials and treatments that enhance the performance, durability, and versatility of flame resistant and retardant fabrics," says a Fact.MR analyst. Key companies driving this market expansion include PBI Performance Products Inc., known for its advanced fabric technologies, and Evonik Industries, which provides crucial chemical components. Gunei Chemical Industry Co., Ltd. specializes in tailored chemical products for flame retardant fabrics, while Huntsman International LLC is a major supplier of essential materials in this industry. Kaneka Corporation continues to innovate with its diverse product offerings, and Koninklijke Ten Cate NV (TenCate) is recognized for its high-performance materials. Milliken & Company leverages its materials science expertise to offer advanced solutions, and Norfab Corporation is noted for its innovative and high-quality products. Solvay SA contributes with its specialty chemicals and materials, and Teijin Aramid BV is renowned for its advanced aramid fibers, which play a crucial role in the development of flame resistant and retardant fabrics. High Demand for Flame Resistant and Retardant Fabrics from Oil & Gas Sector in North America The oil & gas sector is characterized by hazardous operations and stringent safety protocols and has therefore embraced these specialized fabrics as an essential safeguard against fires, explosions, and other thermal hazards. North America's commitment to worker safety and regulatory compliance has fueled the adoption of advanced protective textiles, positioning the region as a lucrative market for flame-resistant and retardant fabric manufacturers. Get Customization on this Report for Specific Research Solutions: Recent Developments: Key players in the flame resistant and retardant fabric market are focusing on developing improved fibers that offer superior flame resistance, durability, and comfort. This includes the production of smart textiles to provide additional functionalities, such as temperature regulation or moisture-wicking. In April 2024, Daletec exhibited its offerings at Techtextil Frankfurt. One of these included Offshore Stretch, which provides excellent flexibility and flame resistance for demanding offshore environments. In May 2023, TenCate Protective Fabrics recently launched Tecasafe® 360+, a revolutionary inherently flame-resistant stretch fabric. This innovation combines the protective qualities of flame-resistant materials with the comfort of stretch technology. More Valuable Insights on Offer Fact.MR, in its new offering, presents an unbiased analysis of the flame resistant and retardant fabric market for 2019 to 2023 and forecasts market statistics for 2024 to 2034. The study divulges essential insights into the market based on weight (up to 12 oz. per sq. yard, 12 to 17 oz. per sq. yard, 17 to 22 oz. per sq. yard, 22 to 33 oz. per sq. yard, greater than 33 oz. per sq. yard), thickness (up to 0.056 inches, 0.056 to 0.065 inches, 0.065 to 0.080 inches, 0.080 to 0.102 inches, greater than 0.102 inches), end user (oil & gas, mining, packaging, automotive, marine, pharmaceuticals, electronics & electrical, construction), and application (industrial protective clothing, law enforcement services, transport), across seven major regions of the world ( North America, US$ 1,452.1 million in 2023. It is expected to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 5.1%, reaching

business

Flame Resistant and Retardant Fabric Market is Anticipated to reach US$ 13.39 Billion by 2034: Fact.MR Report. Use of Flame Resistant and Retardant Fabrics Rising in Compliance with Stringent Fire Safety Standards in Potentially Hazardous Workplace Environments June 19, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Global revenue of Flame Resistant And Retardant Fabrics Market size is set to reach US$ 6.5 billion in 2024. According to a recently updated research report compiled by Fact.MR, the market is evaluated to expand at 7.5% CAGR, to reach a valuation of US$ 13.39 billion from 2024 to 2034. Flame-resistant and retardant fabrics are engineered to self-extinguish or resist the spread of flames by minimizing the risk of devastating fires and potential loss of life. Demand growth for these fabrics is being led by stringent fire safety regulations and heightened awareness of workplace hazards, especially in critical sectors such as oil & gas exploration, mining, and manufacturing. Get Free Sample Copy of This Report: The aerospace and automotive sectors rely on flame-resistant materials to enhance passenger safety in case of emergencies. As the world becomes increasingly conscious of safety measures, the market for these fabrics is projected to grow at a significant pace driven by technological advancements, stricter regulations, and persistent focus on mitigating fire-related risks across diverse industries. North America is the leading regional market for flame-resistant and retardant fabrics, with East Asia not far behind. The oil & gas sector is the leading end user of these fabrics and will continue holding the pole position over the next ten years. Key Takeaways from Market Study Revenue from the global flame resistant and retardant fabric market is projected to reach US$ 13.39 billion by 2034-end. Sales of flame resistant and retardant fabrics in Canada is calculated to expand at 7.9% CAGR through 2034. "Continuous innovation in textile engineering is leading to the development of advanced materials and treatments that enhance the performance, durability, and versatility of flame resistant and retardant fabrics," says a Fact.MR analyst. Key companies driving this market expansion include PBI Performance Products Inc., known for its advanced fabric technologies, and Evonik Industries, which provides crucial chemical components. Gunei Chemical Industry Co., Ltd. specializes in tailored chemical products for flame retardant fabrics, while Huntsman International LLC is a major supplier of essential materials in this industry. Kaneka Corporation continues to innovate with its diverse product offerings, and Koninklijke Ten Cate NV (TenCate) is recognized for its high-performance materials. Milliken & Company leverages its materials science expertise to offer advanced solutions, and Norfab Corporation is noted for its innovative and high-quality products. Solvay SA contributes with its specialty chemicals and materials, and Teijin Aramid BV is renowned for its advanced aramid fibers, which play a crucial role in the development of flame resistant and retardant fabrics. High Demand for Flame Resistant and Retardant Fabrics from Oil & Gas Sector in North America The oil & gas sector is characterized by hazardous operations and stringent safety protocols and has therefore embraced these specialized fabrics as an essential safeguard against fires, explosions, and other thermal hazards. North America's commitment to worker safety and regulatory compliance has fueled the adoption of advanced protective textiles, positioning the region as a lucrative market for flame-resistant and retardant fabric manufacturers. Get Customization on this Report for Specific Research Solutions: Recent Developments: Key players in the flame resistant and retardant fabric market are focusing on developing improved fibers that offer superior flame resistance, durability, and comfort. This includes the production of smart textiles to provide additional functionalities, such as temperature regulation or moisture-wicking. In April 2024, Daletec exhibited its offerings at Techtextil Frankfurt. One of these included Offshore Stretch, which provides excellent flexibility and flame resistance for demanding offshore environments. In May 2023, TenCate Protective Fabrics recently launched Tecasafe® 360+, a revolutionary inherently flame-resistant stretch fabric. This innovation combines the protective qualities of flame-resistant materials with the comfort of stretch technology. More Valuable Insights on Offer Fact.MR, in its new offering, presents an unbiased analysis of the flame resistant and retardant fabric market for 2019 to 2023 and forecasts market statistics for 2024 to 2034. The study divulges essential insights into the market based on weight (up to 12 oz. per sq. yard, 12 to 17 oz. per sq. yard, 17 to 22 oz. per sq. yard, 22 to 33 oz. per sq. yard, greater than 33 oz. per sq. yard), thickness (up to 0.056 inches, 0.056 to 0.065 inches, 0.065 to 0.080 inches, 0.080 to 0.102 inches, greater than 0.102 inches), end user (oil & gas, mining, packaging, automotive, marine, pharmaceuticals, electronics & electrical, construction), and application (industrial protective clothing, law enforcement services, transport), across seven major regions of the world ( North America, US$ 1,452.1 million in 2023. It is expected to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 5.1%, reaching

Girl buried alive while digging sand hole in Florida, brother injured

Join Fox News for access to this content Plus get unlimited access to thousands of articles, videos and more with your free account! Privacy Policy, which includes our Notice of Financial Incentive. To access the content, check your email and follow the instructions provided. A young girl has died after a large sand hole she was digging with her brother collapsed on both of them at a South Florida beach on Tuesday, authorities said. The girl, believed to be around 7 years old, was playfully digging the hole at Lauderdale-by-the-Sea with the boy, 8, when tragedy struck and the sand caved in on them. Lauderdale-by-the-Sea is a town in Broward County about 33 miles north of Miami. Emergency crews responded to the scene at around 3 p.m. to find the boy buried up his chest in the sand, said Sandra King, a spokesperson for Pompano Beach Fire Rescue. Investigators on the beach in Lauderdale-by-the-Sea, Fla., take photos of the scene of a sand collapse on Tuesday, Feb. 20, 2024. A young girl has died after a large sand hole she was digging with her brother collapsed on both of them at a south Florida beach on Tuesday, authorities said. (Mike Stocker/South Florida Sun-Sentinel via AP) DAUGHTER DUO TEAMS UP WITH 'AMERICA'S MOST WANTED' TO HELP NAB FUGITIVE FATHER The girl, about 7 years old, was completely buried underneath the boy, with the hole being 5 or 6 feet deep when the collapse happened, King told the South Florida Sun-Sentinel. A frantic video obtained by CBS News Miami shows good Samaritans on the beach desperately trying to dig the kids out of the hole. They were trying to hold on to the walls of the hole, so it would not collapse further. Rescuers used support boards to keep more sand from collapsing in as they used shovels to dig the children out, King said. It is unclear how long they were buried in the sand before being pulled out. A pail rests next to caution tape on a beach in Lauderdale-by-the-Sea, Fla., on Tuesday, Feb. 20, 2024. A young girl was buried in sand and died Tuesday when a deep hole she was digging with a little boy collapsed on them both at a south Florida beach, authorities said. (Mike Stocker/South Florida Sun-Sentinel via AP) 2 RECOVERING AFTER LABOR DAY SHARK BITES AT SAME FLORIDA BEACH, OFFICIALS SAY "It was an unfathomable accident," King told the Miami Herald. King said that the girl had stopped breathing by the time rescuers reached her and the young siblings were rushed to Broward Health Medical Center. The girl was pronounced dead on arrival while the boy was hospitalized in stable condition. Lauderdale-by-the-Sea is a town in Broward County about 33 miles north of Miami. (Jeffrey Greenberg/Universal Images Group via Getty Images)) Aerial images of the aftermath of the scene showed the sand hole surrounded by cones and police yellow tape. The identities of the boy and the girl have not yet been released.

usa

Girl buried alive while digging sand hole in Florida, brother injured. Join Fox News for access to this content Plus get unlimited access to thousands of articles, videos and more with your free account! Privacy Policy, which includes our Notice of Financial Incentive. To access the content, check your email and follow the instructions provided. A young girl has died after a large sand hole she was digging with her brother collapsed on both of them at a South Florida beach on Tuesday, authorities said. The girl, believed to be around 7 years old, was playfully digging the hole at Lauderdale-by-the-Sea with the boy, 8, when tragedy struck and the sand caved in on them. Lauderdale-by-the-Sea is a town in Broward County about 33 miles north of Miami. Emergency crews responded to the scene at around 3 p.m. to find the boy buried up his chest in the sand, said Sandra King, a spokesperson for Pompano Beach Fire Rescue. Investigators on the beach in Lauderdale-by-the-Sea, Fla., take photos of the scene of a sand collapse on Tuesday, Feb. 20, 2024. A young girl has died after a large sand hole she was digging with her brother collapsed on both of them at a south Florida beach on Tuesday, authorities said. (Mike Stocker/South Florida Sun-Sentinel via AP) DAUGHTER DUO TEAMS UP WITH 'AMERICA'S MOST WANTED' TO HELP NAB FUGITIVE FATHER The girl, about 7 years old, was completely buried underneath the boy, with the hole being 5 or 6 feet deep when the collapse happened, King told the South Florida Sun-Sentinel. A frantic video obtained by CBS News Miami shows good Samaritans on the beach desperately trying to dig the kids out of the hole. They were trying to hold on to the walls of the hole, so it would not collapse further. Rescuers used support boards to keep more sand from collapsing in as they used shovels to dig the children out, King said. It is unclear how long they were buried in the sand before being pulled out. A pail rests next to caution tape on a beach in Lauderdale-by-the-Sea, Fla., on Tuesday, Feb. 20, 2024. A young girl was buried in sand and died Tuesday when a deep hole she was digging with a little boy collapsed on them both at a south Florida beach, authorities said. (Mike Stocker/South Florida Sun-Sentinel via AP) 2 RECOVERING AFTER LABOR DAY SHARK BITES AT SAME FLORIDA BEACH, OFFICIALS SAY "It was an unfathomable accident," King told the Miami Herald. King said that the girl had stopped breathing by the time rescuers reached her and the young siblings were rushed to Broward Health Medical Center. The girl was pronounced dead on arrival while the boy was hospitalized in stable condition. Lauderdale-by-the-Sea is a town in Broward County about 33 miles north of Miami. (Jeffrey Greenberg/Universal Images Group via Getty Images)) Aerial images of the aftermath of the scene showed the sand hole surrounded by cones and police yellow tape. The identities of the boy and the girl have not yet been released.

Public Bitcoin miners diversify into AI as market cap exceeds $25 billion

Quick Take The ongoing miner capitulation , driven by a falling Bitcoin price, declining hash rate, and a meager hash price, has significantly impacted publicly traded Bitcoin miners. Despite this challenging environment, public miners have shown resilience post-halving, with a total market cap exceeding $25 billion and WGMI experiencing a 24% rise in June and a 23% year-to-date increase. Miner Share Prices: (Source: TradingView) Amidst these difficulties, a silver lining has emerged in the form of the AI boom. This surge in artificial intelligence has positively influenced the mining sector. NVIDIA’s rise to becoming the largest company globally exemplifies this trend, benefiting miners. Core Scientific has expanded its CoreWeave infrastructure to 270 MW, while Hut 8 received a $150 million boost for AI data center expansion. Bit Digital, another Bitcoin miner, now derives an estimated 27% of its revenue from AI, according to CNBC . The sector’s acquisition trend is expected to continue, as evidenced by Cleanspark’s activities and the ongoing rivalry between Riot and Bitfarms. A recent analysis by JP Morgan highlights that the success of these Bitcoin miners can be attributed to their diversification into AI data center ventures, providing a much-needed buffer against a depressed Bitcoin price. Additionally, Marathon Digital has diversified its revenue by mining Kaspa , a proof-of-work (PoW) layer 1 blockchain network. This highlights the intense and competitive nature of the industry, especially in the wake of the halving, with miners exploring various strategies to boost their revenues. The post Public Bitcoin miners diversify into AI as market cap exceeds $25 billion appeared first on CryptoSlate .

crypto

Public Bitcoin miners diversify into AI as market cap exceeds $25 billion. Quick Take The ongoing miner capitulation , driven by a falling Bitcoin price, declining hash rate, and a meager hash price, has significantly impacted publicly traded Bitcoin miners. Despite this challenging environment, public miners have shown resilience post-halving, with a total market cap exceeding $25 billion and WGMI experiencing a 24% rise in June and a 23% year-to-date increase. Miner Share Prices: (Source: TradingView) Amidst these difficulties, a silver lining has emerged in the form of the AI boom. This surge in artificial intelligence has positively influenced the mining sector. NVIDIA’s rise to becoming the largest company globally exemplifies this trend, benefiting miners. Core Scientific has expanded its CoreWeave infrastructure to 270 MW, while Hut 8 received a $150 million boost for AI data center expansion. Bit Digital, another Bitcoin miner, now derives an estimated 27% of its revenue from AI, according to CNBC . The sector’s acquisition trend is expected to continue, as evidenced by Cleanspark’s activities and the ongoing rivalry between Riot and Bitfarms. A recent analysis by JP Morgan highlights that the success of these Bitcoin miners can be attributed to their diversification into AI data center ventures, providing a much-needed buffer against a depressed Bitcoin price. Additionally, Marathon Digital has diversified its revenue by mining Kaspa , a proof-of-work (PoW) layer 1 blockchain network. This highlights the intense and competitive nature of the industry, especially in the wake of the halving, with miners exploring various strategies to boost their revenues. The post Public Bitcoin miners diversify into AI as market cap exceeds $25 billion appeared first on CryptoSlate .

CDC recommends updated COVID shots for everyone older than 6 months

FILE - A sign promotes COVID-19 vaccinations in Somerville, Massachusetts, Aug. 14, 2023. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends updated COVID shots for everyone 6 months old and older, even those previously vaccinated against the disease. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has recommended that everyone 6 months old and older should be given an updated COVID-19 vaccine for the 2024-25 immunization campaign, even those previously vaccinated against the disease. The agency's recommendation on Thursday echoed that of its panel of outside experts, who voted unanimously to recommend the use of updated COVID-19 vaccines, as authorized or approved by the FDA, for those 6 months old and older. The recommendation will take effect as soon as the new vaccines from Moderna, Novavax and Pfizer become available later this year, the CDC said. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration asked vaccine manufacturers earlier this month to update the new shots to target the KP.2 variant if feasible, instead of the JN.1 lineage it had sought to target earlier. Moderna and Novavax had submitted their applications to the FDA for updating the fall 2024 season shots targeting the JN.1 strain. The JN.1 variant was the dominant strain in the United States earlier this year. While it is no longer as prevalent, it was estimated to account for 4.4% of cases over the two-week period that ended June 22, according to CDC data. The KP.2 strain was estimated to account for about 20.8% of cases, while KP.3, now becoming dominant, was at 33.1%. Pfizer said it was holding global discussions with regulators, including the FDA, to assess the composition of future COVID vaccine formulations.

usa

CDC recommends updated COVID shots for everyone older than 6 months. FILE - A sign promotes COVID-19 vaccinations in Somerville, Massachusetts, Aug. 14, 2023. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends updated COVID shots for everyone 6 months old and older, even those previously vaccinated against the disease. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has recommended that everyone 6 months old and older should be given an updated COVID-19 vaccine for the 2024-25 immunization campaign, even those previously vaccinated against the disease. The agency's recommendation on Thursday echoed that of its panel of outside experts, who voted unanimously to recommend the use of updated COVID-19 vaccines, as authorized or approved by the FDA, for those 6 months old and older. The recommendation will take effect as soon as the new vaccines from Moderna, Novavax and Pfizer become available later this year, the CDC said. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration asked vaccine manufacturers earlier this month to update the new shots to target the KP.2 variant if feasible, instead of the JN.1 lineage it had sought to target earlier. Moderna and Novavax had submitted their applications to the FDA for updating the fall 2024 season shots targeting the JN.1 strain. The JN.1 variant was the dominant strain in the United States earlier this year. While it is no longer as prevalent, it was estimated to account for 4.4% of cases over the two-week period that ended June 22, according to CDC data. The KP.2 strain was estimated to account for about 20.8% of cases, while KP.3, now becoming dominant, was at 33.1%. Pfizer said it was holding global discussions with regulators, including the FDA, to assess the composition of future COVID vaccine formulations.

Untreated water available for residents, businesses at 2 Calgary locations as water consumption continues to drop

An outbreak of summer weather didn't deter Calgary from turning off the taps Saturday. At her Sunday morning update, Calgary mayor Jyoti Gondek said the city's water consumption Saturday came in at 451 million litres, well below its threshold level and the lowest total in the past three days. "That was great news," Gondek said. The positive data came on a day when the temperature hit 25 degrees in the city, with more hot, sunny weather in the forecast for Sunday and Monday. Untreated river water is available at two different locations in the city, at Baker Park and the Ogden Boat Launch, the mayor said. "Take what you need," Gondek said. "It's a temporary fix. "This is river water," she added. "Not safe for consumption." The mayor said the city was "actively exploring ways to expand the number of locations" to make untreated water available. 'I feel like I have my life again': Canadian woman describes her freedom from a life controlled by OCD What set Rima Youssef on the path to freedom, she says, was a novel treatment — a form of brain surgery — to shut down the overactive thoughts and compulsions using focused ultrasound. Conservative surge combined with ballot confusion could crack a Liberal stronghold in Toronto byelection Growing political discontent in a Liberal stronghold could lead to a Conservative breakthrough in an Ontario byelection that may put Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's leadership to the test. On Monday, voters in the riding of Toronto-St. Paul's will head to the polls to elect a new member of Parliament. Untreated water available for residents, businesses at 2 Calgary locations as water consumption continues to drop An outbreak of summer weather didn't deter Calgary from turning off the taps Saturday. Ontario may now be Canada's tornado capital, researchers say A Prairie province previously thought to be the tornado capital of Canada has been dethroned by Ontario, according to new data by tornado researchers out of Western University. Why Mount Rainier is the U.S. volcano keeping scientists up at night The snowcapped peak of Mount Rainier, which towers 4.3 kilometres (2.7 miles) above sea level in Washington state, has not produced a significant volcanic eruption in the past 1,000 years. Yet, more than Hawaii's bubbling lava fields or Yellowstone's sprawling supervolcano, it's Mount Rainier that has many U.S. volcanologists worried. B.C. First Nations involved in salmon farming demand apology from William Shatner, Ryan Reynolds A coalition of B.C. First Nations involved in open-net salmon farming have called on Canadian actors William Shatner and Ryan Reynolds to apologize for a profanity-laced video criticizing the wider industry. Panthers face task of regrouping for Game 7 with history, Stanley Cup on the line It's the greatest offer a team could get at the start of every season: Reach Game 7 of the Stanley Cup Final, and as an added bonus, play host to it in your rink. One game. For everything. 'We're enraged': Tori Dunn's father shares her heartbreaking final moments Hundreds of mourners gathered at a vigil in Surrey Bend Regional Park Saturday evening to honour Tori Dunn, who was killed in the city's Port Kells neighbourhood last weekend. A fourth victim has died a day after a shooting at an Arkansas grocery store, police say Panthers face task of regrouping for Game 7 with history, Stanley Cup on the line Ukrainian drones and missiles kill 6 in Russia and Crimea, fresh bombing of Kharkiv leaves 1 dead National Indigenous People's Day celebrations got an early start today. Game 6 of Stanley Cup Final gets the big screen treatment in Lethbridge The resurgence of the Oilers in the NHL finals might be a tough pill for hockey fans in Calgary to swallow, but down in Lethbridge, they're giving Friday night's Game 6 the big screen treatment. Hikers injured in Waterton bear attack out of hospital, bear not yet located 'We're enraged': Tori Dunn's father shares her heartbreaking final moments Hundreds of mourners gathered at a vigil in Surrey Bend Regional Park Saturday evening to honour Tori Dunn, who was killed in the city's Port Kells neighbourhood last weekend. B.C. court overturns environmental board's ruling over 'apprehension of bias' A B.C. Supreme Court judge has overturned a ruling by the province's Environmental Appeal Board after finding that the conduct of the panel's chair and one of its members led to a "reasonable apprehension of bias" in its decision. Man in critical condition after arrest in northern B.C., IIO seeks witnesses B.C. court overturns environmental board's ruling over 'apprehension of bias' A B.C. Supreme Court judge has overturned a ruling by the province's Environmental Appeal Board after finding that the conduct of the panel's chair and one of its members led to a "reasonable apprehension of bias" in its decision. B.C. highway reopened after school bus, pedestrian crashes that killed 1 and sent 14 to hospital Traffic began moving again overnight on Highway 97 north of Lac La Hache, B.C., after a pair of crashes – one involving a school bus – left one person dead and sent 14 people to hospital Friday afternoon. B.C. First Nations involved in salmon farming demand apology from William Shatner, Ryan Reynolds Mothers and families struggling with postpartum depression or navigating the struggles of parenthood have access to some help through a new wellness centre which opened its doors in Regina Saturday. Vehicle involved in inter-provincial missing child investigation located in Saskatchewan The vehicle which is believed to be involved in an inter-provincial missing child investigation has been located in Saskatchewan. Parts of Sask. at 'high risk' for thunderstorms: Environment Canada A Prairie province previously thought to be the tornado capital of Canada has been dethroned by Ontario, according to new data by tornado researchers out of Western University. Conservative surge combined with ballot confusion could crack a Liberal stronghold in Toronto byelection Growing political discontent in a Liberal stronghold could lead to a Conservative breakthrough in an Ontario byelection that may put Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's leadership to the test. On Monday, voters in the riding of Toronto-St. Paul's will head to the polls to elect a new member of Parliament.

canada

Untreated water available for residents, businesses at 2 Calgary locations as water consumption continues to drop. An outbreak of summer weather didn't deter Calgary from turning off the taps Saturday. At her Sunday morning update, Calgary mayor Jyoti Gondek said the city's water consumption Saturday came in at 451 million litres, well below its threshold level and the lowest total in the past three days. "That was great news," Gondek said. The positive data came on a day when the temperature hit 25 degrees in the city, with more hot, sunny weather in the forecast for Sunday and Monday. Untreated river water is available at two different locations in the city, at Baker Park and the Ogden Boat Launch, the mayor said. "Take what you need," Gondek said. "It's a temporary fix. "This is river water," she added. "Not safe for consumption." The mayor said the city was "actively exploring ways to expand the number of locations" to make untreated water available. 'I feel like I have my life again': Canadian woman describes her freedom from a life controlled by OCD What set Rima Youssef on the path to freedom, she says, was a novel treatment — a form of brain surgery — to shut down the overactive thoughts and compulsions using focused ultrasound. Conservative surge combined with ballot confusion could crack a Liberal stronghold in Toronto byelection Growing political discontent in a Liberal stronghold could lead to a Conservative breakthrough in an Ontario byelection that may put Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's leadership to the test. On Monday, voters in the riding of Toronto-St. Paul's will head to the polls to elect a new member of Parliament. Untreated water available for residents, businesses at 2 Calgary locations as water consumption continues to drop An outbreak of summer weather didn't deter Calgary from turning off the taps Saturday. Ontario may now be Canada's tornado capital, researchers say A Prairie province previously thought to be the tornado capital of Canada has been dethroned by Ontario, according to new data by tornado researchers out of Western University. Why Mount Rainier is the U.S. volcano keeping scientists up at night The snowcapped peak of Mount Rainier, which towers 4.3 kilometres (2.7 miles) above sea level in Washington state, has not produced a significant volcanic eruption in the past 1,000 years. Yet, more than Hawaii's bubbling lava fields or Yellowstone's sprawling supervolcano, it's Mount Rainier that has many U.S. volcanologists worried. B.C. First Nations involved in salmon farming demand apology from William Shatner, Ryan Reynolds A coalition of B.C. First Nations involved in open-net salmon farming have called on Canadian actors William Shatner and Ryan Reynolds to apologize for a profanity-laced video criticizing the wider industry. Panthers face task of regrouping for Game 7 with history, Stanley Cup on the line It's the greatest offer a team could get at the start of every season: Reach Game 7 of the Stanley Cup Final, and as an added bonus, play host to it in your rink. One game. For everything. 'We're enraged': Tori Dunn's father shares her heartbreaking final moments Hundreds of mourners gathered at a vigil in Surrey Bend Regional Park Saturday evening to honour Tori Dunn, who was killed in the city's Port Kells neighbourhood last weekend. A fourth victim has died a day after a shooting at an Arkansas grocery store, police say Panthers face task of regrouping for Game 7 with history, Stanley Cup on the line Ukrainian drones and missiles kill 6 in Russia and Crimea, fresh bombing of Kharkiv leaves 1 dead National Indigenous People's Day celebrations got an early start today. Game 6 of Stanley Cup Final gets the big screen treatment in Lethbridge The resurgence of the Oilers in the NHL finals might be a tough pill for hockey fans in Calgary to swallow, but down in Lethbridge, they're giving Friday night's Game 6 the big screen treatment. Hikers injured in Waterton bear attack out of hospital, bear not yet located 'We're enraged': Tori Dunn's father shares her heartbreaking final moments Hundreds of mourners gathered at a vigil in Surrey Bend Regional Park Saturday evening to honour Tori Dunn, who was killed in the city's Port Kells neighbourhood last weekend. B.C. court overturns environmental board's ruling over 'apprehension of bias' A B.C. Supreme Court judge has overturned a ruling by the province's Environmental Appeal Board after finding that the conduct of the panel's chair and one of its members led to a "reasonable apprehension of bias" in its decision. Man in critical condition after arrest in northern B.C., IIO seeks witnesses B.C. court overturns environmental board's ruling over 'apprehension of bias' A B.C. Supreme Court judge has overturned a ruling by the province's Environmental Appeal Board after finding that the conduct of the panel's chair and one of its members led to a "reasonable apprehension of bias" in its decision. B.C. highway reopened after school bus, pedestrian crashes that killed 1 and sent 14 to hospital Traffic began moving again overnight on Highway 97 north of Lac La Hache, B.C., after a pair of crashes – one involving a school bus – left one person dead and sent 14 people to hospital Friday afternoon. B.C. First Nations involved in salmon farming demand apology from William Shatner, Ryan Reynolds Mothers and families struggling with postpartum depression or navigating the struggles of parenthood have access to some help through a new wellness centre which opened its doors in Regina Saturday. Vehicle involved in inter-provincial missing child investigation located in Saskatchewan The vehicle which is believed to be involved in an inter-provincial missing child investigation has been located in Saskatchewan. Parts of Sask. at 'high risk' for thunderstorms: Environment Canada A Prairie province previously thought to be the tornado capital of Canada has been dethroned by Ontario, according to new data by tornado researchers out of Western University. Conservative surge combined with ballot confusion could crack a Liberal stronghold in Toronto byelection Growing political discontent in a Liberal stronghold could lead to a Conservative breakthrough in an Ontario byelection that may put Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's leadership to the test. On Monday, voters in the riding of Toronto-St. Paul's will head to the polls to elect a new member of Parliament.

Honda Aircraft Expands Pre-Owned Program As Asia Flight Hours Grow.

SINGAPORE—Less than a year after the launch of its Certified Pre-Owned (CPO) program, Honda Aircraft Co. has expanded the offering to the Asian market. First released in the U.S. in June, the CPO comes with a 208-point inspection and comprehensive maintenance process, offering direct access to Honda Aircraft's team. The North Carolina-based company has delivered over 250 aircraft worldwide since it began customer deliveries in late 2015. Of the 236 in-service aircraft, nearly 10% are based in Asia, according to Aviation Week Network's Fleet Discovery database. "We're proud to showcase the progress we are making to expand the HondaJet fleet and services across Asia," said Amod Kelkar, Honda Aircraft senior vice president and chief commercial officer. "The HondaJet is ideally suited to meet the regional aviation demands here." HondaJet flight activity saw a 20% increase in the region in 2023, as the global fleet exceeds 210,000 flight hours. The aircraft holds 14 type certifications around the world. "As the demand for a high-quality light jet travel solution soars, we are dedicated to offering innovative solutions," Kelkar added. Honda is also introducing the Aircraft Management Service in Asia to better support growing utilization. It follows newly appointed Authorized Sales Representatives and Authorized Service Centers in Asia in 2022 and 2023.

aerospace

Honda Aircraft Expands Pre-Owned Program As Asia Flight Hours Grow.. SINGAPORE—Less than a year after the launch of its Certified Pre-Owned (CPO) program, Honda Aircraft Co. has expanded the offering to the Asian market. First released in the U.S. in June, the CPO comes with a 208-point inspection and comprehensive maintenance process, offering direct access to Honda Aircraft's team. The North Carolina-based company has delivered over 250 aircraft worldwide since it began customer deliveries in late 2015. Of the 236 in-service aircraft, nearly 10% are based in Asia, according to Aviation Week Network's Fleet Discovery database. "We're proud to showcase the progress we are making to expand the HondaJet fleet and services across Asia," said Amod Kelkar, Honda Aircraft senior vice president and chief commercial officer. "The HondaJet is ideally suited to meet the regional aviation demands here." HondaJet flight activity saw a 20% increase in the region in 2023, as the global fleet exceeds 210,000 flight hours. The aircraft holds 14 type certifications around the world. "As the demand for a high-quality light jet travel solution soars, we are dedicated to offering innovative solutions," Kelkar added. Honda is also introducing the Aircraft Management Service in Asia to better support growing utilization. It follows newly appointed Authorized Sales Representatives and Authorized Service Centers in Asia in 2022 and 2023.

Be careful moving your TFSA — or the CRA might come knocking

Canada Revenue Agency 's portal, My Account or phone the tax information phone service (TIPS) at 1-800-267-6999. Assuming you have the patience to hold (wait times this week were 1.5 to two hours), you can ask an agent for a TFSA Room Statement and a TFSA Transaction Summary, which show the information the CRA has received from your TFSA issuers about your contributions and withdrawals. Each year, all TFSA issuers are required to electronically submit a TFSA record to the CRA for each individual who has a TFSA. Issuers must submit this information by the last day of February of the following year, and report all TFSA transactions you made on or before Dec. 31 of the prior year. It's important, however, to compare the TFSA transaction information the CRA has with your own records to ensure the information they have is correct and up to date. It's possible that when you look online, especially in the first few months of the year, the CRA may not yet have received and processed the previous year's transactions, meaning they're not yet reflected in the TFSA amounts shown online. This could lead to an overcontribution. Article content The penalty for overcontributing is equal to one per cent per month for each month you're over your limit. If you get assessed a TFSA penalty tax, you can request the CRA to waive or cancel it, which the agency has the power to do if it can be established the tax arose "as a consequence of a reasonable error," and the overcontribution is withdrawn from the TFSA "without delay." If the CRA refuses to cancel the tax, you can take the matter to Federal Court, where a judge will determine whether the CRA's decision not to waive the tax was "reasonable." The most recent decision involving a TFSA overcontribution, decided in April 2024, concerned a taxpayer who went about transferring his TFSA from one financial institution to another in the wrong way. The taxpayer had at least two TFSA accounts. At the beginning of 2020, his unused TFSA room was $6,270. He contributed a total of $46,000 in 2020, and so he exceeded his limit by $39,730 and was consequently assessed a penalty tax. The source of his overcontributions could be traced back to the taxpayer's actions in early 2020. On Feb. 4, 2020, he withdrew $20,000 from his Fédération des caisses Desjardins du Québec TFSA account, and deposited it the next day into his National Bank TFSA account. Article content He did the same thing again the following month, when on March 9, 2020, he withdrew another $20,000 from his Desjardins TFSA account, only to deposit it the next day into his National Bank of Canada TFSA. He had also deposited another $6,000 into his TFSA account in early 2020, so his total 2020 TFSA contributions were $46,000, but he only had $6,270 in unused room. In July 2021, the taxpayer received a notice from the CRA advising him that he had exceeded his TFSA contribution limit in 2020, and telling him he had to pay $2,166 in penalty tax on his excess contributions for 2020. In October 2021, the taxpayer sent a letter to the CRA requesting that it cancel the tax on his excess TFSA contributions. In March 2022, the CRA wrote to him denying his request, saying it could only do so if the contributions were made as a result of a "reasonable error," and the individual immediately took steps to withdraw them from the TFSA, which was not the case here. Following this refusal, the taxpayer filed a second application in April 2022 for the cancellation of the tax. In June 2022, the CRA again denied his request "because the transfers of funds made in 2020 from one TFSA account to another TFSA account were not 'direct transfers' since the transfers were not made by the financial institution." The result was that these transfers were considered to be regular contributions, putting the taxpayer in an overcontribution situation. Article content The taxpayer appealed this decision to the Federal Court. He argued that "he (had) acted in good faith in transferring funds from one TFSA account to another." But the CRA maintained that the taxpayer's error in this case was not a "reasonable error" because he admitted he had not made his transfers in the manner prescribed by the CRA (by asking his financial institution to do so directly) since he was unaware of the obligation to do so. In the CRA's view, its exercise of discretion to waive the penalty tax would not be appropriate in the circumstances. The judge reviewed the arguments and then cited various prior cases dealing with similar scenarios in which it was held that it was up to the taxpayer to understand the TFSA rules, including how to property transfer funds "directly" from one TFSA to another. It can't simply be done via a withdrawal and subsequent deposit, but must be done directly by the financial institution. In these types of cases, the courts have consistently held that the CRA's refusal to treat such errors as "reasonable errors" (which would allow the CRA to waive the tax), was, itself, reasonable.

business,lifestyle

Be careful moving your TFSA — or the CRA might come knocking. Canada Revenue Agency 's portal, My Account or phone the tax information phone service (TIPS) at 1-800-267-6999. Assuming you have the patience to hold (wait times this week were 1.5 to two hours), you can ask an agent for a TFSA Room Statement and a TFSA Transaction Summary, which show the information the CRA has received from your TFSA issuers about your contributions and withdrawals. Each year, all TFSA issuers are required to electronically submit a TFSA record to the CRA for each individual who has a TFSA. Issuers must submit this information by the last day of February of the following year, and report all TFSA transactions you made on or before Dec. 31 of the prior year. It's important, however, to compare the TFSA transaction information the CRA has with your own records to ensure the information they have is correct and up to date. It's possible that when you look online, especially in the first few months of the year, the CRA may not yet have received and processed the previous year's transactions, meaning they're not yet reflected in the TFSA amounts shown online. This could lead to an overcontribution. Article content The penalty for overcontributing is equal to one per cent per month for each month you're over your limit. If you get assessed a TFSA penalty tax, you can request the CRA to waive or cancel it, which the agency has the power to do if it can be established the tax arose "as a consequence of a reasonable error," and the overcontribution is withdrawn from the TFSA "without delay." If the CRA refuses to cancel the tax, you can take the matter to Federal Court, where a judge will determine whether the CRA's decision not to waive the tax was "reasonable." The most recent decision involving a TFSA overcontribution, decided in April 2024, concerned a taxpayer who went about transferring his TFSA from one financial institution to another in the wrong way. The taxpayer had at least two TFSA accounts. At the beginning of 2020, his unused TFSA room was $6,270. He contributed a total of $46,000 in 2020, and so he exceeded his limit by $39,730 and was consequently assessed a penalty tax. The source of his overcontributions could be traced back to the taxpayer's actions in early 2020. On Feb. 4, 2020, he withdrew $20,000 from his Fédération des caisses Desjardins du Québec TFSA account, and deposited it the next day into his National Bank TFSA account. Article content He did the same thing again the following month, when on March 9, 2020, he withdrew another $20,000 from his Desjardins TFSA account, only to deposit it the next day into his National Bank of Canada TFSA. He had also deposited another $6,000 into his TFSA account in early 2020, so his total 2020 TFSA contributions were $46,000, but he only had $6,270 in unused room. In July 2021, the taxpayer received a notice from the CRA advising him that he had exceeded his TFSA contribution limit in 2020, and telling him he had to pay $2,166 in penalty tax on his excess contributions for 2020. In October 2021, the taxpayer sent a letter to the CRA requesting that it cancel the tax on his excess TFSA contributions. In March 2022, the CRA wrote to him denying his request, saying it could only do so if the contributions were made as a result of a "reasonable error," and the individual immediately took steps to withdraw them from the TFSA, which was not the case here. Following this refusal, the taxpayer filed a second application in April 2022 for the cancellation of the tax. In June 2022, the CRA again denied his request "because the transfers of funds made in 2020 from one TFSA account to another TFSA account were not 'direct transfers' since the transfers were not made by the financial institution." The result was that these transfers were considered to be regular contributions, putting the taxpayer in an overcontribution situation. Article content The taxpayer appealed this decision to the Federal Court. He argued that "he (had) acted in good faith in transferring funds from one TFSA account to another." But the CRA maintained that the taxpayer's error in this case was not a "reasonable error" because he admitted he had not made his transfers in the manner prescribed by the CRA (by asking his financial institution to do so directly) since he was unaware of the obligation to do so. In the CRA's view, its exercise of discretion to waive the penalty tax would not be appropriate in the circumstances. The judge reviewed the arguments and then cited various prior cases dealing with similar scenarios in which it was held that it was up to the taxpayer to understand the TFSA rules, including how to property transfer funds "directly" from one TFSA to another. It can't simply be done via a withdrawal and subsequent deposit, but must be done directly by the financial institution. In these types of cases, the courts have consistently held that the CRA's refusal to treat such errors as "reasonable errors" (which would allow the CRA to waive the tax), was, itself, reasonable.

Sulphur dioxide levels off the charts in Ontario's Chemical Valley

In the aftermath of a crackdown on benzene pollution plaguing Chemical Valley, environmental watchdogs say another chemical that causes choking, coughing and burning eyes and throats is still abundant. Sulphur dioxide levels in the region, which is home to 67 petrochemical plants near Sarnia, have also been exceedingly high. Levels regularly exceed federal air quality standards despite new regulations passed by Ontario in 2022 aimed at reducing emissions by 90 per cent in the Sarnia area. Sulphur dioxide is a toxic compound released in the refining of hydrogen sulphide, otherwise known as "sour gas," recognized for its pungent rotten-egg smell. Much of the sour gas refined in the Chemical Valley comes from Alberta crude. It is released when plants flare and while processing the bottom of the crude at certain petrochemical plants in the region. Sulphur dioxide can cause breathing difficulties for those suffering respiratory illnesses such as asthma and other diseases. Short-term exposure to high concentrations of sulphur dioxide can harm the respiratory system of humans and animals, with even greater risks for those with existing respiratory issues, according to the federal government. Monitoring posted on social media for the Aamjiwnaang First Nation, which is nestled in the heart of Sarnia's petrochemical industry, reveals that monthly spikes of sulphur dioxide continue at dangerous levels. In March and April alone, emissions were recorded above 150 parts per billion (ppb) for the maximum one-hour average, more than double the air quality standards set by Ottawa. At the same time that benzene levels sent Aamjiwnaang citizens to hospital, sulphur dioxide levels spiked at 200 ppb. Currently, the federal government has set the Canadian Ambient Air Quality Standards for sulphur dioxide at 70 ppb peaks. Sulphur dioxide mitigation measures were not included in a federal interim order issued this month to limit toxic benzene pollution from Sarnia's petrochemical industry. However, it will be included in volatile organic compound draft regulations set to be released by Ottawa next February. It is not known why this discrepancy exists, and Canada's National Observer was not able to get immediate clarification from Environment and Climate Change Minister Steven Guilbeault's office. On Tuesday, Ottawa extended its interim order to mitigate benzene pollution in Sarnia's petrochemical industry for two years. The benzene interim order issued by Guilbeault marks an unprecedented move by his office to mitigate air pollution, according to a spokesperson. In the aftermath of Ottawa and Ontario's crackdown on benzene pollution plaguing Chemical Valley, environmental watchdogs say emissions of another chemical that causes choking, coughing and burning eyes and throats are still out of control. While applied to the petrochemical industry generally, the interim order on benzene is a direct response to INEOS Styrolution operating in Chemical Valley. Ontario suspended INEOS's environmental compliance approval on May 1, requiring the company to cease accepting and storing benzene, investigate the source of leaks and conduct necessary repairs, amongst other measures. INEOS is appealing the province's decision, In a recent interview with Canada's National Observer, Guilbeault said his department is trying to support what Ontario is doing to benefit communities. "At the time when I spoke to [Ontario's environment] minister, the company had threatened to take them to court for their emergency order, and I told her, 'Well, if they want to take you to court, now they'll have to take us to court as well," he said. INEOS did not return a request for comment by deadline. Even though the plant is not operating at the moment, high benzene levels were recorded this week, prompting the band council to close several buildings on May 29 and 30. In April, benzene pollution from the region sent some Aamjiwnaang band members to hospital and forced closures of several buildings, including the band office and day care. "Air pollution control requirements in the United States are significantly more effective and stringent than requirements in Canada," reads the Aamjiwnaang air monitoring report. "One possible path forward is for the Aamjiwnaang Environment Department to be treated as an equal for all environmental protection activities and for the Canadian government to provide the necessary capacity funding." In a statement, Environment and Climate Change Canada said "many of the new requirements" for petrochemical facilities outlined in the interim order exist in other jurisdictions, such as the United States. Additionally, the department "is working with the Aamjiwnaang First Nation to establish a partnership table to facilitate the co-development of solutions to the community's long-standing concerns on pollution, including air quality." In Chemical Valley, sulphur dioxide can be released from acid gas flaring at refineries and petrochemical facilities. Failures in pollution control equipment and unscheduled shutdowns can also increase sulphur dioxide levels. To refine the sour fuel, petrochemical plants must remove and manage the hydrogen sulphide, which is itself toxic and explosive, explained Elaine MacDonald, Ecojustice's program director of healthy communities. Often, petrochemical plants manage the gas by turning the fuel into sulphuric acid or other compounds. However, when there are problems, petrochemical plants will sometimes burn sour gas through flaring, releasing sulphur dioxide, she adds. Flaring is when shots of toxic gas burn in the air like a lighter flame. The compound can also react with other pollutants and develop into substances known as fine particulate matter, which has a diameter of 2.5 microns or smaller. Fine particulate matter, called PM2.5 for short, can significantly impact the health and well-being of almost everyone by getting into the lungs and affecting the cardiovascular system. "Pollution can cause the air to smell like rotten eggs, and induce dizziness and nausea," Chris Plain, Chief of Aamjiwnaang, told a senate committee on environmental racism last year. "Residents face constant flaring noise, sirens and the occasional shelter in place, and physical and psychological health problems are common, including high rates of miscarriage, child asthma and cancer," he added. Ottawa's interim order accelerates the forthcoming volatile organic compounds regulations, expected in February 2025, which were published in draft form in February 2024, Macdonald said.

canada

Sulphur dioxide levels off the charts in Ontario's Chemical Valley. In the aftermath of a crackdown on benzene pollution plaguing Chemical Valley, environmental watchdogs say another chemical that causes choking, coughing and burning eyes and throats is still abundant. Sulphur dioxide levels in the region, which is home to 67 petrochemical plants near Sarnia, have also been exceedingly high. Levels regularly exceed federal air quality standards despite new regulations passed by Ontario in 2022 aimed at reducing emissions by 90 per cent in the Sarnia area. Sulphur dioxide is a toxic compound released in the refining of hydrogen sulphide, otherwise known as "sour gas," recognized for its pungent rotten-egg smell. Much of the sour gas refined in the Chemical Valley comes from Alberta crude. It is released when plants flare and while processing the bottom of the crude at certain petrochemical plants in the region. Sulphur dioxide can cause breathing difficulties for those suffering respiratory illnesses such as asthma and other diseases. Short-term exposure to high concentrations of sulphur dioxide can harm the respiratory system of humans and animals, with even greater risks for those with existing respiratory issues, according to the federal government. Monitoring posted on social media for the Aamjiwnaang First Nation, which is nestled in the heart of Sarnia's petrochemical industry, reveals that monthly spikes of sulphur dioxide continue at dangerous levels. In March and April alone, emissions were recorded above 150 parts per billion (ppb) for the maximum one-hour average, more than double the air quality standards set by Ottawa. At the same time that benzene levels sent Aamjiwnaang citizens to hospital, sulphur dioxide levels spiked at 200 ppb. Currently, the federal government has set the Canadian Ambient Air Quality Standards for sulphur dioxide at 70 ppb peaks. Sulphur dioxide mitigation measures were not included in a federal interim order issued this month to limit toxic benzene pollution from Sarnia's petrochemical industry. However, it will be included in volatile organic compound draft regulations set to be released by Ottawa next February. It is not known why this discrepancy exists, and Canada's National Observer was not able to get immediate clarification from Environment and Climate Change Minister Steven Guilbeault's office. On Tuesday, Ottawa extended its interim order to mitigate benzene pollution in Sarnia's petrochemical industry for two years. The benzene interim order issued by Guilbeault marks an unprecedented move by his office to mitigate air pollution, according to a spokesperson. In the aftermath of Ottawa and Ontario's crackdown on benzene pollution plaguing Chemical Valley, environmental watchdogs say emissions of another chemical that causes choking, coughing and burning eyes and throats are still out of control. While applied to the petrochemical industry generally, the interim order on benzene is a direct response to INEOS Styrolution operating in Chemical Valley. Ontario suspended INEOS's environmental compliance approval on May 1, requiring the company to cease accepting and storing benzene, investigate the source of leaks and conduct necessary repairs, amongst other measures. INEOS is appealing the province's decision, In a recent interview with Canada's National Observer, Guilbeault said his department is trying to support what Ontario is doing to benefit communities. "At the time when I spoke to [Ontario's environment] minister, the company had threatened to take them to court for their emergency order, and I told her, 'Well, if they want to take you to court, now they'll have to take us to court as well," he said. INEOS did not return a request for comment by deadline. Even though the plant is not operating at the moment, high benzene levels were recorded this week, prompting the band council to close several buildings on May 29 and 30. In April, benzene pollution from the region sent some Aamjiwnaang band members to hospital and forced closures of several buildings, including the band office and day care. "Air pollution control requirements in the United States are significantly more effective and stringent than requirements in Canada," reads the Aamjiwnaang air monitoring report. "One possible path forward is for the Aamjiwnaang Environment Department to be treated as an equal for all environmental protection activities and for the Canadian government to provide the necessary capacity funding." In a statement, Environment and Climate Change Canada said "many of the new requirements" for petrochemical facilities outlined in the interim order exist in other jurisdictions, such as the United States. Additionally, the department "is working with the Aamjiwnaang First Nation to establish a partnership table to facilitate the co-development of solutions to the community's long-standing concerns on pollution, including air quality." In Chemical Valley, sulphur dioxide can be released from acid gas flaring at refineries and petrochemical facilities. Failures in pollution control equipment and unscheduled shutdowns can also increase sulphur dioxide levels. To refine the sour fuel, petrochemical plants must remove and manage the hydrogen sulphide, which is itself toxic and explosive, explained Elaine MacDonald, Ecojustice's program director of healthy communities. Often, petrochemical plants manage the gas by turning the fuel into sulphuric acid or other compounds. However, when there are problems, petrochemical plants will sometimes burn sour gas through flaring, releasing sulphur dioxide, she adds. Flaring is when shots of toxic gas burn in the air like a lighter flame. The compound can also react with other pollutants and develop into substances known as fine particulate matter, which has a diameter of 2.5 microns or smaller. Fine particulate matter, called PM2.5 for short, can significantly impact the health and well-being of almost everyone by getting into the lungs and affecting the cardiovascular system. "Pollution can cause the air to smell like rotten eggs, and induce dizziness and nausea," Chris Plain, Chief of Aamjiwnaang, told a senate committee on environmental racism last year. "Residents face constant flaring noise, sirens and the occasional shelter in place, and physical and psychological health problems are common, including high rates of miscarriage, child asthma and cancer," he added. Ottawa's interim order accelerates the forthcoming volatile organic compounds regulations, expected in February 2025, which were published in draft form in February 2024, Macdonald said.

Massive makos, Queen Bosses and a baby angel shark on Discovery 'Shark Week,' where women shine

This image released by Discovery shows a scene from "Monster Hammerheads: Species X," part of 21 hours of programing celebrating "Shark Week." (Discovery Channel via AP) The Associated Press NEW YORK -- Imagine stepping into a life-sized whale carcass decoy and steering it into deep water. You're looking — yes, looking — for a group of hungry sharks to spark a feeding frenzy. To attract them, you shoot out hundreds of gallons of synthetic blood and chum. Then watch them lose it. That's what marine biologist Liv Dixon did for Discovery Channel's "Shark Week," one of several eye-popping moments during the 21 hours of new programing this year where scientists risk everything to understand the apex predators better. "Sharks jump at every opportunity," Dixon says. "And I'm kind of the same. I'm going to jump at every opportunity I get. You feel the adrenaline running through your veins like your whole body is shaking." The week kicks off Sunday with Dixon's hour-long "Belly of the Beast: Bigger & Bloodier," in which she and veteran "Shark Week" biologist Dr. Austin Gallagher try to lure a so-called Queen Boss off the New Zealand coast. "We're seeing these kind of subgroups or clans of white sharks, and we think they might be dominated by a larger female that we've termed the Queen Boss, which I love — big female energy coming in here," says Dixon. "We really just want to tap into the social dynamics of these sharks." The seven nights of new shows are hosted by John Cena and include scientists traveling to Australia to see why there's been an uptick in attacks near Sydney Harbor, and to Mexico to figure out why there have been three fatal Great White shark incursions near a fishing village. The show "Big Shark Energy" has researchers comparing some New Zealand sharks' speed, hunting ability and fearlessness to determine who has the swagger to swim away with a female shark, while other scientists hope to locate the fattest Great White — is 6,000 pounds possible? — and look at their poop to figure out what they're eating. "Shark Week" has become a key part of the summer holiday TV schedule, a place where humans safe on land can see ancient apex predators effortlessly and unnervingly slip into view from the dark and snap open their jaws. "They just seem still oddly like a monster species from the past," says Howard Lee, the president of Discovery Networks and TLC. "There's always something new to learn that has not yet been discovered. There's even breeds of sharks that we have not always captured." "Shark Week" highlights also include a look at whether angel sharks remain in Japan's waters — including remarkable footage of the birth of velvet dogfish shark pups — and why a South Pacific resort has become a shark attack hotspot with bull, tiger and Great White sharks moving closer and closer to the beaches. As always, there is a deep respect for the creatures and strong science beneath the amusing titles, dramatic music and racy titles like "The Real Sharkano" and "Monster Hammerheads: Species X." The big female energy that Dixon mentioned is apparent out of the water, too. She and researchers like Zandi Ndhlovu, Christine de Silva and Kendyl Berna are front and center, challenging the male-dominated shark waters. "I hope more than anything it can inspire other young women and females to get involved," says Dixon. "I'm so proud to represent women in this space. I really think that's important for other women, and especially the next generation of young entrepreneurs and scientists." Ndhlovu, a South African-based freediving instructor and founder of The Black Mermaid Foundation, first appeared on "Shark Week" in 2022 and returns for two episodes this season, blazing a way forward in representation. "It's amazing to be working with sharks and showing up in the world as a Black woman in a way that allows little kids to see that the ocean belongs to them, too — increasing that representation around who the explorers and what science means." The week also sees an investigation into a massive mako dubbed "Makozilla," accused of chomping on sea lions off the California coast. Scientists use a sea lion decoy and then drop huge slabs of tuna to try at get bite marks to match with sea lion scar attacks. "I personally also do whale research and I'm like, 'I wish there was a 'Whale Week,' but no one would be like, 'Oh, wow, these humpbacks are really peaceful and beautiful,'" says Berna, an environmental scientist and wildlife filmmaker, who spent time in a shark cage luring makos. "My hope is that it gets little kids to love sharks as well," she adds. "And hopefully, by the time my kids are watching things like this, we're going further in the direction of beginning to create more protections for sharks, not just in the U.S., but really globally." Discovery's "Shark Week" has a rival — its programming coincides with National Geographic's "SharkFest," which also has hours of sharky content, including Anthony Mackie exploration of the shark ecosystem in his hometown of New Orleans. There's also an unconnected shark thriller in movie theaters called "The Last Breath." "Shark Week" — with an accompanying podcast this year — was born as a counterpoint for those who developed a fear of sharks after seeing "Jaws." It has emerged as a destination for scientists eager to protect an animal older than trees. "Isn't that one of the things that makes the ocean so incredible? And isn't that what makes life so amazing?" asks Ndhlovu. "We know so much on land. We don't know so much about the ocean, and there's so much to still be discovered."

tech

Massive makos, Queen Bosses and a baby angel shark on Discovery 'Shark Week,' where women shine. This image released by Discovery shows a scene from "Monster Hammerheads: Species X," part of 21 hours of programing celebrating "Shark Week." (Discovery Channel via AP) The Associated Press NEW YORK -- Imagine stepping into a life-sized whale carcass decoy and steering it into deep water. You're looking — yes, looking — for a group of hungry sharks to spark a feeding frenzy. To attract them, you shoot out hundreds of gallons of synthetic blood and chum. Then watch them lose it. That's what marine biologist Liv Dixon did for Discovery Channel's "Shark Week," one of several eye-popping moments during the 21 hours of new programing this year where scientists risk everything to understand the apex predators better. "Sharks jump at every opportunity," Dixon says. "And I'm kind of the same. I'm going to jump at every opportunity I get. You feel the adrenaline running through your veins like your whole body is shaking." The week kicks off Sunday with Dixon's hour-long "Belly of the Beast: Bigger & Bloodier," in which she and veteran "Shark Week" biologist Dr. Austin Gallagher try to lure a so-called Queen Boss off the New Zealand coast. "We're seeing these kind of subgroups or clans of white sharks, and we think they might be dominated by a larger female that we've termed the Queen Boss, which I love — big female energy coming in here," says Dixon. "We really just want to tap into the social dynamics of these sharks." The seven nights of new shows are hosted by John Cena and include scientists traveling to Australia to see why there's been an uptick in attacks near Sydney Harbor, and to Mexico to figure out why there have been three fatal Great White shark incursions near a fishing village. The show "Big Shark Energy" has researchers comparing some New Zealand sharks' speed, hunting ability and fearlessness to determine who has the swagger to swim away with a female shark, while other scientists hope to locate the fattest Great White — is 6,000 pounds possible? — and look at their poop to figure out what they're eating. "Shark Week" has become a key part of the summer holiday TV schedule, a place where humans safe on land can see ancient apex predators effortlessly and unnervingly slip into view from the dark and snap open their jaws. "They just seem still oddly like a monster species from the past," says Howard Lee, the president of Discovery Networks and TLC. "There's always something new to learn that has not yet been discovered. There's even breeds of sharks that we have not always captured." "Shark Week" highlights also include a look at whether angel sharks remain in Japan's waters — including remarkable footage of the birth of velvet dogfish shark pups — and why a South Pacific resort has become a shark attack hotspot with bull, tiger and Great White sharks moving closer and closer to the beaches. As always, there is a deep respect for the creatures and strong science beneath the amusing titles, dramatic music and racy titles like "The Real Sharkano" and "Monster Hammerheads: Species X." The big female energy that Dixon mentioned is apparent out of the water, too. She and researchers like Zandi Ndhlovu, Christine de Silva and Kendyl Berna are front and center, challenging the male-dominated shark waters. "I hope more than anything it can inspire other young women and females to get involved," says Dixon. "I'm so proud to represent women in this space. I really think that's important for other women, and especially the next generation of young entrepreneurs and scientists." Ndhlovu, a South African-based freediving instructor and founder of The Black Mermaid Foundation, first appeared on "Shark Week" in 2022 and returns for two episodes this season, blazing a way forward in representation. "It's amazing to be working with sharks and showing up in the world as a Black woman in a way that allows little kids to see that the ocean belongs to them, too — increasing that representation around who the explorers and what science means." The week also sees an investigation into a massive mako dubbed "Makozilla," accused of chomping on sea lions off the California coast. Scientists use a sea lion decoy and then drop huge slabs of tuna to try at get bite marks to match with sea lion scar attacks. "I personally also do whale research and I'm like, 'I wish there was a 'Whale Week,' but no one would be like, 'Oh, wow, these humpbacks are really peaceful and beautiful,'" says Berna, an environmental scientist and wildlife filmmaker, who spent time in a shark cage luring makos. "My hope is that it gets little kids to love sharks as well," she adds. "And hopefully, by the time my kids are watching things like this, we're going further in the direction of beginning to create more protections for sharks, not just in the U.S., but really globally." Discovery's "Shark Week" has a rival — its programming coincides with National Geographic's "SharkFest," which also has hours of sharky content, including Anthony Mackie exploration of the shark ecosystem in his hometown of New Orleans. There's also an unconnected shark thriller in movie theaters called "The Last Breath." "Shark Week" — with an accompanying podcast this year — was born as a counterpoint for those who developed a fear of sharks after seeing "Jaws." It has emerged as a destination for scientists eager to protect an animal older than trees. "Isn't that one of the things that makes the ocean so incredible? And isn't that what makes life so amazing?" asks Ndhlovu. "We know so much on land. We don't know so much about the ocean, and there's so much to still be discovered."

Babbling scouse youngster shows babies can have accents, say scientists

The upward intonation, the guttural "ck" and even the cheeky comeback to win the argument: at just 19 months old, baby Orla has mastered the crucial elements of speaking like a scouser. Impressively, the toddler who featured in a viral video this week appears to have done so without the need for actual words. A clip posted on TikTok, and now viewed more than 20m times, shows Orla babbling in a Liverpudlian accent as her babysitter, Olayka, tries and fails to coax her into taking a nap. Scientists say that the cute exchange is also a vivid illustration of the processes by which babies acquire language – and the surprising role of accents. Babies are so tuned in to the musical ups and downs of speech that even as newborns they cry in distinctive ways that reflect the languages that they have heard while in the womb. In one 2009 study, Prof Kathleen Wermke, a pioneer in the field of speech development at the Würzburg University in Germany, found that French infants tend to wail on a rising note and German babies favour a falling melody and other patterns have been seen for Mandarin, Swedish and African languages. "When I started 40 years ago, if I told people I was recording babies crying and making high-pitched sounds they'd look at you and think 'Is this really science?'," she said. Crying, once viewed merely as a distress siren, is now viewed as part of the array of pre-speech sounds that pave the way for future communication. "That's how language comes into the brain of babies," Wermke said. "They learn the musical features of the surrounding languages. The music is always first, it's like a scaffold for the words." "It's important to make parents recognise that any sound a baby is producing is part of his or her way into language," she added. "We should admire that and listen to them – even if they're sometimes in the mood to cry." Which language is the most beautiful? Read more "They have just the contours of the language that they will populate it with words," said Prof Caroline Floccia, a developmental psychologist at the University of Plymouth. "Others start with isolated words and then they will construct sentences from that. Then you can have plenty of kids who are in the middle." Understanding the different patterns of how children acquire language could improve the ability to identify those who fall outside the normal range, possibly due to autism or developmental language disorder (DLD), and who could benefit from very early intervention. Orla is also typical of research showing that children understand language before they can speak it, a phenomenon known as the "comprehension-production asymmetry". Besides a definite "no" and "I wanna play", the defiant toddler has few recognisable words, but there is no doubt she understands the gist of the conversation. "Kids can definitely understand more than they can say," said Dr Andrew Jessop, a psychologist at the University of Liverpool. Jessop's lab has demonstrated this by showing that an infant's gaze will switch to look at an object being named, before they can name the object themselves. "Part of it might just be that their vocal apparatus isn't developed enough," he said. "Or they need more time to build up that knowledge. It's a bit like in an exam how it's much easier to recognise the right answer in multiple choice than to write an essay from scratch." There is also more to communication than words and Orla has clearly grasped the social element of conversation. Prof Kate Watkins, a neuroscientist who investigates language at the University of Oxford, said: "She's very good at turn taking, she's really good at eye contact, all of these pro-social things that are really important."She's really engaged and really communicative." This back and forth of conversation has been shown to have huge benefits for babies' acquisition of language. One recent study showed that when parents were coached in how to engage with their infant, their babies babbled more and had more words by 14 months than those who were not trained and there are other studies showing that these benefits carry forward. "One of the only things that we've found that can really boost language development is child-directed speech," said Jessop. "The effect is so strong that we can bring a mum or dad into the lab and the parents that say the most words, their babies' vocabulary grows at a faster rate and that benefit lasts years into the future."

world

Babbling scouse youngster shows babies can have accents, say scientists. The upward intonation, the guttural "ck" and even the cheeky comeback to win the argument: at just 19 months old, baby Orla has mastered the crucial elements of speaking like a scouser. Impressively, the toddler who featured in a viral video this week appears to have done so without the need for actual words. A clip posted on TikTok, and now viewed more than 20m times, shows Orla babbling in a Liverpudlian accent as her babysitter, Olayka, tries and fails to coax her into taking a nap. Scientists say that the cute exchange is also a vivid illustration of the processes by which babies acquire language – and the surprising role of accents. Babies are so tuned in to the musical ups and downs of speech that even as newborns they cry in distinctive ways that reflect the languages that they have heard while in the womb. In one 2009 study, Prof Kathleen Wermke, a pioneer in the field of speech development at the Würzburg University in Germany, found that French infants tend to wail on a rising note and German babies favour a falling melody and other patterns have been seen for Mandarin, Swedish and African languages. "When I started 40 years ago, if I told people I was recording babies crying and making high-pitched sounds they'd look at you and think 'Is this really science?'," she said. Crying, once viewed merely as a distress siren, is now viewed as part of the array of pre-speech sounds that pave the way for future communication. "That's how language comes into the brain of babies," Wermke said. "They learn the musical features of the surrounding languages. The music is always first, it's like a scaffold for the words." "It's important to make parents recognise that any sound a baby is producing is part of his or her way into language," she added. "We should admire that and listen to them – even if they're sometimes in the mood to cry." Which language is the most beautiful? Read more "They have just the contours of the language that they will populate it with words," said Prof Caroline Floccia, a developmental psychologist at the University of Plymouth. "Others start with isolated words and then they will construct sentences from that. Then you can have plenty of kids who are in the middle." Understanding the different patterns of how children acquire language could improve the ability to identify those who fall outside the normal range, possibly due to autism or developmental language disorder (DLD), and who could benefit from very early intervention. Orla is also typical of research showing that children understand language before they can speak it, a phenomenon known as the "comprehension-production asymmetry". Besides a definite "no" and "I wanna play", the defiant toddler has few recognisable words, but there is no doubt she understands the gist of the conversation. "Kids can definitely understand more than they can say," said Dr Andrew Jessop, a psychologist at the University of Liverpool. Jessop's lab has demonstrated this by showing that an infant's gaze will switch to look at an object being named, before they can name the object themselves. "Part of it might just be that their vocal apparatus isn't developed enough," he said. "Or they need more time to build up that knowledge. It's a bit like in an exam how it's much easier to recognise the right answer in multiple choice than to write an essay from scratch." There is also more to communication than words and Orla has clearly grasped the social element of conversation. Prof Kate Watkins, a neuroscientist who investigates language at the University of Oxford, said: "She's very good at turn taking, she's really good at eye contact, all of these pro-social things that are really important."She's really engaged and really communicative." This back and forth of conversation has been shown to have huge benefits for babies' acquisition of language. One recent study showed that when parents were coached in how to engage with their infant, their babies babbled more and had more words by 14 months than those who were not trained and there are other studies showing that these benefits carry forward. "One of the only things that we've found that can really boost language development is child-directed speech," said Jessop. "The effect is so strong that we can bring a mum or dad into the lab and the parents that say the most words, their babies' vocabulary grows at a faster rate and that benefit lasts years into the future."

Freeland says Canada welcomes Gaza ceasefire proposal, reiterates calls around hostages, aid

Freeland says Canada welcomes Gaza ceasefire proposal, reiterates calls around hostages, aid Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland said Canada welcomes the Gaza ceasefire proposal outlined by U.S. President Joe Biden on Friday. Posted: Jun 02, 2024 3:56 PM EDT | Last Updated: 16 minutes ago Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance Chrystia Freeland, shown in April, said on Sunday that Canada continues to call for a ceasefire in the Israel-Hamas war, the return of hostages and urgent flow of humanitarian aid. (Justin Tang/The Canadian Press) Social Sharing Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland says a Gaza ceasefire proposal outlined by U.S. President Joe Biden on Friday is an "important step," as parties wait for an official response from Hamas. Freeland was asked about the proposal, which envisions three stages of actions aimed at a permanent end to the Israel-Hamas conflict, at an event in Toronto on Sunday. She said Canada continues to call for a ceasefire, the return of hostages and urgent flow of humanitarian aid. "The proposal that President Biden laid out is an important step. We agree with the president that it's time now for the other side to make clear their view of the proposal," she said. Hamas has not yet formally responded to the proposal, which was sent to them via Qatar. U.S. officials have been lobbying to finalize the deal, and on Sunday a high-ranking Israeli official indicated that that country would accept the proposal if Hamas did. Israel offers Hamas ceasefire proposal that could end war in Gaza, Biden says Israel promises investigation of deadly Rafah airstrike after international outrage In an interview with Britain's Sunday Times, Ophir Falk, chief foreign policy adviser to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, said the proposal was "a deal we agreed to, it's not a good deal but we dearly want the hostages released, all of them." "There are a lot of details to be worked out," he said, adding that Israeli conditions, including "the release of the hostages and the destruction of Hamas as a genocidal terrorist organization," have not changed. Canada has been calling for an immediate ceasefire, an urgent increase in unhindered humanitarian assistance, and the release of all hostages. The proposal put forward by <a href=" is an opportunity to end the suffering and return to a path to peace. All parties must seize it. &mdash; @JustinTrudeau The deal faces challenges. In Israel, senior members of Netanyahu's coalition government have threatened to resign if it goes through. Hamas has provisionally welcomed the ceasefire initiative, though a senior official from the group, Sami Abu Zuhri, said on Sunday that "Hamas is too big to be bypassed or sidelined by Netanyahu or Biden." On Saturday, another Hamas official, Osama Hamdan, told Al Jazeera: "Biden's speech included positive ideas, but we want this to materialize within the framework of a comprehensive agreement that meets our demands." Biden backs Israel-Hamas ceasefire plan Duration 2:08 U.S. President Joe Biden is backing an apparent Israeli proposal that could end its war with Hamas. The three-phase plan also calls for the release of all hostages, and rebuilding Gaza. The primary sticking point in past negotiations has been Israel's insistence that it would discuss only temporary pauses to fighting until Hamas is destroyed. Hamas, which shows no sign of stepping aside, says it will free hostages only under a path to a permanent end to the war. In his speech Friday, Biden said the latest proposal "creates a better 'day after' in Gaza without Hamas in power." He did not elaborate on how this would be achieved, and acknowledged that "there are a number of details to negotiate to move from phase one to phase two." Falk reiterated Netanyahu's position that "there will not be a permanent ceasefire until all our objectives are met." It's been almost eight months since Hamas-led militants attacked Israel, killing 1,200 Israelis and taking 250 more hostage, according to Israel. During Israel's assault on Gaza, more than 36,000 Palestinians have been killed, Gaza's Hamas-run Health Ministry says.

politics

Freeland says Canada welcomes Gaza ceasefire proposal, reiterates calls around hostages, aid. Freeland says Canada welcomes Gaza ceasefire proposal, reiterates calls around hostages, aid Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland said Canada welcomes the Gaza ceasefire proposal outlined by U.S. President Joe Biden on Friday. Posted: Jun 02, 2024 3:56 PM EDT | Last Updated: 16 minutes ago Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance Chrystia Freeland, shown in April, said on Sunday that Canada continues to call for a ceasefire in the Israel-Hamas war, the return of hostages and urgent flow of humanitarian aid. (Justin Tang/The Canadian Press) Social Sharing Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland says a Gaza ceasefire proposal outlined by U.S. President Joe Biden on Friday is an "important step," as parties wait for an official response from Hamas. Freeland was asked about the proposal, which envisions three stages of actions aimed at a permanent end to the Israel-Hamas conflict, at an event in Toronto on Sunday. She said Canada continues to call for a ceasefire, the return of hostages and urgent flow of humanitarian aid. "The proposal that President Biden laid out is an important step. We agree with the president that it's time now for the other side to make clear their view of the proposal," she said. Hamas has not yet formally responded to the proposal, which was sent to them via Qatar. U.S. officials have been lobbying to finalize the deal, and on Sunday a high-ranking Israeli official indicated that that country would accept the proposal if Hamas did. Israel offers Hamas ceasefire proposal that could end war in Gaza, Biden says Israel promises investigation of deadly Rafah airstrike after international outrage In an interview with Britain's Sunday Times, Ophir Falk, chief foreign policy adviser to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, said the proposal was "a deal we agreed to, it's not a good deal but we dearly want the hostages released, all of them." "There are a lot of details to be worked out," he said, adding that Israeli conditions, including "the release of the hostages and the destruction of Hamas as a genocidal terrorist organization," have not changed. Canada has been calling for an immediate ceasefire, an urgent increase in unhindered humanitarian assistance, and the release of all hostages. The proposal put forward by <a href=" is an opportunity to end the suffering and return to a path to peace. All parties must seize it. &mdash; @JustinTrudeau The deal faces challenges. In Israel, senior members of Netanyahu's coalition government have threatened to resign if it goes through. Hamas has provisionally welcomed the ceasefire initiative, though a senior official from the group, Sami Abu Zuhri, said on Sunday that "Hamas is too big to be bypassed or sidelined by Netanyahu or Biden." On Saturday, another Hamas official, Osama Hamdan, told Al Jazeera: "Biden's speech included positive ideas, but we want this to materialize within the framework of a comprehensive agreement that meets our demands." Biden backs Israel-Hamas ceasefire plan Duration 2:08 U.S. President Joe Biden is backing an apparent Israeli proposal that could end its war with Hamas. The three-phase plan also calls for the release of all hostages, and rebuilding Gaza. The primary sticking point in past negotiations has been Israel's insistence that it would discuss only temporary pauses to fighting until Hamas is destroyed. Hamas, which shows no sign of stepping aside, says it will free hostages only under a path to a permanent end to the war. In his speech Friday, Biden said the latest proposal "creates a better 'day after' in Gaza without Hamas in power." He did not elaborate on how this would be achieved, and acknowledged that "there are a number of details to negotiate to move from phase one to phase two." Falk reiterated Netanyahu's position that "there will not be a permanent ceasefire until all our objectives are met." It's been almost eight months since Hamas-led militants attacked Israel, killing 1,200 Israelis and taking 250 more hostage, according to Israel. During Israel's assault on Gaza, more than 36,000 Palestinians have been killed, Gaza's Hamas-run Health Ministry says.

US Army to field long-range combat aircraft to first unit in FY31

The Bell V-280 Valor has completed final key performance parameters within the Army's Joint Multi-Role Technology Demonstration program, proving it can conduct high-level, low-speed agility maneuver. (Courtesy of Bell) DENVER — The U.S. Army's plan to field its Future Long-Range Assault Aircraft with an initial unit is delayed by one year, due to Lockheed Martin's protest over the service's choice of Textron Bell's advanced tiltrotor design, according to the director of Army aviation in the service's G-3/5/7 branch. The FLRAA competition pitted Bell's V-280 Valor against Sikorsky and Boeing's Defiant X, which features coaxial rotor blades. Bell is a subsidiary of Textron, and Sikorsky a subsidiary of Lockheed Martin. The Army chose Bell's design in late 2022, and Sikorsky filed a protest following the decision with the Government Accountability Office. The GAO rejected the protest in April 2023. Despite the protest disruption, "we are working steadily on [the program], and I will say that the team came together this past quarter and did a tremendously detailed plan to look at every aspect of this fielding," Maj. Gen. Wally Rugen said at the Army Aviation Association of America summit, running April 24-26. The Army will now equip the first unit with the capability in fiscal 2031. But that milestone is "not our pacing decision point," Rugen said. "We really have to look to the limited user test in '27-'28." "There are captains, majors, first sergeants and [warrant officer] 2s and W3s [that will] be participating in that with our experimental test pilots to make sure that the operational force sees this capability for what it is — truly transformation — and get the reps and sets needed to make that [first unit equipped] highly successful," Rugen said. Meanwhile, Bell is working on the preliminary design of the Future Long-Range Assault Aircraft's production version, Jeff Schloesser, the company's executive vice president of strategic pursuits, told Defense News at annual AAAA event. The design work is "critical" because it will be necessary for the program to enter Milestone B — the engineering and manufacturing development phase — in the third quarter of 2024, Schloesser said, and then FLRAA will become an official program of record. The design will not change much from the demonstrator version of the aircraft, Schloesser noted, but there have been some adjustments to outer mold lines, for instance. Bell is also delivering two virtual prototypes over the next 12 to 24 months, Schloesser said. "You should probably think about it as a small simulator, outfitted the way the aircraft is going to look inside for production aircraft," he explained. Bell has also started building a weapon systems integration lab next its flight research center in Arlington, Texas. "We're starting to populate that with the systems that we will run — and [the Army] will overwatch — as we go through all of this against the weapons systems. It's not just the flight controls, it's the actual weapons system," Schloesser said. The company also built a new drive system test lab in Grand Prairie, Texas, because Bell builds its own drive trains. Parts for the first six aircraft are also coming together. "We're bending metal for the first several aircraft," Schloesser said. "And we are also simultaneously completing all the contracts with our suppliers … and we are ordering long lead-time materials." The Army will receive the first aircraft in 2026, Schloesser said. Bell is also in the process of deciding where some manufacturing and production will take place, Schloesser noted. While final assembly will take place in Amarillo, Texas, Bell is looking for production sites for drivetrains and rotor blades. "We are looking at a couple of different states and … in Texas," Schloesser said. The company plans to announce the establishment of production facilities later this year, he added. Jen Judson is an award-winning journalist covering land warfare for Defense News. She has also worked for Politico and Inside Defense. She holds a Master of Science degree in journalism from Boston University and a Bachelor of Arts degree from Kenyon College. More In MilTech Space Force to demonstrate satellite maneuvering in 2026 mission Space Systems Command and SpaceWERX awarded Washington-based Starfish Space $37.5 million to build and operate a satellite for the mission. US departure from Niger 'already underway' ahead of September deadline The future of America's counter-terrorism work in the country had been in doubt for months after a coup last summer. Navy, Marine Corps pitched three systems for first Replicator batch An acquisition official said the Navy and Marine Corps brought three systems to Replicator, but declined to clarify whether all were selected. Space Force should consider alternative launch sites, lawmakers say The House Armed Services Committee's fiscal 2025 defense policy bill highlights capacity concerns at DOD's Eastern and Western launch ranges. Lawmakers propose DIU-managed military testing and evaluation cell

military

US Army to field long-range combat aircraft to first unit in FY31. The Bell V-280 Valor has completed final key performance parameters within the Army's Joint Multi-Role Technology Demonstration program, proving it can conduct high-level, low-speed agility maneuver. (Courtesy of Bell) DENVER — The U.S. Army's plan to field its Future Long-Range Assault Aircraft with an initial unit is delayed by one year, due to Lockheed Martin's protest over the service's choice of Textron Bell's advanced tiltrotor design, according to the director of Army aviation in the service's G-3/5/7 branch. The FLRAA competition pitted Bell's V-280 Valor against Sikorsky and Boeing's Defiant X, which features coaxial rotor blades. Bell is a subsidiary of Textron, and Sikorsky a subsidiary of Lockheed Martin. The Army chose Bell's design in late 2022, and Sikorsky filed a protest following the decision with the Government Accountability Office. The GAO rejected the protest in April 2023. Despite the protest disruption, "we are working steadily on [the program], and I will say that the team came together this past quarter and did a tremendously detailed plan to look at every aspect of this fielding," Maj. Gen. Wally Rugen said at the Army Aviation Association of America summit, running April 24-26. The Army will now equip the first unit with the capability in fiscal 2031. But that milestone is "not our pacing decision point," Rugen said. "We really have to look to the limited user test in '27-'28." "There are captains, majors, first sergeants and [warrant officer] 2s and W3s [that will] be participating in that with our experimental test pilots to make sure that the operational force sees this capability for what it is — truly transformation — and get the reps and sets needed to make that [first unit equipped] highly successful," Rugen said. Meanwhile, Bell is working on the preliminary design of the Future Long-Range Assault Aircraft's production version, Jeff Schloesser, the company's executive vice president of strategic pursuits, told Defense News at annual AAAA event. The design work is "critical" because it will be necessary for the program to enter Milestone B — the engineering and manufacturing development phase — in the third quarter of 2024, Schloesser said, and then FLRAA will become an official program of record. The design will not change much from the demonstrator version of the aircraft, Schloesser noted, but there have been some adjustments to outer mold lines, for instance. Bell is also delivering two virtual prototypes over the next 12 to 24 months, Schloesser said. "You should probably think about it as a small simulator, outfitted the way the aircraft is going to look inside for production aircraft," he explained. Bell has also started building a weapon systems integration lab next its flight research center in Arlington, Texas. "We're starting to populate that with the systems that we will run — and [the Army] will overwatch — as we go through all of this against the weapons systems. It's not just the flight controls, it's the actual weapons system," Schloesser said. The company also built a new drive system test lab in Grand Prairie, Texas, because Bell builds its own drive trains. Parts for the first six aircraft are also coming together. "We're bending metal for the first several aircraft," Schloesser said. "And we are also simultaneously completing all the contracts with our suppliers … and we are ordering long lead-time materials." The Army will receive the first aircraft in 2026, Schloesser said. Bell is also in the process of deciding where some manufacturing and production will take place, Schloesser noted. While final assembly will take place in Amarillo, Texas, Bell is looking for production sites for drivetrains and rotor blades. "We are looking at a couple of different states and … in Texas," Schloesser said. The company plans to announce the establishment of production facilities later this year, he added. Jen Judson is an award-winning journalist covering land warfare for Defense News. She has also worked for Politico and Inside Defense. She holds a Master of Science degree in journalism from Boston University and a Bachelor of Arts degree from Kenyon College. More In MilTech Space Force to demonstrate satellite maneuvering in 2026 mission Space Systems Command and SpaceWERX awarded Washington-based Starfish Space $37.5 million to build and operate a satellite for the mission. US departure from Niger 'already underway' ahead of September deadline The future of America's counter-terrorism work in the country had been in doubt for months after a coup last summer. Navy, Marine Corps pitched three systems for first Replicator batch An acquisition official said the Navy and Marine Corps brought three systems to Replicator, but declined to clarify whether all were selected. Space Force should consider alternative launch sites, lawmakers say The House Armed Services Committee's fiscal 2025 defense policy bill highlights capacity concerns at DOD's Eastern and Western launch ranges. Lawmakers propose DIU-managed military testing and evaluation cell

Mi'kmaq First Nation to become majority owner of 2 shipyards in Nova Scotia

A First Nation in Nova Scotia is purchasing two shipyards in the province, saying the acquisitions will position the band to compete for defence contracts. Glooscap First Nation says it has reached an agreement in principle to acquire a majority stake in the B. Boutilier Group of Companies, which currently owns the historic Lunenburg Shipyard and the nearby The Mi'kmaq band says it plans to establish a subsidiary called Glooscap Defence, which will focus on making the band the largest Indigenous defence contractor in Canada. The information you need to know, sent directly to you: Download the CTV News App Glooscap Ventures, the investment arm of Glooscap First Nation, says the new enterprise will support Canada's defence procurement strategy, which requires that at least five per cent of all procurement is handled by an Indigenous partner. Both shipyards are on the province's south shore, and both offer a services to the commercial and recreational boating markets, including storage, repair and fabrication. Under the agreement, Bradison Boutilier, founder of B. Boutilier Group, will retain a significant ownership stake in the new corporation and remain at the helm. This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 7, 2024. Strike looms for border workers if mediation doesn't deliver deal Thousands of Canadian border workers could go on strike this afternoon if mediation doesn't deliver a deal before then. Calgary 'using more water than it can produce', officials say In an update on Friday morning, Calgary officials are urging the public to follow all the guidelines around water conservation because at the current rate of consumption, the city could run out of water. Wage growth may have risen, but not for everyone. An economist explains why Canada's economy added more jobs than analysts expected in May, but the jobless rate also ticked up. An economist explained the mixed bag of findings and why it may indicate that the economy is starting to slow. Meet the joro, a flying spider scientists say could someday spread to Canada Recent research suggests that an invasive species of large, colourful spiders that take to the air as babies could spread to Canada. The colour of your child's swimsuit can play a role in their safety at the pool, experts say The colour of your child's swimsuit could impact their safety at a swimming pool or the beach. That's according to water safety experts who have taken a close look at how the hue of swimwear may influence how visible a child is under water. Russian warships, including nuclear-powered submarine, to visit Cuba next week Four Russian warships, including a nuclear-powered submarine, will arrive in Havana next week, Cuban officials said Thursday, citing 'historically friendly relations' between both nations and as tensions escalate over Western military support for Ukraine in its war with Russia. 'It's going to get better': After slayings, RCMP improving relations with James Smith Cree Nation Members of James Smith Cree Nation are hopeful they have found a new path forward with the Saskatchewan RCMP nearly two years after one of Canada's deadliest mass killings. Jennifer Lopez is focused on love amid the 'negativity out in the world right now' Stanley Cup win by the Oilers would net Colorado sports bar owners nearly $600,000 The Oilers not only have the opportunity to bring the long-awaited Stanley Cup back to Canada, they also could bring a major financial windfall to two Colorado sports bar owners. Sunrise and Edmonton: Hockey cities with big malls meet up in Stanley Cup final Montreal police arrest 15, disperse McGill pro-Palestinian protesters with pepper spray Montreal police say 15 people were arrested after officers used tear gas to disperse pro-Palestinian protesters at McGill university after they barricaded themselves in the administration building as part of a 'global call to action.' Supreme Court partly allows appeal by media over Quebec 'secret trial' The Supreme Court of Canada has partly upheld an appeal from the media about a trial held in Quebec behind closed doors involving a police informant, but the high court insists no 'secret trial' took place. Private jets descend on Montreal for F1 Grand Prix in emissions-heavy weekend About 115 business jets will land in the Montreal area Friday through Sunday for the Canadian Grand Prix, which amounts to a 50 per cent spike from the daily average over the preceding month, according to projections provided to The Canadian Press by analytics firm WingX. Ottawa's new waste plan looks to extend life of Trial Road Landfill until 2049 The City of Ottawa is looking to extend the life of the Trail Road Landfill to 2049 through several initiatives to reduce the amount of waste residents are throwing out, deferring the multi-million-dollar cost of a new landfill or building a waste-to-energy facility. Lansdowne 2.0 appeal dismissed as Ontario's new housing bill receives Royal Assent The Glebe Community Association's legal challenge to the City of Ottawa's redevelopment of Lansdowne Park has been halted by the Ontario government new housing legislation designed to cut red tape and build homes faster. Federal offender breaches statutory release, ROPE issue Canada wide warrant OPP are using Friday's PD Day in Wingham to work on some training. Partnering with the Avon Maitland District School Board, police will conduct emergency response training at F.E. Madill High School. One person dead, four others injured after Thursday evening crash One person has died after a two-vehicle crash northwest of Simcoe. Around 7:10 p.m. on Thursday, OPP responded to the intersection of Windham East Quarter Line Road and Windham Road 9 in Norfolk County. Landlord association warns of litigation if council enacts draft by-law intended to stop 'renovictions' Woman allegedly violently assaulted, robbed in Orillia parking lot Police in northwestern Ont. search for U.S. man who went missing on canoe trip Ontario man shocked after wheel comes loose and causes nearly $7,000 in damage An Ontario powerlifter caught a mild cold last year. Six days later, he was fighting for his life in the ICU. One person dead, four others injured after Thursday evening crash Sask. Trucking Association opposes provincial program recognizing Class 1 licences of foreign drivers The Saskatchewan Trucking Association (STA) is concerned about a new program that exempts temporary foreign workers with Class 1 licences from mandatory training before working in the agricultural sector. Targeting young families and an unfulfilled NDP promise, Kevin Falcon — and his BC United party — are pledging $10-a-day child care. Major police presence blocks off Surrey neighbourhood for 2nd time this week For the second time this week, a major police presence blocked access to a residential area in Surrey. BC Hydro is hoping to incentivize people to change the way they consume electricity – by offering an overnight discount. B.C. city loses appeal of million-dollar award for spectator's hockey puck injury

canada

Mi'kmaq First Nation to become majority owner of 2 shipyards in Nova Scotia. A First Nation in Nova Scotia is purchasing two shipyards in the province, saying the acquisitions will position the band to compete for defence contracts. Glooscap First Nation says it has reached an agreement in principle to acquire a majority stake in the B. Boutilier Group of Companies, which currently owns the historic Lunenburg Shipyard and the nearby The Mi'kmaq band says it plans to establish a subsidiary called Glooscap Defence, which will focus on making the band the largest Indigenous defence contractor in Canada. The information you need to know, sent directly to you: Download the CTV News App Glooscap Ventures, the investment arm of Glooscap First Nation, says the new enterprise will support Canada's defence procurement strategy, which requires that at least five per cent of all procurement is handled by an Indigenous partner. Both shipyards are on the province's south shore, and both offer a services to the commercial and recreational boating markets, including storage, repair and fabrication. Under the agreement, Bradison Boutilier, founder of B. Boutilier Group, will retain a significant ownership stake in the new corporation and remain at the helm. This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 7, 2024. Strike looms for border workers if mediation doesn't deliver deal Thousands of Canadian border workers could go on strike this afternoon if mediation doesn't deliver a deal before then. Calgary 'using more water than it can produce', officials say In an update on Friday morning, Calgary officials are urging the public to follow all the guidelines around water conservation because at the current rate of consumption, the city could run out of water. Wage growth may have risen, but not for everyone. An economist explains why Canada's economy added more jobs than analysts expected in May, but the jobless rate also ticked up. An economist explained the mixed bag of findings and why it may indicate that the economy is starting to slow. Meet the joro, a flying spider scientists say could someday spread to Canada Recent research suggests that an invasive species of large, colourful spiders that take to the air as babies could spread to Canada. The colour of your child's swimsuit can play a role in their safety at the pool, experts say The colour of your child's swimsuit could impact their safety at a swimming pool or the beach. That's according to water safety experts who have taken a close look at how the hue of swimwear may influence how visible a child is under water. Russian warships, including nuclear-powered submarine, to visit Cuba next week Four Russian warships, including a nuclear-powered submarine, will arrive in Havana next week, Cuban officials said Thursday, citing 'historically friendly relations' between both nations and as tensions escalate over Western military support for Ukraine in its war with Russia. 'It's going to get better': After slayings, RCMP improving relations with James Smith Cree Nation Members of James Smith Cree Nation are hopeful they have found a new path forward with the Saskatchewan RCMP nearly two years after one of Canada's deadliest mass killings. Jennifer Lopez is focused on love amid the 'negativity out in the world right now' Stanley Cup win by the Oilers would net Colorado sports bar owners nearly $600,000 The Oilers not only have the opportunity to bring the long-awaited Stanley Cup back to Canada, they also could bring a major financial windfall to two Colorado sports bar owners. Sunrise and Edmonton: Hockey cities with big malls meet up in Stanley Cup final Montreal police arrest 15, disperse McGill pro-Palestinian protesters with pepper spray Montreal police say 15 people were arrested after officers used tear gas to disperse pro-Palestinian protesters at McGill university after they barricaded themselves in the administration building as part of a 'global call to action.' Supreme Court partly allows appeal by media over Quebec 'secret trial' The Supreme Court of Canada has partly upheld an appeal from the media about a trial held in Quebec behind closed doors involving a police informant, but the high court insists no 'secret trial' took place. Private jets descend on Montreal for F1 Grand Prix in emissions-heavy weekend About 115 business jets will land in the Montreal area Friday through Sunday for the Canadian Grand Prix, which amounts to a 50 per cent spike from the daily average over the preceding month, according to projections provided to The Canadian Press by analytics firm WingX. Ottawa's new waste plan looks to extend life of Trial Road Landfill until 2049 The City of Ottawa is looking to extend the life of the Trail Road Landfill to 2049 through several initiatives to reduce the amount of waste residents are throwing out, deferring the multi-million-dollar cost of a new landfill or building a waste-to-energy facility. Lansdowne 2.0 appeal dismissed as Ontario's new housing bill receives Royal Assent The Glebe Community Association's legal challenge to the City of Ottawa's redevelopment of Lansdowne Park has been halted by the Ontario government new housing legislation designed to cut red tape and build homes faster. Federal offender breaches statutory release, ROPE issue Canada wide warrant OPP are using Friday's PD Day in Wingham to work on some training. Partnering with the Avon Maitland District School Board, police will conduct emergency response training at F.E. Madill High School. One person dead, four others injured after Thursday evening crash One person has died after a two-vehicle crash northwest of Simcoe. Around 7:10 p.m. on Thursday, OPP responded to the intersection of Windham East Quarter Line Road and Windham Road 9 in Norfolk County. Landlord association warns of litigation if council enacts draft by-law intended to stop 'renovictions' Woman allegedly violently assaulted, robbed in Orillia parking lot Police in northwestern Ont. search for U.S. man who went missing on canoe trip Ontario man shocked after wheel comes loose and causes nearly $7,000 in damage An Ontario powerlifter caught a mild cold last year. Six days later, he was fighting for his life in the ICU. One person dead, four others injured after Thursday evening crash Sask. Trucking Association opposes provincial program recognizing Class 1 licences of foreign drivers The Saskatchewan Trucking Association (STA) is concerned about a new program that exempts temporary foreign workers with Class 1 licences from mandatory training before working in the agricultural sector. Targeting young families and an unfulfilled NDP promise, Kevin Falcon — and his BC United party — are pledging $10-a-day child care. Major police presence blocks off Surrey neighbourhood for 2nd time this week For the second time this week, a major police presence blocked access to a residential area in Surrey. BC Hydro is hoping to incentivize people to change the way they consume electricity – by offering an overnight discount. B.C. city loses appeal of million-dollar award for spectator's hockey puck injury

Bitcoin Miner Core Scientific Surges After AI Deal, Report of Over $1B Buyout Offer From CoreWeave

Bitcoin miner Core Scientific's (CORZ) shares surged as much as 40% in pre-market trading after cloud computing firm CoreWeave signed a 200 megawatts (MW) artificial intelligence (AI) deal and was also reported to have offered to buy the mining company in an all-cash offer. CoreWeave said to have made the offer on Monday, implying a 55% premium to the miners' three-month average weighted share price as of May 31, Bloomberg reported citing a person familiar with the matter. The offer would value the Austin, Texas-based miner at just over $1 billion, based on 178 million shares outstanding. Core Scientific emerged from bankruptcy earlier this year after it became one of the victims of a brutal crypto winter. CoreWeave and Core Scientific didn't immediately respond to comments on the story. The cloud computing company also signed a 12-year deal with the miner to host AI-related services. CoreWeave said it will provide about $300 million of capital investments, with options to expand the capacity further, according to a press release. The deal comes after mergers and acquisitions are heating up in the mining sector. Most recently, another large bitcoin miner, Riot Platforms (RIOT), made a interests in a variety of blockchain and digital asset businesses and significant holdings of digital assets, including bitcoin. CoinDesk operates as an independent subsidiary with an editorial committee to protect journalistic independence. CoinDesk employees, including journalists, may receive options in the Bullish group as part of their compensation.

crypto

Bitcoin Miner Core Scientific Surges After AI Deal, Report of Over $1B Buyout Offer From CoreWeave. Bitcoin miner Core Scientific's (CORZ) shares surged as much as 40% in pre-market trading after cloud computing firm CoreWeave signed a 200 megawatts (MW) artificial intelligence (AI) deal and was also reported to have offered to buy the mining company in an all-cash offer. CoreWeave said to have made the offer on Monday, implying a 55% premium to the miners' three-month average weighted share price as of May 31, Bloomberg reported citing a person familiar with the matter. The offer would value the Austin, Texas-based miner at just over $1 billion, based on 178 million shares outstanding. Core Scientific emerged from bankruptcy earlier this year after it became one of the victims of a brutal crypto winter. CoreWeave and Core Scientific didn't immediately respond to comments on the story. The cloud computing company also signed a 12-year deal with the miner to host AI-related services. CoreWeave said it will provide about $300 million of capital investments, with options to expand the capacity further, according to a press release. The deal comes after mergers and acquisitions are heating up in the mining sector. Most recently, another large bitcoin miner, Riot Platforms (RIOT), made a interests in a variety of blockchain and digital asset businesses and significant holdings of digital assets, including bitcoin. CoinDesk operates as an independent subsidiary with an editorial committee to protect journalistic independence. CoinDesk employees, including journalists, may receive options in the Bullish group as part of their compensation.

GeForce NOW Adds 'Resident Evil Village' to Its Cloud Gaming Lineup

GeForce NOW introduces Capcom's 'Resident Evil Village' along with two other new games, enhancing the cloud gaming experience with a new app update. GeForce NOW has expanded its gaming catalog with the addition of Capcom's 'Resident Evil Village,' a move that is set to thrill horror enthusiasts. This update is part of a trio of new games joining the cloud gaming platform this week, according to the The Bell Tolls for All 'Resident Evil Village,' the sequel to Capcom's critically acclaimed 'Resident Evil 7 Biohazard,' offers a blend of survival-horror and action. Players step into the role of Ethan Winters, a father on a mission to rescue his kidnapped daughter. The game is set in a chilling European village filled with mutant creatures and features a captivating cast, including the enigmatic Lady Dimitrescu. Ultimate and Priority members can experience the game's horrors in high detail, with support for ray tracing and high dynamic range (HDR) providing lifelike shadows and sharp visual fidelity. The game can be streamed seamlessly from NVIDIA GeForce RTX-powered servers, and players can try the 'Resident Evil Village' demo before committing to the full game. I Can See Clearly Now The latest GeForce NOW app update, version 2.0.64, introduces support for 10-bit color precision, enhancing image quality for Ultimate members streaming on Windows, macOS, and NVIDIA SHIELD TV. This feature significantly improves the accuracy and richness of color gradients, especially in scenes with detailed color transitions. The update also includes bug fixes and new ways to curate a member's in-app game library. For more information, users can refer to the NVIDIA Knowledgebase. Lights, Camera, Action: New Games In addition to 'Resident Evil Village,' GeForce NOW has added 'Beyond Good & Evil – 20th Anniversary Edition' from Ubisoft and 'Drug Dealer Simulator 2' to its lineup. 'Beyond Good & Evil – 20th Anniversary Edition' offers improved graphics and audio, a new speedrun mode, updated achievements, and an exclusive anniversary gallery. Players can explore Hillys and uncover more about the protagonist Jade's past. The list of new games available this week includes: 'Beyond Good & Evil – 20th Anniversary Edition' (available on Steam and Ubisoft) 'Drug Dealer Simulator 2' (available on Steam) 'Resident Evil Village' (available on Steam) 'Resident Evil Village Demo' (available on Steam)

crypto

GeForce NOW Adds 'Resident Evil Village' to Its Cloud Gaming Lineup. GeForce NOW introduces Capcom's 'Resident Evil Village' along with two other new games, enhancing the cloud gaming experience with a new app update. GeForce NOW has expanded its gaming catalog with the addition of Capcom's 'Resident Evil Village,' a move that is set to thrill horror enthusiasts. This update is part of a trio of new games joining the cloud gaming platform this week, according to the The Bell Tolls for All 'Resident Evil Village,' the sequel to Capcom's critically acclaimed 'Resident Evil 7 Biohazard,' offers a blend of survival-horror and action. Players step into the role of Ethan Winters, a father on a mission to rescue his kidnapped daughter. The game is set in a chilling European village filled with mutant creatures and features a captivating cast, including the enigmatic Lady Dimitrescu. Ultimate and Priority members can experience the game's horrors in high detail, with support for ray tracing and high dynamic range (HDR) providing lifelike shadows and sharp visual fidelity. The game can be streamed seamlessly from NVIDIA GeForce RTX-powered servers, and players can try the 'Resident Evil Village' demo before committing to the full game. I Can See Clearly Now The latest GeForce NOW app update, version 2.0.64, introduces support for 10-bit color precision, enhancing image quality for Ultimate members streaming on Windows, macOS, and NVIDIA SHIELD TV. This feature significantly improves the accuracy and richness of color gradients, especially in scenes with detailed color transitions. The update also includes bug fixes and new ways to curate a member's in-app game library. For more information, users can refer to the NVIDIA Knowledgebase. Lights, Camera, Action: New Games In addition to 'Resident Evil Village,' GeForce NOW has added 'Beyond Good & Evil – 20th Anniversary Edition' from Ubisoft and 'Drug Dealer Simulator 2' to its lineup. 'Beyond Good & Evil – 20th Anniversary Edition' offers improved graphics and audio, a new speedrun mode, updated achievements, and an exclusive anniversary gallery. Players can explore Hillys and uncover more about the protagonist Jade's past. The list of new games available this week includes: 'Beyond Good & Evil – 20th Anniversary Edition' (available on Steam and Ubisoft) 'Drug Dealer Simulator 2' (available on Steam) 'Resident Evil Village' (available on Steam) 'Resident Evil Village Demo' (available on Steam)

The OnePlus Buds 3 are available for free with a discounted OnePlus Watch 2

The OnePlus Watch 2 is an excellent upgrade over its predecessor and is one of our favorite Android smartwatches. | Photo by Amelia Holowaty Krales / The Verge If you’re looking for an Android smartwatch but aren’t keen on Google’s and Samsung’s selections, the OnePlus Watch 2 is our favorite alternative . And right now, not only is it on sale for $269.99 ($30 off) directly from the site , but OnePlus is throwing in a free pair of OnePlus Buds 3 . While we’ve seen the OnePlus Watch 2 at this price before, this is the first time you can get it bundled with the $99.99 OnePlus Buds 3, saving you a total of $130. Its 47mm case might be a bit large for smaller wrists, but the OnePlus Watch 2 still stands out amongst its rivals because it’s the only third-party Wear OS watch running Wear OS 4. What’s impressive, too, is that it natively supports Google Assistant, lets you access all the third-party apps in the Google Play Store, and even features contactless payments. Plus, the watch’s battery can last nearly four days with regular use, which almost makes up for the fact that it lacks LTE connectivity. Aside from being a good smartwatch, the OnePlus Watch 2 is also great for fitness tracking. It offers all the standard features you’d expect, as well as dual-frequency GPS for more accurate data in the outdoors. That said, there are some tradeoffs — you don’t get features found in some of its rivals, like EKGs, atrial fibrillation detection, native period tracking, and fall detection. However, if you’re comfortable going without those, this is a good deal at this price — especially as it integrates well with other OnePlus devices, such as the OnePlus Buds 3. Like the OnePlus Watch 2, the Buds 3 offers impressive features for their price. They’re equipped with active noise cancellation that can actually adjust to the shape of your ear canal, for example. They also come with other conveniences, like multipoint support as well as an IP55 rating for sweat resistance, offering some extra peace of mind. Read our review of the OnePlus Watch 2 .

business,tech

The OnePlus Buds 3 are available for free with a discounted OnePlus Watch 2. The OnePlus Watch 2 is an excellent upgrade over its predecessor and is one of our favorite Android smartwatches. | Photo by Amelia Holowaty Krales / The Verge If you’re looking for an Android smartwatch but aren’t keen on Google’s and Samsung’s selections, the OnePlus Watch 2 is our favorite alternative . And right now, not only is it on sale for $269.99 ($30 off) directly from the site , but OnePlus is throwing in a free pair of OnePlus Buds 3 . While we’ve seen the OnePlus Watch 2 at this price before, this is the first time you can get it bundled with the $99.99 OnePlus Buds 3, saving you a total of $130. Its 47mm case might be a bit large for smaller wrists, but the OnePlus Watch 2 still stands out amongst its rivals because it’s the only third-party Wear OS watch running Wear OS 4. What’s impressive, too, is that it natively supports Google Assistant, lets you access all the third-party apps in the Google Play Store, and even features contactless payments. Plus, the watch’s battery can last nearly four days with regular use, which almost makes up for the fact that it lacks LTE connectivity. Aside from being a good smartwatch, the OnePlus Watch 2 is also great for fitness tracking. It offers all the standard features you’d expect, as well as dual-frequency GPS for more accurate data in the outdoors. That said, there are some tradeoffs — you don’t get features found in some of its rivals, like EKGs, atrial fibrillation detection, native period tracking, and fall detection. However, if you’re comfortable going without those, this is a good deal at this price — especially as it integrates well with other OnePlus devices, such as the OnePlus Buds 3. Like the OnePlus Watch 2, the Buds 3 offers impressive features for their price. They’re equipped with active noise cancellation that can actually adjust to the shape of your ear canal, for example. They also come with other conveniences, like multipoint support as well as an IP55 rating for sweat resistance, offering some extra peace of mind. Read our review of the OnePlus Watch 2 .

Renowned Neurologist Dr. Surasky Unveils Groundbreaking New Book on Fox News, Champions Chiropractic's Role in Addiction Recovery

In his groundbreaking new book, "This Book Will Save Your Life: The New Medical Cure for Opioid Addiction," Dr. Russell Surasky, a double board-certified neurologist and addiction medicine specialist, unveils a revolutionary new medical treatment for opioid addiction. Dr. Surasky explains...

entertainment

Renowned Neurologist Dr. Surasky Unveils Groundbreaking New Book on Fox News, Champions Chiropractic's Role in Addiction Recovery. In his groundbreaking new book, "This Book Will Save Your Life: The New Medical Cure for Opioid Addiction," Dr. Russell Surasky, a double board-certified neurologist and addiction medicine specialist, unveils a revolutionary new medical treatment for opioid addiction. Dr. Surasky explains...

Energy Transitions Commission says countries can triple climate ambition by COP30

June 10, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- In its latest briefing, Credible Contributions: Bolder Plans for Higher Climate Ambition in the Next Round of NDCs, the ETC calls for industry and government collaboration to raise the ambition of the next round of Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) by Since the Paris Agreement was signed at COP21, countries are required to submit and ratchet up national climate pledges every five years. The next submission is due next year. These NDCs, as they are known, serve as high-level roadmaps for national climate action by establishing targets for emissions reductions over 10-year periods. Success in the low-carbon transition to date has been driven by industry's response to government targets - accelerating deployment and driving down costs. Industry recognises the opportunity in the next round of NDCs and calls on governments to prioritise delivering high-ambition NDCs which will provide certainty, unlock investment and accelerate technology deployment. Third round of NDCs due in 2025 Global greenhouse gas emissions are currently at an all-time high (~59 GtCO 2 e)[1] and continue to rise. If fully achieved, current NDC targets set in 2020 are only expected to deliver ~6 GtCO 2 e of emissions savings per year by 2035. This figure is far from the ~23-30 GtCO 2 e reduction required by 2035 for a 1.5°C-aligned pathway. According to the ETC, if governments reflect existing policy commitments made at COP28 and at national level, and the latest technological progress in the next round of NDCs, overall ambition levels could almost triple. This would achieve ~18 GtCO 2 e of mitigation per year in 2035 and put the world on a trajectory to limit warming to 2°C. Rapid progress is being made. Many core technologies of the energy transition have already reached tipping points for self-reinforcing growth and strong national policies support the acceleration of manufacturing and deployment around the world. For example, new wind and solar installations now meet over 90% of global power demand growth. Electric vehicles now make up 18% of global passenger vehicle sales and as much as 20% and 40% of sales in Europe and China respectively. Technologies and policies required to decarbonise heavy industry and long-distance transport are reaching commercial readiness. Further, at COP28, nearly 200 countries committed to triple renewable energy capacity, double the pace of energy efficiency improvement by 2030 and transition away from fossil fuels in the energy system. "Industry has rapidly scaled up manufacturing and deployment of clean energy technologies with existing policy support and commitments. Higher ambition in the next round of NDCs at COP30 has the potential to reinforce and accelerate this positive feedback loop. Collaboration between industry and government to commit measurable, deliverable, and investable plans is key to driving action." Adair Turner, Chair of the Energy Transitions Commission. Existing commitments and embedded progress provide headroom for major strengthening of NDCs but going beyond 2°C to align NDCs to a 1.5°C pathway will require further action still. Faster progress will be required in halting deforestation, phasing out coal from the power system and accelerating project delivery in hard-to-abate industry and transport. "The next round of national climate plans – NDCs 3.0 - are due from early next year and will be among some of the most important policy documents produced so far this century. Each country's NDC is for it to decide – they are after all nationally determined, so it's not one-size-fits-all. As the Energy Transitions Commission report underscores, these new plans can serve as powerful blueprints, to propel countries' economies and societies forward." Simon Stiell, Executive Secretary of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). "NDCs 3.0" must help to translate ambition into action Higher ambition from government and industry is needed to stimulate accelerated deployment of clean energy technologies, but ambition alone will not deliver progress. The ETC recommends that "NDCs 3.0" define: clear and detailed roadmaps for implementation of accelerated climate action backed by strong government policy (e.g., quantitative targets for GW of renewables, phase-out dates for bans on the sale of gasoline or diesel engine vehicles). measurable, comprehensive (covering all sectors and GHGs) and granular targets for emissions reductions. investable plans, especially for emerging markets, clearly stating the investment and international climate finance required to deliver stated targets. "We welcome the ETC's recommendations for NDCs 3.0 and urge governments to engage with the private sector to inform the development of policy roadmaps and investment plans within their NDCs. If we are to deliver on the next round of NDCs, CEOs and Ministers will need to embrace new forms of public-private problem-solving to advance sectoral transformations." Peter Bakker, President & CEO of WBCSD. Priorities will differ by country but the ETC's briefing highlights that for all countries, whatever their level of ambition, implementation and financing, a step change in ambition is possible in the next round of NDCs. Backing NDCs with detailed transition plans can unlock the investment and industry action required to achieve these aims. "Tripling ambition in the next round of NDCs is feasible if governments reflect the rapid technological progress made in the energy transition to date and existing commitments they have made. This would put us much closer to the Paris Agreement target. But to limit global temperature rises to just 1.5°C, ambition must be set even higher. It would require an immediate halt to deforestation, rapid coal phase out globally and accelerated progress in heavy industry and transport." Ita Kettleborough, Director of the Energy Transitions Commission. Credible Contributions: Bolder Plans for Higher Climate Ambition in the Next Round of NDCs has been developed in collaboration with ETC members from across industry, financial institutions, and environmental advocacy. The ETC is a global coalition of leaders from across the energy landscape committed to achieving net-zero emissions by mid-century whose members include Arup, bp, HSBC, Iberdrola, National Grid, Octopus Energy, Petronas, Shell, SSE, Rabobank, Vattenfall, We Mean Business, and World Resources Institute.

business,environment

Energy Transitions Commission says countries can triple climate ambition by COP30. June 10, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- In its latest briefing, Credible Contributions: Bolder Plans for Higher Climate Ambition in the Next Round of NDCs, the ETC calls for industry and government collaboration to raise the ambition of the next round of Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) by Since the Paris Agreement was signed at COP21, countries are required to submit and ratchet up national climate pledges every five years. The next submission is due next year. These NDCs, as they are known, serve as high-level roadmaps for national climate action by establishing targets for emissions reductions over 10-year periods. Success in the low-carbon transition to date has been driven by industry's response to government targets - accelerating deployment and driving down costs. Industry recognises the opportunity in the next round of NDCs and calls on governments to prioritise delivering high-ambition NDCs which will provide certainty, unlock investment and accelerate technology deployment. Third round of NDCs due in 2025 Global greenhouse gas emissions are currently at an all-time high (~59 GtCO 2 e)[1] and continue to rise. If fully achieved, current NDC targets set in 2020 are only expected to deliver ~6 GtCO 2 e of emissions savings per year by 2035. This figure is far from the ~23-30 GtCO 2 e reduction required by 2035 for a 1.5°C-aligned pathway. According to the ETC, if governments reflect existing policy commitments made at COP28 and at national level, and the latest technological progress in the next round of NDCs, overall ambition levels could almost triple. This would achieve ~18 GtCO 2 e of mitigation per year in 2035 and put the world on a trajectory to limit warming to 2°C. Rapid progress is being made. Many core technologies of the energy transition have already reached tipping points for self-reinforcing growth and strong national policies support the acceleration of manufacturing and deployment around the world. For example, new wind and solar installations now meet over 90% of global power demand growth. Electric vehicles now make up 18% of global passenger vehicle sales and as much as 20% and 40% of sales in Europe and China respectively. Technologies and policies required to decarbonise heavy industry and long-distance transport are reaching commercial readiness. Further, at COP28, nearly 200 countries committed to triple renewable energy capacity, double the pace of energy efficiency improvement by 2030 and transition away from fossil fuels in the energy system. "Industry has rapidly scaled up manufacturing and deployment of clean energy technologies with existing policy support and commitments. Higher ambition in the next round of NDCs at COP30 has the potential to reinforce and accelerate this positive feedback loop. Collaboration between industry and government to commit measurable, deliverable, and investable plans is key to driving action." Adair Turner, Chair of the Energy Transitions Commission. Existing commitments and embedded progress provide headroom for major strengthening of NDCs but going beyond 2°C to align NDCs to a 1.5°C pathway will require further action still. Faster progress will be required in halting deforestation, phasing out coal from the power system and accelerating project delivery in hard-to-abate industry and transport. "The next round of national climate plans – NDCs 3.0 - are due from early next year and will be among some of the most important policy documents produced so far this century. Each country's NDC is for it to decide – they are after all nationally determined, so it's not one-size-fits-all. As the Energy Transitions Commission report underscores, these new plans can serve as powerful blueprints, to propel countries' economies and societies forward." Simon Stiell, Executive Secretary of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). "NDCs 3.0" must help to translate ambition into action Higher ambition from government and industry is needed to stimulate accelerated deployment of clean energy technologies, but ambition alone will not deliver progress. The ETC recommends that "NDCs 3.0" define: clear and detailed roadmaps for implementation of accelerated climate action backed by strong government policy (e.g., quantitative targets for GW of renewables, phase-out dates for bans on the sale of gasoline or diesel engine vehicles). measurable, comprehensive (covering all sectors and GHGs) and granular targets for emissions reductions. investable plans, especially for emerging markets, clearly stating the investment and international climate finance required to deliver stated targets. "We welcome the ETC's recommendations for NDCs 3.0 and urge governments to engage with the private sector to inform the development of policy roadmaps and investment plans within their NDCs. If we are to deliver on the next round of NDCs, CEOs and Ministers will need to embrace new forms of public-private problem-solving to advance sectoral transformations." Peter Bakker, President & CEO of WBCSD. Priorities will differ by country but the ETC's briefing highlights that for all countries, whatever their level of ambition, implementation and financing, a step change in ambition is possible in the next round of NDCs. Backing NDCs with detailed transition plans can unlock the investment and industry action required to achieve these aims. "Tripling ambition in the next round of NDCs is feasible if governments reflect the rapid technological progress made in the energy transition to date and existing commitments they have made. This would put us much closer to the Paris Agreement target. But to limit global temperature rises to just 1.5°C, ambition must be set even higher. It would require an immediate halt to deforestation, rapid coal phase out globally and accelerated progress in heavy industry and transport." Ita Kettleborough, Director of the Energy Transitions Commission. Credible Contributions: Bolder Plans for Higher Climate Ambition in the Next Round of NDCs has been developed in collaboration with ETC members from across industry, financial institutions, and environmental advocacy. The ETC is a global coalition of leaders from across the energy landscape committed to achieving net-zero emissions by mid-century whose members include Arup, bp, HSBC, Iberdrola, National Grid, Octopus Energy, Petronas, Shell, SSE, Rabobank, Vattenfall, We Mean Business, and World Resources Institute.

CALC delivers two 787 Dreamliners to Lufthansa Group

China Aircraft Leasing Group (CALC) has delivered two 787 Dreamliners to Lufthansa Group and will be operated by its subsidiary Austrian Airlines. The first Dreamliner began its long-haul service to JFK on June 15, 2024, and the second aircraft will begin its service to Chicago on June 28, 2024. Austrian Airlines said in LinkedIn post: […]

aerospace,business

CALC delivers two 787 Dreamliners to Lufthansa Group. China Aircraft Leasing Group (CALC) has delivered two 787 Dreamliners to Lufthansa Group and will be operated by its subsidiary Austrian Airlines. The first Dreamliner began its long-haul service to JFK on June 15, 2024, and the second aircraft will begin its service to Chicago on June 28, 2024. Austrian Airlines said in LinkedIn post: […]

Child and three adults injured in shooting in Hackney

A child is in serious condition and three adults have been injured after being shot near a restaurant in north-east London. Police were called to Kingsland High Street, in Dalston in Hackney, at about 21:20 BST on Wednesday, after reports of gunshots. Officers, including firearms specialists, and the London ambulance service attended the scene, the Metropolitan Police said. The four victims were found with gunshot injuries and were taken to hospital in east London, the Met added. The force said the child remains in serious condition and that it is awaiting further details of the other victims' conditions. No arrests have been made and an investigation into circumstances around the incident has been launched. Deputy Assistant Commissioner Matt Ward said Londoners "will be shocked" by the incident.

world,uk

Child and three adults injured in shooting in Hackney. A child is in serious condition and three adults have been injured after being shot near a restaurant in north-east London. Police were called to Kingsland High Street, in Dalston in Hackney, at about 21:20 BST on Wednesday, after reports of gunshots. Officers, including firearms specialists, and the London ambulance service attended the scene, the Metropolitan Police said. The four victims were found with gunshot injuries and were taken to hospital in east London, the Met added. The force said the child remains in serious condition and that it is awaiting further details of the other victims' conditions. No arrests have been made and an investigation into circumstances around the incident has been launched. Deputy Assistant Commissioner Matt Ward said Londoners "will be shocked" by the incident.

Australia’s largest bank shuts down stablecoin project: report

The National Australia Bank has reportedly stopped developing its own stablecoin called AUDN just a year after it first disclosed such plans. The National Australia Bank ( NAB ), one of the four largest financial institutions in Australia, has quietly stopped working on its Ethereum -based stablecoin, with the team responsible for the development reportedly having left the bank, the Australian Financial Review has learned without disclosing sources. The report says the team behind AUDN is now working on a new stablecoin named Ubiquity, supported by Animoca Brands, Merit Circle, and Concave, among others. The Ubiquity team will reportedly also collaborate with another Australian bank ANZ Bank, which is developing an Australian stablecoin A$DC. You might also like: Australian Bank ANZ boosts cross-chain operations with Chainlink As of press time, NAB made no public statements on the matter. Crypto.news reached out to the bank and we'll update the article if we hear back. NAB had planned to become the second Australian financial institution to launch a stablecoin on the Ethereum and Algorand blockchains. In January 2023, crypto.news reported that the bank intended to enable customers to settle transactions with AUDN on blockchain in real time using Australian dollars. The stablecoin was also expected to facilitate various applications, including "carbon credit trading, overseas money transfers and repurchase agreements."

crypto

Australia’s largest bank shuts down stablecoin project: report. The National Australia Bank has reportedly stopped developing its own stablecoin called AUDN just a year after it first disclosed such plans. The National Australia Bank ( NAB ), one of the four largest financial institutions in Australia, has quietly stopped working on its Ethereum -based stablecoin, with the team responsible for the development reportedly having left the bank, the Australian Financial Review has learned without disclosing sources. The report says the team behind AUDN is now working on a new stablecoin named Ubiquity, supported by Animoca Brands, Merit Circle, and Concave, among others. The Ubiquity team will reportedly also collaborate with another Australian bank ANZ Bank, which is developing an Australian stablecoin A$DC. You might also like: Australian Bank ANZ boosts cross-chain operations with Chainlink As of press time, NAB made no public statements on the matter. Crypto.news reached out to the bank and we'll update the article if we hear back. NAB had planned to become the second Australian financial institution to launch a stablecoin on the Ethereum and Algorand blockchains. In January 2023, crypto.news reported that the bank intended to enable customers to settle transactions with AUDN on blockchain in real time using Australian dollars. The stablecoin was also expected to facilitate various applications, including "carbon credit trading, overseas money transfers and repurchase agreements."

Here are the top five scams, frauds for 2024

Investment and crypto frauds occupy the first place on the list of the top five scams for 2024, according to the Ontario Provincial Police. The losses associated with investment fraud are "substantial," acting detective Sgt. John Armit said in a video shared on X. "You may see an ad online to start investing in crypto. And often you're communicating directly with fraudsters," Armit said. Today's #SaturdayShoutOut goes to the experts who educate us all about the latest scams and frauds on Fraud Prevention Month. Acting Detective Sgt. John Armit runs down the top five scams and frauds this year to help you protect yourself. pic.twitter.com/Wmqo1e3SKm — OPP West Region (@OPP_WR) Spear phishing comes in the second place, Armit adds. "Spear phishing frauds are also known as business email compromise, where a business may click on malware, or there may be an email purporting to be an executive from the company asking for an invoice to be paid in a rush manner, or changing banking information," Armit said. In the third place comes the romance scam. Armit says this type of scam has been seeing a new twist. "The fraudsters are converting the romance fraud victims into investment crime victims by moving money through cryptocurrency," he added. Number four is job scams, where the fraudsters use the victims for money laundering, Amit explains. "With the economy being sluggish and the challenge economically with residents of Ontario and Canada, we're seeing a massive increase in job scams," he said. Finally, there are service scams, which come in multiple forms, including targeting seniors or popups indicating a need to update software. "It can be either people coming to the seniors' homes to sign documents for a new air conditioner or what have you and then attach to their mortgage or lien on their house, or the popup scams," he said. The Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre says there were over 41,000 cases of fraud reported to the agency last year, amounting to a loss of over $554 million nationwide. Ontario Premier Doug Ford sent a letter to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau earlier this week asking for billions of dollars worth of investments as both governments work towards their 2024 budgets. Lethbridge man, 20, faces multiple charges after recording himself shooting out of moving vehicles

canada

Here are the top five scams, frauds for 2024. Investment and crypto frauds occupy the first place on the list of the top five scams for 2024, according to the Ontario Provincial Police. The losses associated with investment fraud are "substantial," acting detective Sgt. John Armit said in a video shared on X. "You may see an ad online to start investing in crypto. And often you're communicating directly with fraudsters," Armit said. Today's #SaturdayShoutOut goes to the experts who educate us all about the latest scams and frauds on Fraud Prevention Month. Acting Detective Sgt. John Armit runs down the top five scams and frauds this year to help you protect yourself. pic.twitter.com/Wmqo1e3SKm — OPP West Region (@OPP_WR) Spear phishing comes in the second place, Armit adds. "Spear phishing frauds are also known as business email compromise, where a business may click on malware, or there may be an email purporting to be an executive from the company asking for an invoice to be paid in a rush manner, or changing banking information," Armit said. In the third place comes the romance scam. Armit says this type of scam has been seeing a new twist. "The fraudsters are converting the romance fraud victims into investment crime victims by moving money through cryptocurrency," he added. Number four is job scams, where the fraudsters use the victims for money laundering, Amit explains. "With the economy being sluggish and the challenge economically with residents of Ontario and Canada, we're seeing a massive increase in job scams," he said. Finally, there are service scams, which come in multiple forms, including targeting seniors or popups indicating a need to update software. "It can be either people coming to the seniors' homes to sign documents for a new air conditioner or what have you and then attach to their mortgage or lien on their house, or the popup scams," he said. The Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre says there were over 41,000 cases of fraud reported to the agency last year, amounting to a loss of over $554 million nationwide. Ontario Premier Doug Ford sent a letter to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau earlier this week asking for billions of dollars worth of investments as both governments work towards their 2024 budgets. Lethbridge man, 20, faces multiple charges after recording himself shooting out of moving vehicles

Biden claims his debate performance won over ‘more undecided voters than Trump’ at NJ fundraiser

'The Big Weekend Show' panelists examine the media's reaction to President Biden's performance at the CNN Presidential Debate. President Biden argued that his disastrous debate performance actually converted more voters to his side than former President Trump. Biden made the claim while surrounded by donors during a Saturday fundraiser at the home of New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy. The president reportedly acknowledged that his performance at the debate left much to be desired, but he argued that polling was on his side. "I didn't have a great night, but I'm going to be fighting harder," Biden told the several dozen people at the party, according to NJ.com. "Research during the debate shows us converting more undecided voters than Trump did, in large part because of his conduct on Jan. 6," he added. "People remember the bad things during his presidency." THE DEMOCRATS' SOCIAL MEDIA ACCOUNT ATTEMPTS TO SPIN BIDEN'S DEBATE DEBACLE: 'DID WE WATCH THE SAME DEBATE?' President Biden argued that his disastrous debate performance actually converted more voters to his side than former President Trump on Saturday. (Andrew Caballero-Reynolds/AFP via Getty Images) Biden's attempt to spin his embarrassing Thursday night performance comes after multiple major newspapers called on him to drop out of the race. The New York Times editorial board argued that him staying in the race would be a "reckless gamble." The Atlanta Journal-Constitution editorial board made a similar argument, calling on Biden to drop out "for the good of the nation." BIDEN DEBATE DEBACLE: 10 EYE-OPENING MEDIA RESPONSES, FROM MSNBC PANIC TO 'THE VIEW' CALLING FOR REPLACEMENT So far, the formal pressure on Biden to drop out has all been external, however. Top Democrats in Congress and across the country remain publicly supportive of his presidential bid, despite rumblings of internal panic. Biden's attempt to spin his embarrassing Thursday night performance comes after multiple major newspapers called on him to drop out of the race. (Derek White/Getty Images for DNC) Democratic National Committee (DNC) Chairman Jaime Harrison attempted to put rumors of Biden's replacement to bed on Saturday. BIDEN'S INNER CIRCLE SILENT AS PARTY REELS FOLLOWING 'EMBARRASSING' DEBATE PERFORMANCE Harrison told MSNBC host Al Sharpton that the people are still strongly supporting President Biden, saying that the "hand-wringing" is coming from the media. "You hear the hand-wringing coming from pundits, Rev, and from op-eds like the New York Times, but you don't hear from the people," he said. Democratic National Committee Chairman Jaime Harrison attempted to put rumors of Biden's replacement to bed on Saturday. (Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images) "What I have seen is that galvanization, particularly in the Black community," he said. "I'm a Black man. I've seen the galvanization of support for Joe Biden because, you know, in the Black community, in your family, you can say all that you want to say about a member of your family, but don't let somebody else." The DNC chairman said that people have Biden's back because he has "always had our back."

politics

Biden claims his debate performance won over ‘more undecided voters than Trump’ at NJ fundraiser. 'The Big Weekend Show' panelists examine the media's reaction to President Biden's performance at the CNN Presidential Debate. President Biden argued that his disastrous debate performance actually converted more voters to his side than former President Trump. Biden made the claim while surrounded by donors during a Saturday fundraiser at the home of New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy. The president reportedly acknowledged that his performance at the debate left much to be desired, but he argued that polling was on his side. "I didn't have a great night, but I'm going to be fighting harder," Biden told the several dozen people at the party, according to NJ.com. "Research during the debate shows us converting more undecided voters than Trump did, in large part because of his conduct on Jan. 6," he added. "People remember the bad things during his presidency." THE DEMOCRATS' SOCIAL MEDIA ACCOUNT ATTEMPTS TO SPIN BIDEN'S DEBATE DEBACLE: 'DID WE WATCH THE SAME DEBATE?' President Biden argued that his disastrous debate performance actually converted more voters to his side than former President Trump on Saturday. (Andrew Caballero-Reynolds/AFP via Getty Images) Biden's attempt to spin his embarrassing Thursday night performance comes after multiple major newspapers called on him to drop out of the race. The New York Times editorial board argued that him staying in the race would be a "reckless gamble." The Atlanta Journal-Constitution editorial board made a similar argument, calling on Biden to drop out "for the good of the nation." BIDEN DEBATE DEBACLE: 10 EYE-OPENING MEDIA RESPONSES, FROM MSNBC PANIC TO 'THE VIEW' CALLING FOR REPLACEMENT So far, the formal pressure on Biden to drop out has all been external, however. Top Democrats in Congress and across the country remain publicly supportive of his presidential bid, despite rumblings of internal panic. Biden's attempt to spin his embarrassing Thursday night performance comes after multiple major newspapers called on him to drop out of the race. (Derek White/Getty Images for DNC) Democratic National Committee (DNC) Chairman Jaime Harrison attempted to put rumors of Biden's replacement to bed on Saturday. BIDEN'S INNER CIRCLE SILENT AS PARTY REELS FOLLOWING 'EMBARRASSING' DEBATE PERFORMANCE Harrison told MSNBC host Al Sharpton that the people are still strongly supporting President Biden, saying that the "hand-wringing" is coming from the media. "You hear the hand-wringing coming from pundits, Rev, and from op-eds like the New York Times, but you don't hear from the people," he said. Democratic National Committee Chairman Jaime Harrison attempted to put rumors of Biden's replacement to bed on Saturday. (Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images) "What I have seen is that galvanization, particularly in the Black community," he said. "I'm a Black man. I've seen the galvanization of support for Joe Biden because, you know, in the Black community, in your family, you can say all that you want to say about a member of your family, but don't let somebody else." The DNC chairman said that people have Biden's back because he has "always had our back."

Sea Rocket Water Adventures Announces Strategic Push Into Franchising

Maryland, to five locations spanning 4 states. "We are thrilled to roll out franchising to fuel our expansion across the country. We have worked tirelessly for the last three years to build a seamless platform for operators to use. While we will continue to expand in house at our current locations & select coastal markets, we find franchising is a better fit in many markets across the country," says Will Wangel, CEO of Sea Rocket Water Adventures. "We have the experience and structure to provide a turnkey solution for any type of rental, tour, or activity on the water. We foresee our franchisees ranging from larger marinas looking to significantly improve & diversify their rental operations, to individuals looking to build smaller scale watersports business in a unique location. We have already drawn interest from the Ozarks and Florida before this announcement, so we are excited for this next step." For more information about Sea Rocket Water Adventures, visit

sports

Sea Rocket Water Adventures Announces Strategic Push Into Franchising. Maryland, to five locations spanning 4 states. "We are thrilled to roll out franchising to fuel our expansion across the country. We have worked tirelessly for the last three years to build a seamless platform for operators to use. While we will continue to expand in house at our current locations & select coastal markets, we find franchising is a better fit in many markets across the country," says Will Wangel, CEO of Sea Rocket Water Adventures. "We have the experience and structure to provide a turnkey solution for any type of rental, tour, or activity on the water. We foresee our franchisees ranging from larger marinas looking to significantly improve & diversify their rental operations, to individuals looking to build smaller scale watersports business in a unique location. We have already drawn interest from the Ozarks and Florida before this announcement, so we are excited for this next step." For more information about Sea Rocket Water Adventures, visit

Next up, Switzerland! But who else could England face in the Euro 2024 knockout rounds?

gave them a 2-1 victory and their reward is a match against Switzerland on Saturday 6 July at 5pm (UK time). Jude Bellingham and Trent Alexander-Arnold celebrate the Real Madrid star's opening goal against Serbia. Pic: AP England are in a seemingly good position on the supposedly "easier" side of the knockout draw, as they will avoid France, Portugal, Spain and Germany on their way to the final - if they can make it there.

uk

Next up, Switzerland! But who else could England face in the Euro 2024 knockout rounds?. gave them a 2-1 victory and their reward is a match against Switzerland on Saturday 6 July at 5pm (UK time). Jude Bellingham and Trent Alexander-Arnold celebrate the Real Madrid star's opening goal against Serbia. Pic: AP England are in a seemingly good position on the supposedly "easier" side of the knockout draw, as they will avoid France, Portugal, Spain and Germany on their way to the final - if they can make it there.

MDA Space receives contract for next phase of lunar Gateway robotic arm development

WASHINGTON — MDA Space has received a contract from the Canadian Space Agency worth $1 billion Canadian ($730 million) for the next phase of development of a robotic arm system for the lunar Gateway. MDA Space announced June 27 it received the contract to continue work on the Canadarm3 system. The contract covers Phase C, final design of the system, and Phase D, assembly and test of it. The work is scheduled to run through March 2030. "We are entering an exciting period where Canadarm3 will take shape and come to life on our production floor," Mike Greenley, chief executive of MDA Space, said in a statement. "This major milestone also reflects our strategy in action as we build our significant backlog and bring to market a new generation of commercial space products and services." The Canadian government announced in 2019 it would participate in the Gateway, becoming the first international partner to join NASA. At the time the government said it would invest $2 billion Canadian over 24 years on the program, offering the Canadarm3 robotic arm system that is an evolution of the original Canadarm used on the shuttle and Canadarm2 currently on the International Space Station. MDA Space, then known as MacDonald, Dettwiler and Associates, received the initial contract to begin work on Canadarm3 in 2020. The company was expected to win the contract because of its work on the earlier robotic arm systems. "Building on the legacy of strategic investments in space robotics, Canadarm3 showcases our commitment to innovation," said François-Philippe Champagne, Canada's minister of innovation, science and industry, whose portfolio includes the Canadian Space Agency, in a statement. MDA Space has worked to leverage the investments made in Canadarm3 and earlier systems for commercial products. The company unveiled its MDA Skymaker line of space robotics systems in April. The Lunar Dawn rover, being developed by a team led by Lunar Outpost, will use that technology. It was one of three rovers selected by NASA in April for initial funding for its Lunar Terrain Vehicle Services program. MDA Space also plans to provide a Skymaker robotic arm system for Starlab, the commercial space station being developed by the Starlab Space joint venture. MDA Space formally joined the joint venture in May, taking an undisclosed equity stake as part of the deal to provide the station's robotic arm system. In an interview after the Starlab Space announcement, Greenley said the work on space robotics fit into a broader company strategy that includes projects in Earth observation and communications satellites. "We've now productized our offering to make it more accessible to the commercial market in all three business areas," he said. For space robotics, that work includes moving into a new facility in the Toronto suburb of Brampton, Ontario, that serves as what he called a space robotics "center of excellence" for building and testing robotic systems. That facility also features multiple mission control centers to operate the robotic arms on the ISS, Gateway and commercial facilities.

aerospace

MDA Space receives contract for next phase of lunar Gateway robotic arm development. WASHINGTON — MDA Space has received a contract from the Canadian Space Agency worth $1 billion Canadian ($730 million) for the next phase of development of a robotic arm system for the lunar Gateway. MDA Space announced June 27 it received the contract to continue work on the Canadarm3 system. The contract covers Phase C, final design of the system, and Phase D, assembly and test of it. The work is scheduled to run through March 2030. "We are entering an exciting period where Canadarm3 will take shape and come to life on our production floor," Mike Greenley, chief executive of MDA Space, said in a statement. "This major milestone also reflects our strategy in action as we build our significant backlog and bring to market a new generation of commercial space products and services." The Canadian government announced in 2019 it would participate in the Gateway, becoming the first international partner to join NASA. At the time the government said it would invest $2 billion Canadian over 24 years on the program, offering the Canadarm3 robotic arm system that is an evolution of the original Canadarm used on the shuttle and Canadarm2 currently on the International Space Station. MDA Space, then known as MacDonald, Dettwiler and Associates, received the initial contract to begin work on Canadarm3 in 2020. The company was expected to win the contract because of its work on the earlier robotic arm systems. "Building on the legacy of strategic investments in space robotics, Canadarm3 showcases our commitment to innovation," said François-Philippe Champagne, Canada's minister of innovation, science and industry, whose portfolio includes the Canadian Space Agency, in a statement. MDA Space has worked to leverage the investments made in Canadarm3 and earlier systems for commercial products. The company unveiled its MDA Skymaker line of space robotics systems in April. The Lunar Dawn rover, being developed by a team led by Lunar Outpost, will use that technology. It was one of three rovers selected by NASA in April for initial funding for its Lunar Terrain Vehicle Services program. MDA Space also plans to provide a Skymaker robotic arm system for Starlab, the commercial space station being developed by the Starlab Space joint venture. MDA Space formally joined the joint venture in May, taking an undisclosed equity stake as part of the deal to provide the station's robotic arm system. In an interview after the Starlab Space announcement, Greenley said the work on space robotics fit into a broader company strategy that includes projects in Earth observation and communications satellites. "We've now productized our offering to make it more accessible to the commercial market in all three business areas," he said. For space robotics, that work includes moving into a new facility in the Toronto suburb of Brampton, Ontario, that serves as what he called a space robotics "center of excellence" for building and testing robotic systems. That facility also features multiple mission control centers to operate the robotic arms on the ISS, Gateway and commercial facilities.

Why Holbox is Mexico’s perfect island paradise

A thin strip of sand on the northern tip of the Yucatán peninsula, Holbox is an attractive draw for the traveler looking for a Caribbean paradise free of the tourist hordes of Cancún and Tulúm. While the island is certainly geared toward tourism, the scale of the operation here is such that you feel like you are a somewhat discreet traveler, someone in-the-know and perhaps more enlightened than those masses lined up in front of Señor Frogs in Cancún. Travel guides to Holbox are still quite rare, and the island still has the feel of the Mexico of 30 years ago. This is an island with outstanding natural beauty , a marrow-deep chill, superlative dining options, and a range of accommodations for the eco-minded traveler. The following is an account of some of the best places I stayed and ate over the course of a recent trip with my fiancé. The underdeveloped island – which has no proper roads – is a paradise for those looking to get back to basics. (Rosie Buller) Getting to Holbox Should you decide to come via bus, ADO has comfortable daily service from Cancún and Mérida to Chiquilá. If you want to get to Holbox as quickly as possible and in style, there is a small airport on the island, and Holbox Air offers private charters on small Cessna and Piper planes to destinations around the Yucatán peninsula. If you choose to drive, Highway 180D from Cancún or Mérida is a smooth trip, though one that perhaps feels longer for its flat terrain and utter lack of landmarks or scenery. Once you turn off towards the port town of Chiquilá, beware the final stretch of Highway 5, as it is littered with bathtub-sized potholes capable of doing serious damage to your car (or, worse, your relationship). I can still hear my fiancé’s “Cuidado! Watch the road!” reverberating in my ears. Any travel-related discord is soon forgotten, however, once you arrive in Chiquilá and board a ferry. Two ferry services leave every 30 minutes, both fast and cheap, offering outdoor seating that gives that tingling anticipation feeling as the island comes closer into view. Once you arrive on the island, a line of golf cart taxis will be waiting to take you to your destination, with fixed rates depending on where you’re headed. Not only are the golf carts a fun reminder you are no longer on the mainland, but taxis on Holbox have virtually none of the pushy salesmanship you see in other, more commercialized areas of the Yucatán region. Where to stay on Holbox Don’t let the lack of commercialization fool you, though; Holbox has plenty of luxurious hotels for travellers who want some comfort. (Casa Cat Ba/Tripadvisor) That fact is reflective of a larger reality: for an island whose main source of revenue is tourism, Holbox is mercifully free of the commercial, one-size-fits-all mass tourism found in other popular resort areas. Instead of giant high-rise hotels, the traveler has options that run from funky hostels to chic boutiques to small, five-star beachside resorts. In order to get a feel for the range of accommodation on offer, we decided to try a sample of all three. There are many reasons why staying in a hostel is a great travel option affordability, ease of making friends, the communal vibe. Hostel Tribu checks every box. The hostel sits one block off the beach and features a charmingly funky design, group activities ranging from full moon kayak excursions to twerk classes, open mics on the second-floor bar, and a restaurant serving inspired fusion cuisine. Owner Davide Coggi creates a welcoming atmosphere and — importantly  for an island business — has committed to reducing the hostel’s waste with an innovative composting program. Perched on the sand, Casa Cat Ba is a small boutique hotel with a familial atmosphere and gorgeously decorated rooms and common spaces . Each of the six rooms has a balcony with a view west over the sea, perfect for watching the sunset turn the clouds from popcorn puffs to a color closer to the pink of Holbox’s flamingos. Take it in with a passion fruit mezcalita in your hand. Beyond the gorgeous setting and the comfort of the rooms what stands out about Casa Cat Ba is the easy-going, charismatic hospitality of the staff. Hotel manager Ivette told me she hopes guests “feel like family from the moment they arrive” and leave feeling like the place is a  “home away from home” — true on both counts in our case. For the eco-minded traveler, Casa Cat Ba is a smart option as well, as they display a commitment to mitigating their impact on the island’s fragile ecosystem, with as close to zero waste operation as can be imagined. Oh, and the breakfasts were fresh and varied every morning. Eating the best avocado toast of your life as the sun rises over the Caribbean is a moment you won’t soon forget. Sunrise and sunsets on Holbox are a dream. (Rosie Buller) We stayed three nights in Casa Cat Ba and were sad to leave, but our next stop proved to be a delight: Las Hamacas Club de Playa on the eastern edge of the main beach. This is the spot to go if you want a bit more privacy from the bustle of downtown Holbox. The small resort is everything you could want in a dreamy escape, with an attentive smiling staff, spacious rooms with modern amenities and private balconies with a view of the sea. There is a large pool for guests only, with a swim up bar serving some of the finest cocktails on the island. The restaurant has both spectacular views and serves contemporary seafood and grill cuisine. A sand bar just off the shoreline makes for a picturesque spot to catch the sunset, as the numerous selfie stick wielding influencers can attest. On our last night on the island, we thought we’d try something romantic for dinner. We asked around town for a good date night spot, and the locals told us to go to Parador 33, a cozy, open-air spot tucked away from the bustle of the main street. Dinner on Holbox is also as good as you might expect, with restaurants like Parada 33 offering delicious food and wine options. (Holbox Travel) Here, the mood was familial, with barefoot kids mingling with the stray cats underfoot, and yet it remained intimate with low lighting, the best wine list we saw on the island, and an innovative menu. A highlight was the steak, cooked in an outer shell of rosemary-tinged dough which, cracked open tableside, revealed a tender cut of meat. A glass of malbec was the perfect pairing here. For some, lying on the beach all day and watching the sunset is what vacation is all about. For the more active-minded traveler, the island has a range of activities. A dominant westerly wind means kiteboarding is an option, and there are a plethora of schools for lessons and rental gear. The yearly whale shark season attracts visitors who wish to see these giant fish up close. Personally, we swam great distances every morning, following the current east to west along a string of buoys a half kilometer offshore. The end of a trip can be a jarring experience. For us, it was an alarm clock blasting us into get-away-day reality at 6 a.m., the somber shuffle out of our room at Las Hamacas, the waiting golf cart cab. As we bounced through the sand streets on the way to the ferry we watched the sunrise over the sea, not a trace of wind over the glassy surface. As we were dragged into the nagging concerns of the mainland — getting the car out of the parking, the coming highway tolls, the potholes — the mind couldn’t help but try to stay in the moment, enjoying the last view of the island’s beauty. Stewart Merritt is a professor and freelance writer based in Mérida. A native of California, he has been visiting Mexico his entire life, especially the Pacific coast, where he likes to surf. This summer he will marry his Yucatecan fiancé. The post Why Holbox is Mexico’s perfect island paradise appeared first on Mexico News Daily

mexico

Why Holbox is Mexico’s perfect island paradise. A thin strip of sand on the northern tip of the Yucatán peninsula, Holbox is an attractive draw for the traveler looking for a Caribbean paradise free of the tourist hordes of Cancún and Tulúm. While the island is certainly geared toward tourism, the scale of the operation here is such that you feel like you are a somewhat discreet traveler, someone in-the-know and perhaps more enlightened than those masses lined up in front of Señor Frogs in Cancún. Travel guides to Holbox are still quite rare, and the island still has the feel of the Mexico of 30 years ago. This is an island with outstanding natural beauty , a marrow-deep chill, superlative dining options, and a range of accommodations for the eco-minded traveler. The following is an account of some of the best places I stayed and ate over the course of a recent trip with my fiancé. The underdeveloped island – which has no proper roads – is a paradise for those looking to get back to basics. (Rosie Buller) Getting to Holbox Should you decide to come via bus, ADO has comfortable daily service from Cancún and Mérida to Chiquilá. If you want to get to Holbox as quickly as possible and in style, there is a small airport on the island, and Holbox Air offers private charters on small Cessna and Piper planes to destinations around the Yucatán peninsula. If you choose to drive, Highway 180D from Cancún or Mérida is a smooth trip, though one that perhaps feels longer for its flat terrain and utter lack of landmarks or scenery. Once you turn off towards the port town of Chiquilá, beware the final stretch of Highway 5, as it is littered with bathtub-sized potholes capable of doing serious damage to your car (or, worse, your relationship). I can still hear my fiancé’s “Cuidado! Watch the road!” reverberating in my ears. Any travel-related discord is soon forgotten, however, once you arrive in Chiquilá and board a ferry. Two ferry services leave every 30 minutes, both fast and cheap, offering outdoor seating that gives that tingling anticipation feeling as the island comes closer into view. Once you arrive on the island, a line of golf cart taxis will be waiting to take you to your destination, with fixed rates depending on where you’re headed. Not only are the golf carts a fun reminder you are no longer on the mainland, but taxis on Holbox have virtually none of the pushy salesmanship you see in other, more commercialized areas of the Yucatán region. Where to stay on Holbox Don’t let the lack of commercialization fool you, though; Holbox has plenty of luxurious hotels for travellers who want some comfort. (Casa Cat Ba/Tripadvisor) That fact is reflective of a larger reality: for an island whose main source of revenue is tourism, Holbox is mercifully free of the commercial, one-size-fits-all mass tourism found in other popular resort areas. Instead of giant high-rise hotels, the traveler has options that run from funky hostels to chic boutiques to small, five-star beachside resorts. In order to get a feel for the range of accommodation on offer, we decided to try a sample of all three. There are many reasons why staying in a hostel is a great travel option affordability, ease of making friends, the communal vibe. Hostel Tribu checks every box. The hostel sits one block off the beach and features a charmingly funky design, group activities ranging from full moon kayak excursions to twerk classes, open mics on the second-floor bar, and a restaurant serving inspired fusion cuisine. Owner Davide Coggi creates a welcoming atmosphere and — importantly  for an island business — has committed to reducing the hostel’s waste with an innovative composting program. Perched on the sand, Casa Cat Ba is a small boutique hotel with a familial atmosphere and gorgeously decorated rooms and common spaces . Each of the six rooms has a balcony with a view west over the sea, perfect for watching the sunset turn the clouds from popcorn puffs to a color closer to the pink of Holbox’s flamingos. Take it in with a passion fruit mezcalita in your hand. Beyond the gorgeous setting and the comfort of the rooms what stands out about Casa Cat Ba is the easy-going, charismatic hospitality of the staff. Hotel manager Ivette told me she hopes guests “feel like family from the moment they arrive” and leave feeling like the place is a  “home away from home” — true on both counts in our case. For the eco-minded traveler, Casa Cat Ba is a smart option as well, as they display a commitment to mitigating their impact on the island’s fragile ecosystem, with as close to zero waste operation as can be imagined. Oh, and the breakfasts were fresh and varied every morning. Eating the best avocado toast of your life as the sun rises over the Caribbean is a moment you won’t soon forget. Sunrise and sunsets on Holbox are a dream. (Rosie Buller) We stayed three nights in Casa Cat Ba and were sad to leave, but our next stop proved to be a delight: Las Hamacas Club de Playa on the eastern edge of the main beach. This is the spot to go if you want a bit more privacy from the bustle of downtown Holbox. The small resort is everything you could want in a dreamy escape, with an attentive smiling staff, spacious rooms with modern amenities and private balconies with a view of the sea. There is a large pool for guests only, with a swim up bar serving some of the finest cocktails on the island. The restaurant has both spectacular views and serves contemporary seafood and grill cuisine. A sand bar just off the shoreline makes for a picturesque spot to catch the sunset, as the numerous selfie stick wielding influencers can attest. On our last night on the island, we thought we’d try something romantic for dinner. We asked around town for a good date night spot, and the locals told us to go to Parador 33, a cozy, open-air spot tucked away from the bustle of the main street. Dinner on Holbox is also as good as you might expect, with restaurants like Parada 33 offering delicious food and wine options. (Holbox Travel) Here, the mood was familial, with barefoot kids mingling with the stray cats underfoot, and yet it remained intimate with low lighting, the best wine list we saw on the island, and an innovative menu. A highlight was the steak, cooked in an outer shell of rosemary-tinged dough which, cracked open tableside, revealed a tender cut of meat. A glass of malbec was the perfect pairing here. For some, lying on the beach all day and watching the sunset is what vacation is all about. For the more active-minded traveler, the island has a range of activities. A dominant westerly wind means kiteboarding is an option, and there are a plethora of schools for lessons and rental gear. The yearly whale shark season attracts visitors who wish to see these giant fish up close. Personally, we swam great distances every morning, following the current east to west along a string of buoys a half kilometer offshore. The end of a trip can be a jarring experience. For us, it was an alarm clock blasting us into get-away-day reality at 6 a.m., the somber shuffle out of our room at Las Hamacas, the waiting golf cart cab. As we bounced through the sand streets on the way to the ferry we watched the sunrise over the sea, not a trace of wind over the glassy surface. As we were dragged into the nagging concerns of the mainland — getting the car out of the parking, the coming highway tolls, the potholes — the mind couldn’t help but try to stay in the moment, enjoying the last view of the island’s beauty. Stewart Merritt is a professor and freelance writer based in Mérida. A native of California, he has been visiting Mexico his entire life, especially the Pacific coast, where he likes to surf. This summer he will marry his Yucatecan fiancé. The post Why Holbox is Mexico’s perfect island paradise appeared first on Mexico News Daily

Litecoin eyes $90 mark, analyst predicts inflows in Monero and Akash contender

Disclosure: This article does not represent investment advice. The content and materials featured on this page are for educational purposes only. While is making waves in the Web3 crowdfunding space, positioning itself as a contender for Akash and Monero. Thanks to heightened whale activity, Litecoin (LTC) has been witnessing notable bullish momentum that saw it breach the psychological threshold of $80.00, with the $90.00 price level in sight. By eliminating the urge for intermediaries, Borroe Finance (ROE) is emerging as a perfect Akash and Monero contender that is changing the way revenue financing is done in the Web3 sector. Borroe Finance propels Web3 user experience Having perfected the art of leveraging the power of blockchain technology, Borroe Finance has shown its commitment to making the crowdfunding process in Web3 efficient, secure, and transparent. As a result, Borroe Finance is continuously showcasing its prowess as one of the promising new DeFi projects meant to take the Web3 industry to the next level. Since the Polygon blockchain powers Borroe Finance, the network is amicably tackling delays associated with traditional financing platforms through its unique AI-driven and NFT-powered marketplace that seamlessly links revenue buyers and sellers. Notably, Web3 businesses and content creators are able to raise instant working capital by using their outstanding payments as collateral, already generated as non-fungible tokens (NFTs). These NFTs are then sold on Borroe Finance's marketplace at a discount, ensuring that Web3 participants get immediate cash to fund their projects. Therefore, this unique strategy is making a strong point for Borroe Finance being one of the top DeFi coins to keep an eye on thanks to its bright future as analysts speculate major inflows. You might also like: Borroe Finance emerges as a strong contender while WIF, TON lag behind Borroe Finance's safety and reliability With Borroe Finance clearly showing its long-term objective of lowering the barrier to Web3 entry, the ecosystem deploys cutting-edge technologies that aid in the realization of this goal. Borroe Finance boosts its safety and security through artificial intelligence (AI) since it helps with the generation of authentic credit scores that determine Web3 users' loan eligibility, making it the best new crypto to invest in. Borroe Finance's smart contracts were also heavily scrutinized by leading audit firm BlockAudit, and the network was given a clean bill of health, showcasing it as a good crypto to buy. Therefore, Borroe Finance's reliability is guaranteed thanks to the incorporation of these latest technological advancements, and this is why the fear of missing out is taking center stage. For example, Borroe Finance recently successfully exited the presale stage after raising $4.5 million, as its governance token, ROE, witnessed skyrocketing adoption. With Borroe Finance's Decentralized Exchange (DEX) and CEX launch being just a stone's throw away, the sky's the limit for the network as an airdrop gets underway. You might also like: Whales buy more ADA as Borroe Finance prepares for a huge rally Litecoin aims the $90 mark, fingers crossed As Litecoin continues to be one of the top altcoins, questions are being raised about whether the crypto will get to the $90.00 zone, even though it's just a stone's throw away. According to CoinGecko data, LTC was up 10.5% in the past week to hit $87.43 at the time of writing. This uptrend has been ignited by a surge in the whale transaction count, which signals heightened investor interest and confidence. The MVRV ratio has also been increasing, and this has been another bullish indicator of what is expected in the Litecoin network. Since it was developed on the latter's protocol, Litecoin is fabled as the silver version of Bitcoin. Time will tell how it will fare in the short term.

crypto

Litecoin eyes $90 mark, analyst predicts inflows in Monero and Akash contender. Disclosure: This article does not represent investment advice. The content and materials featured on this page are for educational purposes only. While is making waves in the Web3 crowdfunding space, positioning itself as a contender for Akash and Monero. Thanks to heightened whale activity, Litecoin (LTC) has been witnessing notable bullish momentum that saw it breach the psychological threshold of $80.00, with the $90.00 price level in sight. By eliminating the urge for intermediaries, Borroe Finance (ROE) is emerging as a perfect Akash and Monero contender that is changing the way revenue financing is done in the Web3 sector. Borroe Finance propels Web3 user experience Having perfected the art of leveraging the power of blockchain technology, Borroe Finance has shown its commitment to making the crowdfunding process in Web3 efficient, secure, and transparent. As a result, Borroe Finance is continuously showcasing its prowess as one of the promising new DeFi projects meant to take the Web3 industry to the next level. Since the Polygon blockchain powers Borroe Finance, the network is amicably tackling delays associated with traditional financing platforms through its unique AI-driven and NFT-powered marketplace that seamlessly links revenue buyers and sellers. Notably, Web3 businesses and content creators are able to raise instant working capital by using their outstanding payments as collateral, already generated as non-fungible tokens (NFTs). These NFTs are then sold on Borroe Finance's marketplace at a discount, ensuring that Web3 participants get immediate cash to fund their projects. Therefore, this unique strategy is making a strong point for Borroe Finance being one of the top DeFi coins to keep an eye on thanks to its bright future as analysts speculate major inflows. You might also like: Borroe Finance emerges as a strong contender while WIF, TON lag behind Borroe Finance's safety and reliability With Borroe Finance clearly showing its long-term objective of lowering the barrier to Web3 entry, the ecosystem deploys cutting-edge technologies that aid in the realization of this goal. Borroe Finance boosts its safety and security through artificial intelligence (AI) since it helps with the generation of authentic credit scores that determine Web3 users' loan eligibility, making it the best new crypto to invest in. Borroe Finance's smart contracts were also heavily scrutinized by leading audit firm BlockAudit, and the network was given a clean bill of health, showcasing it as a good crypto to buy. Therefore, Borroe Finance's reliability is guaranteed thanks to the incorporation of these latest technological advancements, and this is why the fear of missing out is taking center stage. For example, Borroe Finance recently successfully exited the presale stage after raising $4.5 million, as its governance token, ROE, witnessed skyrocketing adoption. With Borroe Finance's Decentralized Exchange (DEX) and CEX launch being just a stone's throw away, the sky's the limit for the network as an airdrop gets underway. You might also like: Whales buy more ADA as Borroe Finance prepares for a huge rally Litecoin aims the $90 mark, fingers crossed As Litecoin continues to be one of the top altcoins, questions are being raised about whether the crypto will get to the $90.00 zone, even though it's just a stone's throw away. According to CoinGecko data, LTC was up 10.5% in the past week to hit $87.43 at the time of writing. This uptrend has been ignited by a surge in the whale transaction count, which signals heightened investor interest and confidence. The MVRV ratio has also been increasing, and this has been another bullish indicator of what is expected in the Litecoin network. Since it was developed on the latter's protocol, Litecoin is fabled as the silver version of Bitcoin. Time will tell how it will fare in the short term.

Why am I so angry when I’m with my mother?

The question I am angry towards my mother. I can't remember when it started to become the norm for me to feel this way, but more and more I feel irritated, sceptical, let down and detached in her presence. I am in my early 30s and she is in her 60s. My mother is a brilliant person. She would do anything for me or for her family. But when I'm with her I find myself numb to her issues. On the days I'm with her (I live some distance away), I feel angry and then later I feel awful, like there must be something bad about me. Growing up I was a confidante of sorts, listening to her anxieties about her relationship with Dad and how useless he is, about colleagues at work being awful to her, about her weight, about her awful childhood. Mum and Dad are still together, and I am trying to make some sort of connection with Dad now that I'm an adult. Growing up I felt extremely protective of Mum and angry at the world for her awful treatment. As I grow older, I realise everybody has their own story and perhaps Mum's story isn't uniquely horrendous. With a little more life experience behind me, I have come to realise she is quite a negative person, as well as being depressed. Her anxious outlook on the world makes me feel heartbroken at times. At other times I feel angry about it. I sometimes feel guilty for being happy. I try to keep a healthy distance to avoid these feelings, but my world view has been so shaped by hers that I struggle to maintain it or resist the urge to seek validation from her on what's going on in my life. Philippa's answer You may be trying to psychologically separate from your mother. You have probably already separated from your father and now you are getting to know him, adult-to-adult, but I don't think you've quite reached the stage of being two equal adults with your mother yet. You know you are an adult and yet your mother still has such an influence over you that you can feel like a child when you are with her, and you may resent that. You want to be a full adult, to think and feel for yourself without your mother's influence, and the only way, so far, that your body has found to do this is by feeling angry. This is how teenagers do it. It's a rite of passage. The way our bodies usually find to separate from our parents (whom we really love), so that we can find our own tribes and beliefs, is by being angry with them. It's a healthy separation process. The advantage of your late-onset teenage rebellion is that you have the maturity to become more aware of your process as you find your own beliefs and ways of operating in the world that differ from hers. You need your anger to achieve it, but you can lessen the acting out of your anger as you become more aware of what's happening. Believe me, you are not alone in this – quite a few adults feel themselves regressing into sulky teenagers in the presence of their parents. It's because we can be so close to our parents and yet also have a need for independence. You empathise with her and so you feel her pain; you recognise that some of this pain is of her own making, so that's frustrating for you. But when you eventually experience her as a fully separate person from you, this will feel easier. You don't have to argue with her. And you don't have to tell her that clinging to the victim position is tiresome and that other people aren't so awful. And neither do you have to tell her that perhaps she indulges in a little bit of projecting her shadow side on to the world. It's good to notice things like that because you don't want to do those things. But they are her quirks and coping mechanisms – and as well as doing stuff like this, she is a brilliant person. We all have quirks we unknowingly pass on to our children and it is our children's job to feel sufficiently angry about them that they can separate themselves from us. The way she has shared her issues with you over the years may have made you feel you had to look after her, rather than it being the other way around. This role burdened you with her emotional baggage. You may have enjoyed some aspects of being her confidante, but it's not surprising if you also feel resentful at having played that role too. Yes, your sense of yourself is still partly tied to her approval, even though you recognise your need for independence and emotional boundaries. You feel this. You don't want to feel it. When you have an inconvenient feeling, don't be that feeling, but just observe it. When you talk to yourself, replace "I want her approval" to "I notice I'm wanting her approval." It's a very small change, but it can make a difference. Feeling anger at parents is part of being a child, even when the child is an adult. It is a process: be kind to yourself as you go through it. Every week Philippa Perry addresses a personal problem sent in by a reader. If you would like advice from Philippa, please send your problem to

lifestyle

Why am I so angry when I’m with my mother?. The question I am angry towards my mother. I can't remember when it started to become the norm for me to feel this way, but more and more I feel irritated, sceptical, let down and detached in her presence. I am in my early 30s and she is in her 60s. My mother is a brilliant person. She would do anything for me or for her family. But when I'm with her I find myself numb to her issues. On the days I'm with her (I live some distance away), I feel angry and then later I feel awful, like there must be something bad about me. Growing up I was a confidante of sorts, listening to her anxieties about her relationship with Dad and how useless he is, about colleagues at work being awful to her, about her weight, about her awful childhood. Mum and Dad are still together, and I am trying to make some sort of connection with Dad now that I'm an adult. Growing up I felt extremely protective of Mum and angry at the world for her awful treatment. As I grow older, I realise everybody has their own story and perhaps Mum's story isn't uniquely horrendous. With a little more life experience behind me, I have come to realise she is quite a negative person, as well as being depressed. Her anxious outlook on the world makes me feel heartbroken at times. At other times I feel angry about it. I sometimes feel guilty for being happy. I try to keep a healthy distance to avoid these feelings, but my world view has been so shaped by hers that I struggle to maintain it or resist the urge to seek validation from her on what's going on in my life. Philippa's answer You may be trying to psychologically separate from your mother. You have probably already separated from your father and now you are getting to know him, adult-to-adult, but I don't think you've quite reached the stage of being two equal adults with your mother yet. You know you are an adult and yet your mother still has such an influence over you that you can feel like a child when you are with her, and you may resent that. You want to be a full adult, to think and feel for yourself without your mother's influence, and the only way, so far, that your body has found to do this is by feeling angry. This is how teenagers do it. It's a rite of passage. The way our bodies usually find to separate from our parents (whom we really love), so that we can find our own tribes and beliefs, is by being angry with them. It's a healthy separation process. The advantage of your late-onset teenage rebellion is that you have the maturity to become more aware of your process as you find your own beliefs and ways of operating in the world that differ from hers. You need your anger to achieve it, but you can lessen the acting out of your anger as you become more aware of what's happening. Believe me, you are not alone in this – quite a few adults feel themselves regressing into sulky teenagers in the presence of their parents. It's because we can be so close to our parents and yet also have a need for independence. You empathise with her and so you feel her pain; you recognise that some of this pain is of her own making, so that's frustrating for you. But when you eventually experience her as a fully separate person from you, this will feel easier. You don't have to argue with her. And you don't have to tell her that clinging to the victim position is tiresome and that other people aren't so awful. And neither do you have to tell her that perhaps she indulges in a little bit of projecting her shadow side on to the world. It's good to notice things like that because you don't want to do those things. But they are her quirks and coping mechanisms – and as well as doing stuff like this, she is a brilliant person. We all have quirks we unknowingly pass on to our children and it is our children's job to feel sufficiently angry about them that they can separate themselves from us. The way she has shared her issues with you over the years may have made you feel you had to look after her, rather than it being the other way around. This role burdened you with her emotional baggage. You may have enjoyed some aspects of being her confidante, but it's not surprising if you also feel resentful at having played that role too. Yes, your sense of yourself is still partly tied to her approval, even though you recognise your need for independence and emotional boundaries. You feel this. You don't want to feel it. When you have an inconvenient feeling, don't be that feeling, but just observe it. When you talk to yourself, replace "I want her approval" to "I notice I'm wanting her approval." It's a very small change, but it can make a difference. Feeling anger at parents is part of being a child, even when the child is an adult. It is a process: be kind to yourself as you go through it. Every week Philippa Perry addresses a personal problem sent in by a reader. If you would like advice from Philippa, please send your problem to

Chief Justice Roberts declines invitation to meet with Democratic lawmakers over Justice Alito flag incident

Justice Alito tells Congress he will not recuse himself from Jan. 6, Trump immunity cases Fox News correspondent David Spunt reports on the Supreme Court justice's letter to Congress after an upside-down flag was flying outside his home. Chief Justice John Roberts on Thursday declined an invitation to meet with Democratic senators to discuss the controversy surrounding the flags that flew outside homes owned by Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito. In a letter on Thursday, Roberts penned his response to Democratic senators, writing that he "respectfully declines" their invitation to meet to discuss ethics concerns surrounding Alito flying of an upside-down American flag outside his Virginia home, and an "Appeal to Heaven" flag at his New Jersey vacation home. "I must respectfully decline your request for a meeting," Robert wrote in his response to Senate Judiciary Chairman Dick Durbin, D-Ill., and the Judiciary Committee. "As noted in my letter to Chairman Durbin last April, apart from ceremonial events, only on rare occasions in our Nation's history has a sitting Chief Justice met with legislators, even in a public setting (such as a Committee hearing) with members of both major political parties present," he said. SUPREME COURT JUSTICE ALITO ADDRESSES FLAG INCIDENTS, SAY HE WON'T RECUSE HIMSELF IN TRUMP, JAN. 6 CASES Chief Justice John Roberts "respectfully declined" to meet with senate Democrats in a letter on Thursday. (Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images) Roberts said his attendance at a meeting with Senate Democrats was "inadvisable" and underscores the importance of separation of power between the Supreme Court and the legislative branch. "Separation of powers concerns and the importance of preserving judicial independence counsel against such appearances," he wrote. "Moreover, the format proposed — a meeting with leaders of only one party who have expressed an interest in matters currently pending before the Court — simply underscores that participating in such a meeting would be inadvisable." READ ROBERTS' LETTER: Robert's response came a day after Alito said he won't recuse himself from former President Trump's immunity case or other cases relating to the 2020 presidential election or the Jan. 6 Capitol protests because of the flags, which are like those carried by rioters. "Flying an upside-down American flag — a symbol of the so-called 'Stop the Steal' movement — clearly creates the appearance of bias," said Durbin in a statement. "Justice Alito should recuse himself immediately from cases related to the 2020 election and the January 6th insurrection, including the question of the former President's immunity in U.S. v. Donald Trump, which the Supreme Court is currently considering," he argued. Dick Durbin requested a meeting with Chief Justice John Roberts to ensure that Justice Samuel Alito recuses himself from election related cases. (Getty Images) In Alito's response, he wrote that the two incidents "do not meet the conditions for recusal." He said of the Virginia incident, "I had nothing whatsoever to do with the flying of that flag." "I was not even aware of the upside-down flag until it was called to my attention," Alito continued. "As soon as I saw it, I asked my wife to take it down, but for several days, she refused." CONSERVATIVES SCOFF AT ATTEMPT TO TAKE COLONIAL-ERA FLAG AND CONNECT JUSTICE ALITO TO 'MAGA BATTLE FLAG' Alito said, "My wife and I own our Virginia home jointly" and she "therefore has the legal right to use the property as she sees fit, and there were no additional steps that I could have taken to have the flag taken down more promptly." READ ALITO'S LETTER – APP USERS, CLICK HERE: Alito wrote in his letter that his wife was "greatly distressed at the time due, in large part, to a very nasty neighborhood dispute in which I had no involvement." He told the lawmakers, "I am confident that a reasonable person who is not motivated by political or ideological considerations or a desire to affect the outcome of Supreme Court cases would conclude that the events recounted above do not meet the applicable standard for recusal" and "I am therefore required to reject your request." Liberal media and Democratic Party leaders have used the classic "Appeal to Heaven" colonial-era flag to link Supreme Court Justice Alito to Jan. 6 rioters. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite, File) Alito also said he had "no involvement in the decision" to fly a flag "bearing the legend 'An Appeal to Heaven' that flew in the backyard of our vacation home in the summer of 2023." "My wife is fond of flying flags. I am not. My wife was solely responsible for having flagpoles put up at our residence and our vacation home and has flown a wide variety of flags over the years," said the Supreme Court justice. Alito said he was not familiar with the "Appeal to Heaven" flag when his wife flew it and that "she may have mentioned that it dates back to the American Revolution, and I assumed she was flying it to express a religious and patriotic message." CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP "She did not fly it to associate herself with that or any other group, and the use of an old historical flag by a new group does not necessarily drain that flag of all other meanings," Alito concluded. Fox News Digital has reached out to Sen. Durbin for comment. Fox News Digital's Greg Norman and Shannon Bream contributed to this report. Sarah Rumpf-Whitten is a breaking news writer for Fox News Digital and Fox Business.

politics

Chief Justice Roberts declines invitation to meet with Democratic lawmakers over Justice Alito flag incident. Justice Alito tells Congress he will not recuse himself from Jan. 6, Trump immunity cases Fox News correspondent David Spunt reports on the Supreme Court justice's letter to Congress after an upside-down flag was flying outside his home. Chief Justice John Roberts on Thursday declined an invitation to meet with Democratic senators to discuss the controversy surrounding the flags that flew outside homes owned by Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito. In a letter on Thursday, Roberts penned his response to Democratic senators, writing that he "respectfully declines" their invitation to meet to discuss ethics concerns surrounding Alito flying of an upside-down American flag outside his Virginia home, and an "Appeal to Heaven" flag at his New Jersey vacation home. "I must respectfully decline your request for a meeting," Robert wrote in his response to Senate Judiciary Chairman Dick Durbin, D-Ill., and the Judiciary Committee. "As noted in my letter to Chairman Durbin last April, apart from ceremonial events, only on rare occasions in our Nation's history has a sitting Chief Justice met with legislators, even in a public setting (such as a Committee hearing) with members of both major political parties present," he said. SUPREME COURT JUSTICE ALITO ADDRESSES FLAG INCIDENTS, SAY HE WON'T RECUSE HIMSELF IN TRUMP, JAN. 6 CASES Chief Justice John Roberts "respectfully declined" to meet with senate Democrats in a letter on Thursday. (Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images) Roberts said his attendance at a meeting with Senate Democrats was "inadvisable" and underscores the importance of separation of power between the Supreme Court and the legislative branch. "Separation of powers concerns and the importance of preserving judicial independence counsel against such appearances," he wrote. "Moreover, the format proposed — a meeting with leaders of only one party who have expressed an interest in matters currently pending before the Court — simply underscores that participating in such a meeting would be inadvisable." READ ROBERTS' LETTER: Robert's response came a day after Alito said he won't recuse himself from former President Trump's immunity case or other cases relating to the 2020 presidential election or the Jan. 6 Capitol protests because of the flags, which are like those carried by rioters. "Flying an upside-down American flag — a symbol of the so-called 'Stop the Steal' movement — clearly creates the appearance of bias," said Durbin in a statement. "Justice Alito should recuse himself immediately from cases related to the 2020 election and the January 6th insurrection, including the question of the former President's immunity in U.S. v. Donald Trump, which the Supreme Court is currently considering," he argued. Dick Durbin requested a meeting with Chief Justice John Roberts to ensure that Justice Samuel Alito recuses himself from election related cases. (Getty Images) In Alito's response, he wrote that the two incidents "do not meet the conditions for recusal." He said of the Virginia incident, "I had nothing whatsoever to do with the flying of that flag." "I was not even aware of the upside-down flag until it was called to my attention," Alito continued. "As soon as I saw it, I asked my wife to take it down, but for several days, she refused." CONSERVATIVES SCOFF AT ATTEMPT TO TAKE COLONIAL-ERA FLAG AND CONNECT JUSTICE ALITO TO 'MAGA BATTLE FLAG' Alito said, "My wife and I own our Virginia home jointly" and she "therefore has the legal right to use the property as she sees fit, and there were no additional steps that I could have taken to have the flag taken down more promptly." READ ALITO'S LETTER – APP USERS, CLICK HERE: Alito wrote in his letter that his wife was "greatly distressed at the time due, in large part, to a very nasty neighborhood dispute in which I had no involvement." He told the lawmakers, "I am confident that a reasonable person who is not motivated by political or ideological considerations or a desire to affect the outcome of Supreme Court cases would conclude that the events recounted above do not meet the applicable standard for recusal" and "I am therefore required to reject your request." Liberal media and Democratic Party leaders have used the classic "Appeal to Heaven" colonial-era flag to link Supreme Court Justice Alito to Jan. 6 rioters. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite, File) Alito also said he had "no involvement in the decision" to fly a flag "bearing the legend 'An Appeal to Heaven' that flew in the backyard of our vacation home in the summer of 2023." "My wife is fond of flying flags. I am not. My wife was solely responsible for having flagpoles put up at our residence and our vacation home and has flown a wide variety of flags over the years," said the Supreme Court justice. Alito said he was not familiar with the "Appeal to Heaven" flag when his wife flew it and that "she may have mentioned that it dates back to the American Revolution, and I assumed she was flying it to express a religious and patriotic message." CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP "She did not fly it to associate herself with that or any other group, and the use of an old historical flag by a new group does not necessarily drain that flag of all other meanings," Alito concluded. Fox News Digital has reached out to Sen. Durbin for comment. Fox News Digital's Greg Norman and Shannon Bream contributed to this report. Sarah Rumpf-Whitten is a breaking news writer for Fox News Digital and Fox Business.

Joy Drop: In celebration of Ramadan and all things colourful

CBC Sports Senior Contributor Shireen Ahmed's weekly roundup of the things that struck her from the week that was. Posted: Mar 15, 2024 11:31 AM EDT | Last Updated: 6 minutes ago People pray before breaking their fast during the Muslim's holy fasting month of Ramadan in Karachi, Pakistan. (Associated Press) Hello, friends! What an incredibly colourful week! And that's where I begin this week's Joy Drop. Powerplay Plum will soon be in boxes and art kits all over Canada. I spent the past week in Spain at a conference with 17 sports scholars with the Wenner-Gren Foundation. It was really empowering and incredible to meet academics from all over the world who are dedicated to the analysis and examination of sports connected to anthropology. These are people whose expertise I teach or go to for context for issues in sport. as the 163rd <a href=" symposium (aka anthro camp) comes to a close, i'm just in awe of the beautiful and kind collective we were able to bring together<br><br>can't wait to see your faces again during conference season! catch us at <a href=" <a href=" &amp; <a href=" <a href=" &mdash; @tracie_canada Learning is something that excites me and the opportunity to enjoy a new place with brilliant minds is a recipe for joy. Another incredible recipe is from Chocolateria San Gines. This store opened in 1894 and is in the heart of Madrid. I stepped away from the walking tour we were on for a few moments in order to grab an order of churros with chocolate. I shared these delicious treats with the group and walked around the city. What is better than something deep fried and covered in chocolate? Shireen Ahmed with chocolate treats in Madrid. (Dr. Constancio Arnaldo) The night before I left, I got a chance to attend a Champions League match with my dear friends, Drs. Amira Rose Davis and Adia Benton. We went to watch Atletico Madrid play Inter Milan FC at Metropolitano Stadium. It was the second leg of their series to advance to the quarterfinals of this year's tournament. It was incredible to be woven into a crowd of more than 70,000 people. I have always dreamed of attending a Champions League event. And the timing was right. Ramadan Mubarak, everybody! Elmo loves you! ❤️ &mdash; Lastly, another huge part of joy for me is the month of Ramadan. I was among friends but overseas when it began and I'm happy to be home now. My heart is always on people who are suffering and it's very difficult to celebrate something when there is sadness and struggle in the world. That lends itself to leaning into community and highlighting the need for charity and other good works. Ramadan is not only about abstaining from food, it's also about mentally and spiritually challenging yourself. Observing Muslims don't eat from sunrise until sundown (except for those with medical or other exemptions) but it isn't always joyful. Sometimes it's not graceful and I get cranky. I get very hangry some days. But discipline and commitment are also two things that help a lot. And also taking that first sip of water or a bite of a date, after not having anything for more than 12 hours, reminds us how to be grateful and appreciate all we have. Hope you have a colourful and tasty weekend! Shireen Ahmed is a multi-platform sports journalist, a TEDx speaker, mentor, and an award-winning sports activist who focuses on the intersections of racism and misogyny in sports. She is an industry expert on Muslim women in sports, and her academic research and contributions have been widely published. She is co-creator and co-host of the "Burn It All Down" feminist sports podcast team. In addition to being a seasoned investigative reporter, her commentary is featured by media outlets in Canada, the USA, Europe and Australia. She holds an MA in Media Production from Toronto Metropolitan University where she now teaches Sports Journalism and Sports Media. You can find Shireen tweeting or drinking coffee, or tweeting about drinking coffee. She lives with her four children and her cat.

sports

Joy Drop: In celebration of Ramadan and all things colourful. CBC Sports Senior Contributor Shireen Ahmed's weekly roundup of the things that struck her from the week that was. Posted: Mar 15, 2024 11:31 AM EDT | Last Updated: 6 minutes ago People pray before breaking their fast during the Muslim's holy fasting month of Ramadan in Karachi, Pakistan. (Associated Press) Hello, friends! What an incredibly colourful week! And that's where I begin this week's Joy Drop. Powerplay Plum will soon be in boxes and art kits all over Canada. I spent the past week in Spain at a conference with 17 sports scholars with the Wenner-Gren Foundation. It was really empowering and incredible to meet academics from all over the world who are dedicated to the analysis and examination of sports connected to anthropology. These are people whose expertise I teach or go to for context for issues in sport. as the 163rd <a href=" symposium (aka anthro camp) comes to a close, i'm just in awe of the beautiful and kind collective we were able to bring together<br><br>can't wait to see your faces again during conference season! catch us at <a href=" <a href=" &amp; <a href=" <a href=" &mdash; @tracie_canada Learning is something that excites me and the opportunity to enjoy a new place with brilliant minds is a recipe for joy. Another incredible recipe is from Chocolateria San Gines. This store opened in 1894 and is in the heart of Madrid. I stepped away from the walking tour we were on for a few moments in order to grab an order of churros with chocolate. I shared these delicious treats with the group and walked around the city. What is better than something deep fried and covered in chocolate? Shireen Ahmed with chocolate treats in Madrid. (Dr. Constancio Arnaldo) The night before I left, I got a chance to attend a Champions League match with my dear friends, Drs. Amira Rose Davis and Adia Benton. We went to watch Atletico Madrid play Inter Milan FC at Metropolitano Stadium. It was the second leg of their series to advance to the quarterfinals of this year's tournament. It was incredible to be woven into a crowd of more than 70,000 people. I have always dreamed of attending a Champions League event. And the timing was right. Ramadan Mubarak, everybody! Elmo loves you! ❤️ &mdash; Lastly, another huge part of joy for me is the month of Ramadan. I was among friends but overseas when it began and I'm happy to be home now. My heart is always on people who are suffering and it's very difficult to celebrate something when there is sadness and struggle in the world. That lends itself to leaning into community and highlighting the need for charity and other good works. Ramadan is not only about abstaining from food, it's also about mentally and spiritually challenging yourself. Observing Muslims don't eat from sunrise until sundown (except for those with medical or other exemptions) but it isn't always joyful. Sometimes it's not graceful and I get cranky. I get very hangry some days. But discipline and commitment are also two things that help a lot. And also taking that first sip of water or a bite of a date, after not having anything for more than 12 hours, reminds us how to be grateful and appreciate all we have. Hope you have a colourful and tasty weekend! Shireen Ahmed is a multi-platform sports journalist, a TEDx speaker, mentor, and an award-winning sports activist who focuses on the intersections of racism and misogyny in sports. She is an industry expert on Muslim women in sports, and her academic research and contributions have been widely published. She is co-creator and co-host of the "Burn It All Down" feminist sports podcast team. In addition to being a seasoned investigative reporter, her commentary is featured by media outlets in Canada, the USA, Europe and Australia. She holds an MA in Media Production from Toronto Metropolitan University where she now teaches Sports Journalism and Sports Media. You can find Shireen tweeting or drinking coffee, or tweeting about drinking coffee. She lives with her four children and her cat.

New Boeing whistleblower claims released as CEO prepares to give testimony

Claims about worrying practices at Boeing have been released just hours before CEO Dave Calhoun is due to give testimony in front of the Senate Subcommittee on Investigations in Washington DC to answer questions on the company’s “broken safety culture”. According to ABC News , Senator Richard Blumenthal, who serves as the Chairman of the Subcommittee on Investigations, revealed details of the new whistleblower claims on June 18, 2024, in a memo from his office. Sam Mohawk, a Quality Assurance Inspector for Boeing in Renton, alleges that the company is cutting corners by losing track of parts that have been labeled as “non-conforming” or inadequate, according to Senator Blumenthal. Some parts get a second lease of life because they can be mended or were labeled incorrectly, but often they should be disposed of, according to Senator Blumenthal. Mohawk claims that the parts sometimes end up being used in newly built aircraft, according to Senator Blumenthal. “He said that he has been told by his supervisors to conceal this evidence from the FAA, and that he is being retaliated against as well,” Blumenthal said in a statement seen by media agencies. According to Bloomberg , the memo additionally said that Mohawk claimed as many as 400 faulty 737 MAX aircraft parts may have been lost and deleted from a cataloguing system, some of which may have been installed in new planes. Boeing reportedly only caught wind of the new allegations late on June 17, 2024. “We continuously encourage employees to report all concerns as our priority is to ensure the safety of our airplanes and the flying public,” a Boeing spokesperson said in a statement to the media. Calhoun is expected to be grilled by senators over safety problems at the company, quality control and the treatment of whistleblowers when he appears at the subcommittee on June 18, 2024. Boeing are still searching for a new CEO to replace Calhoun after a number of potential candidates ruled themselves out of being considered. AeroTime has contacted Boeing for further comment on Sam Mohawk’s claims. Boeing CEO search ongoing as talks with Spirit boss on hold and GE head declines Aircraft by Ian Molyneaux 2024-06-18 The post New Boeing whistleblower claims released as CEO prepares to give testimony appeared first on AeroTime .

aerospace

New Boeing whistleblower claims released as CEO prepares to give testimony. Claims about worrying practices at Boeing have been released just hours before CEO Dave Calhoun is due to give testimony in front of the Senate Subcommittee on Investigations in Washington DC to answer questions on the company’s “broken safety culture”. According to ABC News , Senator Richard Blumenthal, who serves as the Chairman of the Subcommittee on Investigations, revealed details of the new whistleblower claims on June 18, 2024, in a memo from his office. Sam Mohawk, a Quality Assurance Inspector for Boeing in Renton, alleges that the company is cutting corners by losing track of parts that have been labeled as “non-conforming” or inadequate, according to Senator Blumenthal. Some parts get a second lease of life because they can be mended or were labeled incorrectly, but often they should be disposed of, according to Senator Blumenthal. Mohawk claims that the parts sometimes end up being used in newly built aircraft, according to Senator Blumenthal. “He said that he has been told by his supervisors to conceal this evidence from the FAA, and that he is being retaliated against as well,” Blumenthal said in a statement seen by media agencies. According to Bloomberg , the memo additionally said that Mohawk claimed as many as 400 faulty 737 MAX aircraft parts may have been lost and deleted from a cataloguing system, some of which may have been installed in new planes. Boeing reportedly only caught wind of the new allegations late on June 17, 2024. “We continuously encourage employees to report all concerns as our priority is to ensure the safety of our airplanes and the flying public,” a Boeing spokesperson said in a statement to the media. Calhoun is expected to be grilled by senators over safety problems at the company, quality control and the treatment of whistleblowers when he appears at the subcommittee on June 18, 2024. Boeing are still searching for a new CEO to replace Calhoun after a number of potential candidates ruled themselves out of being considered. AeroTime has contacted Boeing for further comment on Sam Mohawk’s claims. Boeing CEO search ongoing as talks with Spirit boss on hold and GE head declines Aircraft by Ian Molyneaux 2024-06-18 The post New Boeing whistleblower claims released as CEO prepares to give testimony appeared first on AeroTime .

Jail for 'UK's biggest benefit fraudsters' who stole &#163;53m using fake claims

Wales, the gang made thousands of false universal credit claims using real people or hijacked identities. Gyunesh Ali, 34, committed fraud by false representation "on an industrial scale" during the scheme which also involved fellow Bulgarians Galina Nikolova, 39, Stoyan Stoyanov, 28, Tsvetka Todorova, 53, and Patritsia Paneva, 27, Judge David Aaronberg KC said. Tsvetka Todorova. Pic: CPS At Wood Green Crown Court in London, they were sentenced to a total of 25 years and five months in prison after pleading guilty to multiple fraud and money laundering-related offences. They were also all warned they are liable to be deported after serving their sentences and the judge acknowledged "an enormous amount of work" was carried out by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) to prosecute the gang. Bundles of cash stuffed in shopping bags and suitcases were found during a raid on their properties, as well as a luxury car and designer watches, jackets and glasses, the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) said. One gang member was also filmed The gang supported their false benefits claims with an array of forged documents, including tenancy agreements, payslips and letters from landlords, employers, schools and GPs. Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player If the claims were rejected by the DWP, the gang would try again until they were accepted. Investigators discovered three "benefit factories" in London, where they claimed to help people obtain national insurance numbers using "claim packs" of forged and false documents, the CPS said. Patritsia Paneva. Pic: CPS The court heard they also gave claimants tips on how to fool the system. After applicants made the claims, they left them in the gang's hands and they then laundered the money through several bank accounts. Ali and Nikolova were the main people behind the fraud. The judge said the maximum sentence he could give them under current laws is 10 years but added he would give them credit for their guilty pleas, time served and other mitigating factors. Footage shows aftermath of London shooting Another Conservative defects to Labour Ali, who had pleaded guilty to conspiracy to make false representations, possession of articles for use in fraud and possessing criminal property, was sentenced to seven years and six months in prison. The judge told him: "You played a leading role in a scheme that was complex and sophisticated in nature. Your offending lasted for some four-and-a-half years and were involved in a vast number of false declarations." He had fled to Bulgaria after his arrest but was extradited back to the UK in February 2023. Keep up with all the latest news from the UK and around the world by following Sky News Nikolova, who was found to have caused £25m in losses for taxpayers, was given eight years in prison. Todorova was given a three-year sentence but she was due to be released on licence on Thursday because of time already served in custody and under house arrest. In court, it emerged Todorova and Nikolova had tried, unsuccessfully, to flee the UK after their arrests in May 2021. Paneva was 19 years old and was paid £80 a day when she was recruited by the gang's leaders for the scheme. She was jailed for three years and two months.

uk

Jail for 'UK's biggest benefit fraudsters' who stole &#163;53m using fake claims. Wales, the gang made thousands of false universal credit claims using real people or hijacked identities. Gyunesh Ali, 34, committed fraud by false representation "on an industrial scale" during the scheme which also involved fellow Bulgarians Galina Nikolova, 39, Stoyan Stoyanov, 28, Tsvetka Todorova, 53, and Patritsia Paneva, 27, Judge David Aaronberg KC said. Tsvetka Todorova. Pic: CPS At Wood Green Crown Court in London, they were sentenced to a total of 25 years and five months in prison after pleading guilty to multiple fraud and money laundering-related offences. They were also all warned they are liable to be deported after serving their sentences and the judge acknowledged "an enormous amount of work" was carried out by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) to prosecute the gang. Bundles of cash stuffed in shopping bags and suitcases were found during a raid on their properties, as well as a luxury car and designer watches, jackets and glasses, the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) said. One gang member was also filmed The gang supported their false benefits claims with an array of forged documents, including tenancy agreements, payslips and letters from landlords, employers, schools and GPs. Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player If the claims were rejected by the DWP, the gang would try again until they were accepted. Investigators discovered three "benefit factories" in London, where they claimed to help people obtain national insurance numbers using "claim packs" of forged and false documents, the CPS said. Patritsia Paneva. Pic: CPS The court heard they also gave claimants tips on how to fool the system. After applicants made the claims, they left them in the gang's hands and they then laundered the money through several bank accounts. Ali and Nikolova were the main people behind the fraud. The judge said the maximum sentence he could give them under current laws is 10 years but added he would give them credit for their guilty pleas, time served and other mitigating factors. Footage shows aftermath of London shooting Another Conservative defects to Labour Ali, who had pleaded guilty to conspiracy to make false representations, possession of articles for use in fraud and possessing criminal property, was sentenced to seven years and six months in prison. The judge told him: "You played a leading role in a scheme that was complex and sophisticated in nature. Your offending lasted for some four-and-a-half years and were involved in a vast number of false declarations." He had fled to Bulgaria after his arrest but was extradited back to the UK in February 2023. Keep up with all the latest news from the UK and around the world by following Sky News Nikolova, who was found to have caused £25m in losses for taxpayers, was given eight years in prison. Todorova was given a three-year sentence but she was due to be released on licence on Thursday because of time already served in custody and under house arrest. In court, it emerged Todorova and Nikolova had tried, unsuccessfully, to flee the UK after their arrests in May 2021. Paneva was 19 years old and was paid £80 a day when she was recruited by the gang's leaders for the scheme. She was jailed for three years and two months.

Garland: Supreme Court's ruling on obstruction charge used in Jan. 6 prosecutions 'limits an important federal statute'

Garland: Supreme Court's ruling on obstruction charge used in Jan. 6 prosecutions 'limits an important federal statute'

politics

Garland: Supreme Court's ruling on obstruction charge used in Jan. 6 prosecutions 'limits an important federal statute'. Garland: Supreme Court's ruling on obstruction charge used in Jan. 6 prosecutions 'limits an important federal statute'

FinVolution Group Wins Asian Banker's Award for "Best Consumer Lending Technology Implementation in China"

June 24, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- FinVolution Group, a leading fintech company, has been awarded the "Best Consumer Lending Technology Implementation in China " alongside CITIC Consumer Finance at the Asian Banker China Awards 2024. This award acknowledges FinVolution's dedication to providing innovative technology to financial institution partners. The Asian Banker Awards are known for their rigorous and transparent evaluation process within China's financial industry. This year, the awards received over 400 entries from more than 160 institutions across the financial and fintech sectors. The award highlighted FinVolution's efforts in enhancing the resources and business scale of its partner, CITIC Consumer Finance, through improved financial risk control and technological innovation. In recent years, FinVolution has closely collaborated with financial institutions to enhance microfinance and consumer finance through advanced technology and services. By the first quarter of 2024, FinVolution had served 102 licensed financial institutions, including banks, consumer finance companies, and trusts. FinVolution's partnership with CITIC Consumer Finance has improved digitalization and efficiency in CITIC's customer acquisition, risk management, and fraud prevention. This collaboration has led to a significant expansion of resources and business scale, as well as improved risk indicators. Tiezheng Li, CEO of FinVolution Group, said, "We are pleased to receive this award with CITIC Consumer Finance. FinVolution is committed to developing technology that connects financial institutions with underserved populations and supports our partners in enhancing their digital capabilities with secure and efficient financial technology services." Since its founding in 2007, FinVolution has continually innovated to deliver comprehensive fintech solutions. Today, it stands as a trusted partner to over 100 financial institutions and millions of users, driving forward the future of finance through technology. FinVolution Group is a leading fintech company that connects millions of consumers as well as small-sized enterprises with financial institutions. Founded in 2007 and listed on the New York Stock Exchange(NYSE:

business

FinVolution Group Wins Asian Banker's Award for "Best Consumer Lending Technology Implementation in China". June 24, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- FinVolution Group, a leading fintech company, has been awarded the "Best Consumer Lending Technology Implementation in China " alongside CITIC Consumer Finance at the Asian Banker China Awards 2024. This award acknowledges FinVolution's dedication to providing innovative technology to financial institution partners. The Asian Banker Awards are known for their rigorous and transparent evaluation process within China's financial industry. This year, the awards received over 400 entries from more than 160 institutions across the financial and fintech sectors. The award highlighted FinVolution's efforts in enhancing the resources and business scale of its partner, CITIC Consumer Finance, through improved financial risk control and technological innovation. In recent years, FinVolution has closely collaborated with financial institutions to enhance microfinance and consumer finance through advanced technology and services. By the first quarter of 2024, FinVolution had served 102 licensed financial institutions, including banks, consumer finance companies, and trusts. FinVolution's partnership with CITIC Consumer Finance has improved digitalization and efficiency in CITIC's customer acquisition, risk management, and fraud prevention. This collaboration has led to a significant expansion of resources and business scale, as well as improved risk indicators. Tiezheng Li, CEO of FinVolution Group, said, "We are pleased to receive this award with CITIC Consumer Finance. FinVolution is committed to developing technology that connects financial institutions with underserved populations and supports our partners in enhancing their digital capabilities with secure and efficient financial technology services." Since its founding in 2007, FinVolution has continually innovated to deliver comprehensive fintech solutions. Today, it stands as a trusted partner to over 100 financial institutions and millions of users, driving forward the future of finance through technology. FinVolution Group is a leading fintech company that connects millions of consumers as well as small-sized enterprises with financial institutions. Founded in 2007 and listed on the New York Stock Exchange(NYSE:

Friend.tech collaborates with Conduit, launches Friendchain

Friend.tech, a key player in the web3 social networking sphere, has disclosed plans to collaborate with Conduit, a notable crypto infrastructure service provider, to create its native blockchain. On June 8, Friend.tech unveiled plans for Friendchain, a proprietary blockchain that will utilize the FRIEND token as a fully transferable gas token. We're pleased to be working with @conduitxyz on Friendchain, our own blockchain that uses $FRIEND as a fully transferable gas token. We'll keep you up-to-date with all the info you need over the coming months as we build out this exciting new chapter. pic.twitter.com/HRa26vfFEX — friend.tech (@friendtech) In May, Racer mentioned the possibility of leaving the Coinbase-backed Ethereum layer-2 network Base due to feelings of alienation from the ecosystem. He even offered a $200,000 reward for any developer who could successfully migrate the platform from Base without major disruptions. However, the recent announcement has elicited mixed reactions within the community. Some analysts view it as a natural progression, suggesting that successful decentralized applications will eventually become independent chains. Others caution that this move might hinder growth. A prominent FriendTech advocate, known as The Giver on social media platform X, described the decision as "short-term bullish and mid-term bearish" for the crypto venture. Haven't added (and haven't sold) but as a @friendtech stalwart (see pinned post) view this as short term bullish and mid term bearish IMO friend tech should be trying to capture the max # of users possible first to create the sturdiest moat possible, which is most easily done… — The Giver (@lazyvillager1) Friend.tech moved almost 50% of its fees to Coinbase as TVL slashed by half Since its launch in August 2023, Friend.tech has become one of the leading SocialFi decentralized applications (dApps) on the Base network. The platform's model allows users to purchase keys linked to their social media accounts, facilitating direct interactions with influencers. Key purchases not only grant chat access but also provide financial benefits. Users receive a share of the transaction fees and reward points that can lead to token airdrops. Following the launch of its second version and a token airdrop campaign last month, Friend.tech has solidified its position at the forefront of the SocialFi movement. Despite a recent 20% decrease in total value locked, the platform still leads the SocialFi trend with nearly $10 million in TVL as of June 8, according to data from

crypto

Friend.tech collaborates with Conduit, launches Friendchain. Friend.tech, a key player in the web3 social networking sphere, has disclosed plans to collaborate with Conduit, a notable crypto infrastructure service provider, to create its native blockchain. On June 8, Friend.tech unveiled plans for Friendchain, a proprietary blockchain that will utilize the FRIEND token as a fully transferable gas token. We're pleased to be working with @conduitxyz on Friendchain, our own blockchain that uses $FRIEND as a fully transferable gas token. We'll keep you up-to-date with all the info you need over the coming months as we build out this exciting new chapter. pic.twitter.com/HRa26vfFEX — friend.tech (@friendtech) In May, Racer mentioned the possibility of leaving the Coinbase-backed Ethereum layer-2 network Base due to feelings of alienation from the ecosystem. He even offered a $200,000 reward for any developer who could successfully migrate the platform from Base without major disruptions. However, the recent announcement has elicited mixed reactions within the community. Some analysts view it as a natural progression, suggesting that successful decentralized applications will eventually become independent chains. Others caution that this move might hinder growth. A prominent FriendTech advocate, known as The Giver on social media platform X, described the decision as "short-term bullish and mid-term bearish" for the crypto venture. Haven't added (and haven't sold) but as a @friendtech stalwart (see pinned post) view this as short term bullish and mid term bearish IMO friend tech should be trying to capture the max # of users possible first to create the sturdiest moat possible, which is most easily done… — The Giver (@lazyvillager1) Friend.tech moved almost 50% of its fees to Coinbase as TVL slashed by half Since its launch in August 2023, Friend.tech has become one of the leading SocialFi decentralized applications (dApps) on the Base network. The platform's model allows users to purchase keys linked to their social media accounts, facilitating direct interactions with influencers. Key purchases not only grant chat access but also provide financial benefits. Users receive a share of the transaction fees and reward points that can lead to token airdrops. Following the launch of its second version and a token airdrop campaign last month, Friend.tech has solidified its position at the forefront of the SocialFi movement. Despite a recent 20% decrease in total value locked, the platform still leads the SocialFi trend with nearly $10 million in TVL as of June 8, according to data from

REGENXBIO Announces Leadership Transition

RGNX ) today announced that Curran Simpson, Chief Operating Officer, has been appointed as President, Chief Executive Officer and a member of the Board of Directors, effective July 1, 2024. Co-Founder Kenneth T. Mills will step down as President and Chief Executive Officer following 15 years of leadership at the Company, and he is taking on an expanded role on the Board as Chairman. In connection with these changes, Board member Daniel Tassé has been appointed as REGENXBIO's Lead Independent Director, a role previously held by Jerry Karabelas, Ph.D. Dr. Karabelas and Co-Founder Allan Fox, who has served as Chairman since 2020, will remain on the Board. Mr. Simpson is a seasoned biopharmaceuticals leader with over 35 years of industry experience. As the Chief Operating Officer (COO) at REGENXBIO since January 2023, he has been directly responsible for key business functions including Research & Clinical Development, Corporate Strategy, Manufacturing & Quality, Regulatory, and Commercial Operations. Mr. Simpson joined REGENXBIO in 2015 and served as the Company's Chief Technology and Operations Officer before becoming COO. Prior to joining REGENXBIO, he was the Regional Supply Chain Head for North America and Interim Chief Operating Officer at GlaxoSmithKline (GSK). Mr. Simpson earlier served as interim CEO at Human Genome Sciences (HGS), where he led the integration of HGS into GSK. "I am honored to serve as REGENXBIO's next President and CEO," said Mr. Simpson. "I have been a part of shaping and leading our programs from preclinical to pivotal stages with Ken, and today, our AAV Therapeutics platform is well-positioned to make a meaningful impact. I look forward to our exciting next chapter as I continue to work with Ken and the rest of REGENXBIO's seasoned management team and Board to further advance our pipeline, drive the commercialization and scale of our business and deliver value for patients, shareholders and our other stakeholders." "Leading REGENXBIO since our founding in 2009 has been a privilege," said Mr. Mills. "We have built the Company into a leader in gene therapy medicines with exciting products progressing through late-stage developments. As we advance our pivotal stage clinical trials, approach commercialization and prepare for our next chapter, now is the right time to transition leadership. Curran and I have worked closely together over the last nine years, and I am confident he brings the R&D, operational, and industry expertise to build on our momentum. I am enthusiastic about the future of REGENXBIO and excited to continue partnering with Curran and working alongside the Board in my role as Chairman." "Curran has held various leadership roles since joining the Company in 2015 and consistently demonstrated strategic, commercial and operational expertise and acumen," said Mr. Fox. "The Board is confident he is the right leader to advance our strategy and oversee our next phase of meaningful value creation as we capitalize on our significant commercial opportunities. The Board and the entire Company would like to thank Ken for his tremendous contributions to REGENXBIO over the past 15 years. Ken pioneered the development of our leading AAV Therapeutics platform, enhancing the landscape of gene therapies, with programs that remain on track to meet our goals. We look forward to continuing to benefit from his deep knowledge of this field, REGENXBIO and our therapeutics pipeline." REGENXBIO MAINTAINS FINANCIAL & OPERATIONAL GUIDANCE The Company today also reiterated its financial guidance previously provided on May 8, 2024: REGENXBIO expects its balance in cash, cash equivalents and marketable securities of $380.5 million as of March 31, 2024 to fund its operations into 2026. This cash runway guidance is based on the Company's current operational plans and excludes the impact of any payments that may be received from AbbVie upon the achievement of development or commercial milestones under our ABBV-RGX-314 collaboration (including a potential, one-time $200.0 million milestone for achievement of first patient dosed in the first pivotal trial for suprachoroidal delivery for treatment of DR) and the potential monetization of a priority review voucher that may be received for RGX-121. Mr. Simpson has served as the Chief Operating Officer at REGENXBIO since January 2023. In that role, he has been leading key business functions including Research & Clinical Development, Corporate Strategy, Manufacturing & Quality, Regulatory, and Commercial Operations. Mr. Simpson joined REGENXBIO in 2015 with extensive leadership experience across biopharmaceutical operations and served as the Company's Chief Technology and Operations Officer before becoming COO. Prior to joining REGENXBIO, he was the Regional Supply Chain Head for North America and Interim Chief Operating Officer at GlaxoSmithKline (GSK). Mr. Simpson earlier served as interim CEO of Human Genome Sciences (HGS), where he led the integration of HGS into GSK, and as Senior Vice President of Operations and Vice President of Manufacturing Operations at HGS. Prior to HGS, Mr. Simpson was Director of Manufacturing Sciences at Biogen. Earlier in his career, Mr. Simpson served in an overseas assignment at Novo-Nordisk Biochem in Denmark and in various senior development and engineer roles at Genentech, working on Herceptin ® and Avastin ®, among other roles. Mr. Simpson has an M.S. in surface and colloid science from Clarkson University and a B.S. in chemical engineering and chemistry from the Clarkson College of Technology. ABOUT REGENXBIO Inc. REGENXBIO is a leading clinical-stage biotechnology company seeking to improve lives through the curative potential of gene therapy. Since its founding in 2009, REGENXBIO has pioneered the development of AAV Therapeutics, an innovative class of gene therapy medicines. REGENXBIO is advancing a pipeline of AAV Therapeutics for retinal and rare diseases, including ABBV-RGX-314 for the treatment of wet AMD and diabetic retinopathy, being developed in collaboration with AbbVie, RGX-202 for the treatment of Duchenne and RGX-121 for the treatment of MPS II. Thousands of patients have been treated with REGENXBIO's AAV Therapeutic platform, including Novartis' ZOLGENSMA for children with spinal muscular atrophy. Designed to be one-time treatments, AAV Therapeutics have the potential to change the way healthcare is delivered for millions of people. For more information, please visit This press release includes "forward-looking statements," within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. These statements express a belief, expectation or intention and are generally accompanied by words that convey projected future events or outcomes such as "believe," "may," "will," "estimate," "continue," "anticipate," "assume," "design," "intend," "expect," "could," "plan," "potential," "predict," "seek," "should," "would" or by variations of such words or by similar expressions. The forward-looking statements include statements relating to, among other things, REGENXBIO's expectations and evaluations of its leadership and management team, future operations, clinical trials, costs and cash flow. REGENXBIO has based these forward-looking statements on its current expectations and assumptions and analyses made by REGENXBIO in light of its experience and its perception of historical trends, current conditions and expected future developments, as well as other factors REGENXBIO believes are appropriate under the circumstances. However, whether actual results and developments will conform with REGENXBIO's expectations and predictions is subject to a number of risks and uncertainties, including the timing of enrollment, commencement and completion and the success of clinical trials conducted by REGENXBIO, its licensees and its partners, the timing of commencement and completion and the success of preclinical studies conducted by REGENXBIO and its development partners, the timing or likelihood of payments from AbbVie, the monetization of any priority review voucher, the timely development and launch of new products, the ability to obtain and maintain regulatory approval of product candidates, trends and challenges in the business and markets in which REGENXBIO operates, the size and growth of potential markets for product candidates and the ability to serve those markets, the rate and degree of acceptance of product candidates, and other factors, many of which are beyond the control of REGENXBIO. Refer to the "Risk Factors" and "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations" sections of REGENXBIO's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2023, and comparable "risk factors" sections of REGENXBIO's Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q and other filings, which have been filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and are available on the SEC's website at WWW.SEC.GOV. All of the forward-looking statements made in this press release are expressly qualified by the cautionary statements contained or referred to herein. The actual results or developments anticipated may not be realized or, even if substantially realized, they may not have the expected consequences to or effects on REGENXBIO or its businesses or operations. Such statements are not guarantees of future performance and actual results or developments may differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements. Readers are cautioned not to rely too heavily on the forward-looking statements contained in this press release. These forward-looking statements speak only as of the date of this press release. Except as required by law, REGENXBIO does not undertake any obligation, and specifically declines any obligation, to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

motors

REGENXBIO Announces Leadership Transition. RGNX ) today announced that Curran Simpson, Chief Operating Officer, has been appointed as President, Chief Executive Officer and a member of the Board of Directors, effective July 1, 2024. Co-Founder Kenneth T. Mills will step down as President and Chief Executive Officer following 15 years of leadership at the Company, and he is taking on an expanded role on the Board as Chairman. In connection with these changes, Board member Daniel Tassé has been appointed as REGENXBIO's Lead Independent Director, a role previously held by Jerry Karabelas, Ph.D. Dr. Karabelas and Co-Founder Allan Fox, who has served as Chairman since 2020, will remain on the Board. Mr. Simpson is a seasoned biopharmaceuticals leader with over 35 years of industry experience. As the Chief Operating Officer (COO) at REGENXBIO since January 2023, he has been directly responsible for key business functions including Research & Clinical Development, Corporate Strategy, Manufacturing & Quality, Regulatory, and Commercial Operations. Mr. Simpson joined REGENXBIO in 2015 and served as the Company's Chief Technology and Operations Officer before becoming COO. Prior to joining REGENXBIO, he was the Regional Supply Chain Head for North America and Interim Chief Operating Officer at GlaxoSmithKline (GSK). Mr. Simpson earlier served as interim CEO at Human Genome Sciences (HGS), where he led the integration of HGS into GSK. "I am honored to serve as REGENXBIO's next President and CEO," said Mr. Simpson. "I have been a part of shaping and leading our programs from preclinical to pivotal stages with Ken, and today, our AAV Therapeutics platform is well-positioned to make a meaningful impact. I look forward to our exciting next chapter as I continue to work with Ken and the rest of REGENXBIO's seasoned management team and Board to further advance our pipeline, drive the commercialization and scale of our business and deliver value for patients, shareholders and our other stakeholders." "Leading REGENXBIO since our founding in 2009 has been a privilege," said Mr. Mills. "We have built the Company into a leader in gene therapy medicines with exciting products progressing through late-stage developments. As we advance our pivotal stage clinical trials, approach commercialization and prepare for our next chapter, now is the right time to transition leadership. Curran and I have worked closely together over the last nine years, and I am confident he brings the R&D, operational, and industry expertise to build on our momentum. I am enthusiastic about the future of REGENXBIO and excited to continue partnering with Curran and working alongside the Board in my role as Chairman." "Curran has held various leadership roles since joining the Company in 2015 and consistently demonstrated strategic, commercial and operational expertise and acumen," said Mr. Fox. "The Board is confident he is the right leader to advance our strategy and oversee our next phase of meaningful value creation as we capitalize on our significant commercial opportunities. The Board and the entire Company would like to thank Ken for his tremendous contributions to REGENXBIO over the past 15 years. Ken pioneered the development of our leading AAV Therapeutics platform, enhancing the landscape of gene therapies, with programs that remain on track to meet our goals. We look forward to continuing to benefit from his deep knowledge of this field, REGENXBIO and our therapeutics pipeline." REGENXBIO MAINTAINS FINANCIAL & OPERATIONAL GUIDANCE The Company today also reiterated its financial guidance previously provided on May 8, 2024: REGENXBIO expects its balance in cash, cash equivalents and marketable securities of $380.5 million as of March 31, 2024 to fund its operations into 2026. This cash runway guidance is based on the Company's current operational plans and excludes the impact of any payments that may be received from AbbVie upon the achievement of development or commercial milestones under our ABBV-RGX-314 collaboration (including a potential, one-time $200.0 million milestone for achievement of first patient dosed in the first pivotal trial for suprachoroidal delivery for treatment of DR) and the potential monetization of a priority review voucher that may be received for RGX-121. Mr. Simpson has served as the Chief Operating Officer at REGENXBIO since January 2023. In that role, he has been leading key business functions including Research & Clinical Development, Corporate Strategy, Manufacturing & Quality, Regulatory, and Commercial Operations. Mr. Simpson joined REGENXBIO in 2015 with extensive leadership experience across biopharmaceutical operations and served as the Company's Chief Technology and Operations Officer before becoming COO. Prior to joining REGENXBIO, he was the Regional Supply Chain Head for North America and Interim Chief Operating Officer at GlaxoSmithKline (GSK). Mr. Simpson earlier served as interim CEO of Human Genome Sciences (HGS), where he led the integration of HGS into GSK, and as Senior Vice President of Operations and Vice President of Manufacturing Operations at HGS. Prior to HGS, Mr. Simpson was Director of Manufacturing Sciences at Biogen. Earlier in his career, Mr. Simpson served in an overseas assignment at Novo-Nordisk Biochem in Denmark and in various senior development and engineer roles at Genentech, working on Herceptin ® and Avastin ®, among other roles. Mr. Simpson has an M.S. in surface and colloid science from Clarkson University and a B.S. in chemical engineering and chemistry from the Clarkson College of Technology. ABOUT REGENXBIO Inc. REGENXBIO is a leading clinical-stage biotechnology company seeking to improve lives through the curative potential of gene therapy. Since its founding in 2009, REGENXBIO has pioneered the development of AAV Therapeutics, an innovative class of gene therapy medicines. REGENXBIO is advancing a pipeline of AAV Therapeutics for retinal and rare diseases, including ABBV-RGX-314 for the treatment of wet AMD and diabetic retinopathy, being developed in collaboration with AbbVie, RGX-202 for the treatment of Duchenne and RGX-121 for the treatment of MPS II. Thousands of patients have been treated with REGENXBIO's AAV Therapeutic platform, including Novartis' ZOLGENSMA for children with spinal muscular atrophy. Designed to be one-time treatments, AAV Therapeutics have the potential to change the way healthcare is delivered for millions of people. For more information, please visit This press release includes "forward-looking statements," within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. These statements express a belief, expectation or intention and are generally accompanied by words that convey projected future events or outcomes such as "believe," "may," "will," "estimate," "continue," "anticipate," "assume," "design," "intend," "expect," "could," "plan," "potential," "predict," "seek," "should," "would" or by variations of such words or by similar expressions. The forward-looking statements include statements relating to, among other things, REGENXBIO's expectations and evaluations of its leadership and management team, future operations, clinical trials, costs and cash flow. REGENXBIO has based these forward-looking statements on its current expectations and assumptions and analyses made by REGENXBIO in light of its experience and its perception of historical trends, current conditions and expected future developments, as well as other factors REGENXBIO believes are appropriate under the circumstances. However, whether actual results and developments will conform with REGENXBIO's expectations and predictions is subject to a number of risks and uncertainties, including the timing of enrollment, commencement and completion and the success of clinical trials conducted by REGENXBIO, its licensees and its partners, the timing of commencement and completion and the success of preclinical studies conducted by REGENXBIO and its development partners, the timing or likelihood of payments from AbbVie, the monetization of any priority review voucher, the timely development and launch of new products, the ability to obtain and maintain regulatory approval of product candidates, trends and challenges in the business and markets in which REGENXBIO operates, the size and growth of potential markets for product candidates and the ability to serve those markets, the rate and degree of acceptance of product candidates, and other factors, many of which are beyond the control of REGENXBIO. Refer to the "Risk Factors" and "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations" sections of REGENXBIO's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2023, and comparable "risk factors" sections of REGENXBIO's Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q and other filings, which have been filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and are available on the SEC's website at WWW.SEC.GOV. All of the forward-looking statements made in this press release are expressly qualified by the cautionary statements contained or referred to herein. The actual results or developments anticipated may not be realized or, even if substantially realized, they may not have the expected consequences to or effects on REGENXBIO or its businesses or operations. Such statements are not guarantees of future performance and actual results or developments may differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements. Readers are cautioned not to rely too heavily on the forward-looking statements contained in this press release. These forward-looking statements speak only as of the date of this press release. Except as required by law, REGENXBIO does not undertake any obligation, and specifically declines any obligation, to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

New York man confesses to kidnapping and sexual assault of 9-year-old girl in state park

Charlotte Sena kidnapping suspect was likely 'stalking' her, Nancy Grace says FOX Nation host Nancy Grace reacts to the kidnapping of Charlotte Sena who was found and now home Craig Ross Jr. has pleaded guilty to first-degree kidnapping and predatory sexual assault of a child. Ross abducted a 9-year-old girl from Moreau Lake State Park in upstate New York last September. The abduction led to a search involving over 100 people, ending with the girl being found alive in a camper Ross was staying in. A man accused of kidnapping a 9-year-old girl from a state park in upstate New York pleaded guilty to two felony counts and faces 47 years to life in prison. Craig N. Ross Jr. pleaded guilty Wednesday under a plea deal to first-degree kidnapping and predatory sexual assault of a child, according to the Saratoga County district attorney. Ross was charged in the abduction of the girl on Sept. 30 from Moreau Lake State Park, located in a rural area about 35 miles north of Albany. A search involving more than 100 people ended two days later when state police troopers and an FBI SWAT team stormed a camper Ross was staying in. Rescuers found the girl alive in a cabinet. WHO IS CRAIG ROSS? NEW YORK 'RECLUSE' ACCUSED OF HIDING KIDNAPPED 9-YEAR-OLD IN CAMPER CABINET Ross, 46, had faced additional charges of sexual abuse, assault and endangering the welfare of a child. His trial was scheduled to begin April 8. Police are seen securing the entrance to Moreau Lake State Park during a search for a missing 9-year-old girl who had been camping over the weekend with her family at the park on Oct. 2, 2023, in Gansevoort, NY. (AP Photo/Michael Hill, File) He now faces 25 years to life in prison for first-degree kidnapping and 22 years to life for predatory sexual assault against a child when he is sentenced on April 17. The sentences will be served consecutively. NEW YORK MAN CHARGED WITH CHILD RAPE AFTER POLICE RESCUE KIDNAPPED NINE-YEAR-OLD FROM HIS CABINET "With the guilty plea today of Craig N. Ross Jr., the victim and their family were able to hear the defendant admit his guilt to these heinous and despicable acts," District Attorney Karen Heggen said in a prepared release. "He will serve decades in prison before any parole consideration is available to him."

usa

New York man confesses to kidnapping and sexual assault of 9-year-old girl in state park. Charlotte Sena kidnapping suspect was likely 'stalking' her, Nancy Grace says FOX Nation host Nancy Grace reacts to the kidnapping of Charlotte Sena who was found and now home Craig Ross Jr. has pleaded guilty to first-degree kidnapping and predatory sexual assault of a child. Ross abducted a 9-year-old girl from Moreau Lake State Park in upstate New York last September. The abduction led to a search involving over 100 people, ending with the girl being found alive in a camper Ross was staying in. A man accused of kidnapping a 9-year-old girl from a state park in upstate New York pleaded guilty to two felony counts and faces 47 years to life in prison. Craig N. Ross Jr. pleaded guilty Wednesday under a plea deal to first-degree kidnapping and predatory sexual assault of a child, according to the Saratoga County district attorney. Ross was charged in the abduction of the girl on Sept. 30 from Moreau Lake State Park, located in a rural area about 35 miles north of Albany. A search involving more than 100 people ended two days later when state police troopers and an FBI SWAT team stormed a camper Ross was staying in. Rescuers found the girl alive in a cabinet. WHO IS CRAIG ROSS? NEW YORK 'RECLUSE' ACCUSED OF HIDING KIDNAPPED 9-YEAR-OLD IN CAMPER CABINET Ross, 46, had faced additional charges of sexual abuse, assault and endangering the welfare of a child. His trial was scheduled to begin April 8. Police are seen securing the entrance to Moreau Lake State Park during a search for a missing 9-year-old girl who had been camping over the weekend with her family at the park on Oct. 2, 2023, in Gansevoort, NY. (AP Photo/Michael Hill, File) He now faces 25 years to life in prison for first-degree kidnapping and 22 years to life for predatory sexual assault against a child when he is sentenced on April 17. The sentences will be served consecutively. NEW YORK MAN CHARGED WITH CHILD RAPE AFTER POLICE RESCUE KIDNAPPED NINE-YEAR-OLD FROM HIS CABINET "With the guilty plea today of Craig N. Ross Jr., the victim and their family were able to hear the defendant admit his guilt to these heinous and despicable acts," District Attorney Karen Heggen said in a prepared release. "He will serve decades in prison before any parole consideration is available to him."

Why Carlsberg has a thirst for Britvic

Anglo American, the mining giant; International Distribution Services, the parent of Royal Mail; Darktrace, one of the world's most exciting cyber security specialists and DS Smith, the FTSE-100 packaging company which is Europe's largest cardboard and paper recycler. To that list was this morning added Britvic, the soft drinks company behind much-loved brands such as Robinsons, J2O, Fruit Shoot, Tango, Aqua Libra, Ballygowan mineral water and R White's lemonade, and which is also the bottler for PepsiCo in Great Britain. It confirmed this morning it has received two takeover approaches from the Danish brewing giant Carlsberg this month. The first valued it at £2.99bn and was rejected. It said Carlsberg, the world's third largest brewer after US giant AB InBev and Dutch group Heineken, then came back with a second approach valuing it at £3.1bn. It said that, too, had been rejected because it "significantly undervalues Britvic, and its current and future prospects". Shares of Britvic have soared by 10% on the news but, despite having touched 1150p today, are still trading at a discount to the 1250p offered by Carlsberg. For its part, Carlsberg said today: "Carlsberg believes that the potential transaction would enable it to capture appealing long-term growth opportunities from Britvic's comprehensive portfolio of leading brands in an attractive segment of the beverage market where Carlsberg already has a strong track record." The approach for Britvic comes as no surprise. The company's share price performance has made it vulnerable. The shares, despite a strong rally since the first week of April, were changing hands at just 955p each at one point on Thursday and, until news of Carlsberg's approach was made public, had yet to recapture the levels seen before the pandemic. That has enabled Carlsberg - famous for its old advertising tagline "Probably the best lager in the world" - to pounce. Pic: Reuters Britvic's management has been irritated by its share price performance for many years and particularly by comparisons with Fever Tree, the up-market maker of tonic water and mixers, which became something of a stock market darling after its stock market flotation in 2014. Fever Tree's shares more than doubled over subsequent years and at one point in July 2018 were valued at £4.5bn. Today, Fever Tree is valued at £1.2bn, just under half of Britvic's £2.54bn, despite Britvic's most recent full year sales being five times those of its rival. That partly reflects some of the trading conditions both have navigated over the last decade. While Fever Tree was able to benefit - until inflation set in - from a move towards "premiumisation" in alcoholic drinks, Britvic had to face the headwinds of a sugar tax in the UK, its biggest market. This forced it to take out full sugar ranges of top-selling brands such as Robinsons squash and Fruit Shoot as it recalibrated to become a no-sugar business. Read more from business: UK public sector debt hits 99.8% of GDP Microsoft back as world's most valuable company It also had to grapple with changing consumer tastes which it has done by, for example, buying the business that is now Aqua Libra; Plenish, the healthy juices and shots brand and Jimmy's Iced Coffee, the fast-growing "ready to drink" iced coffee brand. These developments, over time, appeared to be winning over investors - as shown by the rally in Britvic shares over the last couple of months. That was also helped by crowd-pleasing measures such as three share buy-back programmes in as many years. Simon Litherland, the chief executive, has struck an increasingly confident note in recent months and, at the half year results in May, could point to solid growth in sales volumes despite the company having passed on some cost increases to consumers. Image: Simon Litherland in 2011. Pic: Reuters That possibly explains why Carlsberg has moved now. The price it is offering is not, however, especially generous at just over 13 times Britvic's earnings before interest, taxation and accounting charges. The Danish giant, though, may be wary of going higher. Carlsberg, which has been brewing in Northampton since 1973 and which through its joint venture with Marston's owns top-selling cask ales such as Hobgoblin, Pedigree, Wainwright, Tetley and Bombardier, was scalded by the last major takeover it did in the UK. In March 2008, it teamed up with Heineken to pay £7.8bn for Scottish & Newcastle, the last big multi-national British brewer. The deal - struck just as the global financial crisis was getting under way - saw both sides overpay. More critically for Carlsberg, the main attraction of the acquisition was that it won full control of Russia's biggest brewing company, Baltika. It seemed a fantastic deal at the time given Russia's colossal - and growing - beer consumption. But Carlsberg had to give up ownership of the business after Russia's invasion of Ukraine. Iconic brands Were it to succeed in snaring Britvic, though, it would be acquiring a business with immense heritage. Britvic dates back to a mineral water supplier of 1784 - but the Britvic name itself dates back to the launch of The British Vitamin Products Company in the 1930s. Among the most iconic of Britvic's brands is R White's, which dates back to 1845 - but which for millions of Britons of a certain age, remains beloved for its iconic 1973 TV advertisement. It featured a man in his pyjamas, played by the actor Julian Chagrin, who creeps downstairs in the dead of the night to drink his favourite lemonade, only to be caught by his wife, played by the actress Harriet Philpin. Install the Sky News app for free At the centre of the advert was a song, Secret Lemonade Drinker, which was composed by the late Rod Allen and sung by Ross MacManus, father of the rock star Declan MacManus, better known as Elvis Costello - who provided backing vocals. The award-winning advert ran for nine years and was later remade with, among others, tennis superstar John McEnroe, children's TV character Mr Benn and comedian Ronnie Corbett making guest appearances as the 'wife'. Chagrin - by now sporting a pony-tail - and Philpin reunited in 2012 to make an advert for R White's lollies along similar lines. A takeover by Carlsberg would, ironically, reunite Britvic with one of its former owners. The company was, for many years, owned by three major UK brewers - Bass, Whitbread and Allied Lyons which, in 1992, merged its brewing arm with Carlsberg's British business. The trio owned Britvic until November 2005 when it was floated on the stock market. Nor is Britvic a stranger to takeover talk. But PepsiCo sold its remaining and long-held 4.5% stake in Britvic in 2017.

business

Why Carlsberg has a thirst for Britvic. Anglo American, the mining giant; International Distribution Services, the parent of Royal Mail; Darktrace, one of the world's most exciting cyber security specialists and DS Smith, the FTSE-100 packaging company which is Europe's largest cardboard and paper recycler. To that list was this morning added Britvic, the soft drinks company behind much-loved brands such as Robinsons, J2O, Fruit Shoot, Tango, Aqua Libra, Ballygowan mineral water and R White's lemonade, and which is also the bottler for PepsiCo in Great Britain. It confirmed this morning it has received two takeover approaches from the Danish brewing giant Carlsberg this month. The first valued it at £2.99bn and was rejected. It said Carlsberg, the world's third largest brewer after US giant AB InBev and Dutch group Heineken, then came back with a second approach valuing it at £3.1bn. It said that, too, had been rejected because it "significantly undervalues Britvic, and its current and future prospects". Shares of Britvic have soared by 10% on the news but, despite having touched 1150p today, are still trading at a discount to the 1250p offered by Carlsberg. For its part, Carlsberg said today: "Carlsberg believes that the potential transaction would enable it to capture appealing long-term growth opportunities from Britvic's comprehensive portfolio of leading brands in an attractive segment of the beverage market where Carlsberg already has a strong track record." The approach for Britvic comes as no surprise. The company's share price performance has made it vulnerable. The shares, despite a strong rally since the first week of April, were changing hands at just 955p each at one point on Thursday and, until news of Carlsberg's approach was made public, had yet to recapture the levels seen before the pandemic. That has enabled Carlsberg - famous for its old advertising tagline "Probably the best lager in the world" - to pounce. Pic: Reuters Britvic's management has been irritated by its share price performance for many years and particularly by comparisons with Fever Tree, the up-market maker of tonic water and mixers, which became something of a stock market darling after its stock market flotation in 2014. Fever Tree's shares more than doubled over subsequent years and at one point in July 2018 were valued at £4.5bn. Today, Fever Tree is valued at £1.2bn, just under half of Britvic's £2.54bn, despite Britvic's most recent full year sales being five times those of its rival. That partly reflects some of the trading conditions both have navigated over the last decade. While Fever Tree was able to benefit - until inflation set in - from a move towards "premiumisation" in alcoholic drinks, Britvic had to face the headwinds of a sugar tax in the UK, its biggest market. This forced it to take out full sugar ranges of top-selling brands such as Robinsons squash and Fruit Shoot as it recalibrated to become a no-sugar business. Read more from business: UK public sector debt hits 99.8% of GDP Microsoft back as world's most valuable company It also had to grapple with changing consumer tastes which it has done by, for example, buying the business that is now Aqua Libra; Plenish, the healthy juices and shots brand and Jimmy's Iced Coffee, the fast-growing "ready to drink" iced coffee brand. These developments, over time, appeared to be winning over investors - as shown by the rally in Britvic shares over the last couple of months. That was also helped by crowd-pleasing measures such as three share buy-back programmes in as many years. Simon Litherland, the chief executive, has struck an increasingly confident note in recent months and, at the half year results in May, could point to solid growth in sales volumes despite the company having passed on some cost increases to consumers. Image: Simon Litherland in 2011. Pic: Reuters That possibly explains why Carlsberg has moved now. The price it is offering is not, however, especially generous at just over 13 times Britvic's earnings before interest, taxation and accounting charges. The Danish giant, though, may be wary of going higher. Carlsberg, which has been brewing in Northampton since 1973 and which through its joint venture with Marston's owns top-selling cask ales such as Hobgoblin, Pedigree, Wainwright, Tetley and Bombardier, was scalded by the last major takeover it did in the UK. In March 2008, it teamed up with Heineken to pay £7.8bn for Scottish & Newcastle, the last big multi-national British brewer. The deal - struck just as the global financial crisis was getting under way - saw both sides overpay. More critically for Carlsberg, the main attraction of the acquisition was that it won full control of Russia's biggest brewing company, Baltika. It seemed a fantastic deal at the time given Russia's colossal - and growing - beer consumption. But Carlsberg had to give up ownership of the business after Russia's invasion of Ukraine. Iconic brands Were it to succeed in snaring Britvic, though, it would be acquiring a business with immense heritage. Britvic dates back to a mineral water supplier of 1784 - but the Britvic name itself dates back to the launch of The British Vitamin Products Company in the 1930s. Among the most iconic of Britvic's brands is R White's, which dates back to 1845 - but which for millions of Britons of a certain age, remains beloved for its iconic 1973 TV advertisement. It featured a man in his pyjamas, played by the actor Julian Chagrin, who creeps downstairs in the dead of the night to drink his favourite lemonade, only to be caught by his wife, played by the actress Harriet Philpin. Install the Sky News app for free At the centre of the advert was a song, Secret Lemonade Drinker, which was composed by the late Rod Allen and sung by Ross MacManus, father of the rock star Declan MacManus, better known as Elvis Costello - who provided backing vocals. The award-winning advert ran for nine years and was later remade with, among others, tennis superstar John McEnroe, children's TV character Mr Benn and comedian Ronnie Corbett making guest appearances as the 'wife'. Chagrin - by now sporting a pony-tail - and Philpin reunited in 2012 to make an advert for R White's lollies along similar lines. A takeover by Carlsberg would, ironically, reunite Britvic with one of its former owners. The company was, for many years, owned by three major UK brewers - Bass, Whitbread and Allied Lyons which, in 1992, merged its brewing arm with Carlsberg's British business. The trio owned Britvic until November 2005 when it was floated on the stock market. Nor is Britvic a stranger to takeover talk. But PepsiCo sold its remaining and long-held 4.5% stake in Britvic in 2017.

Sploot Veterinary Care Partners with GlobalVetLink to Expand Pet Travel Services

June 4, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Sploot Veterinary Care, a leader in providing exceptional and comprehensive veterinary care, and GlobalVetLink, an innovator in digital compliance solutions for the animal health industry, are excited to announce a new partnership. This collaboration will introduce the GVL Compliance Assistant into Sploot Veterinary Care's operations, enhancing their service offerings with comprehensive domestic and international travel solutions for pets. This partnership marks a significant milestone for Sploot Veterinary Care, expanding its services to include pet travel — a feature eagerly anticipated by pet parents. The integration of the GVL Compliance Assistant will streamline the process of meeting travel requirements, making it easier for pet parents to ensure their pets are travel-ready. "Integrating GlobalVetLink's platform fulfills a critical need for our pet parents. As travel regulations grow increasingly complex, providing a seamless, stress-free travel preparation service is invaluable," said Gil Bolotin, co-founder and co-CEO of Sploot Veterinary Care. "This integration not only enhances our service offering but also reinforces and strengthens our mission to make pet care stress-free for pet parents, being their one-stop shop for the majority of their needs." "Our mission has always been to enhance the compliance process through technology, ensuring that every step from data management to regulatory compliance is secure and efficient," commented Gary Ambrosino, CEO of GlobalVetLink. "We are thrilled to partner with Sploot Veterinary Care to make international and domestic pet travel as straightforward and stress-free as possible." The GVL Compliance Assistant will enable Sploot Veterinary Care's team to efficiently manage health certificates and other essential documents required for pet travel, ensuring compliance with both domestic and international regulations. About Sploot Veterinary Care:

lifestyle

Sploot Veterinary Care Partners with GlobalVetLink to Expand Pet Travel Services. June 4, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Sploot Veterinary Care, a leader in providing exceptional and comprehensive veterinary care, and GlobalVetLink, an innovator in digital compliance solutions for the animal health industry, are excited to announce a new partnership. This collaboration will introduce the GVL Compliance Assistant into Sploot Veterinary Care's operations, enhancing their service offerings with comprehensive domestic and international travel solutions for pets. This partnership marks a significant milestone for Sploot Veterinary Care, expanding its services to include pet travel — a feature eagerly anticipated by pet parents. The integration of the GVL Compliance Assistant will streamline the process of meeting travel requirements, making it easier for pet parents to ensure their pets are travel-ready. "Integrating GlobalVetLink's platform fulfills a critical need for our pet parents. As travel regulations grow increasingly complex, providing a seamless, stress-free travel preparation service is invaluable," said Gil Bolotin, co-founder and co-CEO of Sploot Veterinary Care. "This integration not only enhances our service offering but also reinforces and strengthens our mission to make pet care stress-free for pet parents, being their one-stop shop for the majority of their needs." "Our mission has always been to enhance the compliance process through technology, ensuring that every step from data management to regulatory compliance is secure and efficient," commented Gary Ambrosino, CEO of GlobalVetLink. "We are thrilled to partner with Sploot Veterinary Care to make international and domestic pet travel as straightforward and stress-free as possible." The GVL Compliance Assistant will enable Sploot Veterinary Care's team to efficiently manage health certificates and other essential documents required for pet travel, ensuring compliance with both domestic and international regulations. About Sploot Veterinary Care:

MKR surges 9% amid MakerDAO’s $1.35m audit contest

MKR 24-hour price chart | Source: CoinMarketCap Announcing the official Endgame audit contest, hosted on @sherlockdefi. DeFi builders are invited to participate in the largest bug-finding contest in the space, with a total of 1,350,000 DAI in rewards, scheduled to run from July 8th through August 5th, 2024. This is a unique… The audit contest will be hosted on the Sherlock Platform, a leading provider of audit contests in Web3. The $1.35 million Sherlock audit contest is a pivotal part of MakerDAO's Launch Season, which is the first phase of the Endgame, scheduled for later this summer. Endgame represents the final development stage in MakerDAO's long-term strategy. It aims to revamp governance to establish a self-sustaining equilibrium known as the Endgame State. Rune Christensen, co-founder of MakerDAO, outlined the significance of the Endgame launch, noting that "rock-solid security has always been a priority for MakerDAO." He added that it has become one of the project's defining features. Partnering with Sherlock to "create a program to pressure test the system" was a logical step as MakerDAO progresses towards the Endgame. The open-invite bug-finding competition aims to attract top security experts and emerging researchers to identify vulnerabilities quickly. Scheduled from July 8 to Aug. 5, 2024, the contest seeks to leverage the global security community's expertise to rigorously test the codebase before the launch. Participants will have four weeks to scrutinize every line of the codebase. You might also like: MakerDAO delegate loses $11m in major phishing scam Jack Sanford, co-founder of Sherlock, remarked that "nothing demonstrates MakerDAO's unwavering commitment to security," like initiating the largest audit contest in history. noted that Sherlock has engaged some of the world's top security experts for this contest while also anticipating strong performances from up-and-coming participants. In 2024, Sherlock has conducted over 70 audit contests with major Layer-1 and Layer-2 networks. Leading up to the contest, the week of July 1 will feature educational content, including tips and insights from top MakerDAO bug bounty hunters and a code walkthrough from the MakerDAO team and prominent figures in the crypto space. Similarly, another whale with a wallet named "twofoldcap.eth" bought 66.55 MKR ($165,000) at a price of $2,447. Currently, it is holding 100.81 MKR ($256,860).

crypto

MKR surges 9% amid MakerDAO’s $1.35m audit contest. MKR 24-hour price chart | Source: CoinMarketCap Announcing the official Endgame audit contest, hosted on @sherlockdefi. DeFi builders are invited to participate in the largest bug-finding contest in the space, with a total of 1,350,000 DAI in rewards, scheduled to run from July 8th through August 5th, 2024. This is a unique… The audit contest will be hosted on the Sherlock Platform, a leading provider of audit contests in Web3. The $1.35 million Sherlock audit contest is a pivotal part of MakerDAO's Launch Season, which is the first phase of the Endgame, scheduled for later this summer. Endgame represents the final development stage in MakerDAO's long-term strategy. It aims to revamp governance to establish a self-sustaining equilibrium known as the Endgame State. Rune Christensen, co-founder of MakerDAO, outlined the significance of the Endgame launch, noting that "rock-solid security has always been a priority for MakerDAO." He added that it has become one of the project's defining features. Partnering with Sherlock to "create a program to pressure test the system" was a logical step as MakerDAO progresses towards the Endgame. The open-invite bug-finding competition aims to attract top security experts and emerging researchers to identify vulnerabilities quickly. Scheduled from July 8 to Aug. 5, 2024, the contest seeks to leverage the global security community's expertise to rigorously test the codebase before the launch. Participants will have four weeks to scrutinize every line of the codebase. You might also like: MakerDAO delegate loses $11m in major phishing scam Jack Sanford, co-founder of Sherlock, remarked that "nothing demonstrates MakerDAO's unwavering commitment to security," like initiating the largest audit contest in history. noted that Sherlock has engaged some of the world's top security experts for this contest while also anticipating strong performances from up-and-coming participants. In 2024, Sherlock has conducted over 70 audit contests with major Layer-1 and Layer-2 networks. Leading up to the contest, the week of July 1 will feature educational content, including tips and insights from top MakerDAO bug bounty hunters and a code walkthrough from the MakerDAO team and prominent figures in the crypto space. Similarly, another whale with a wallet named "twofoldcap.eth" bought 66.55 MKR ($165,000) at a price of $2,447. Currently, it is holding 100.81 MKR ($256,860).

Tony Award-winning Broadway producer Ron Simons dies at 63

FILE - Director Ron Simons poses for a portrait during the 2011 Sundance Film Festival on Jan. 23, 2011 in Park City, Utah. (AP Photo/Victoria Will, File) The Associated Press NEW YORK -- Ron Simons, an actor who turned into a formidable screen and stage producer, winning four Tony Awards and having several films selected at the Sundance Film Festival, has died. He was 63. SimonSays Entertainment, his New York-based production company said Simons died Wednesday but gave no cause or other details. "It is with heavy hearts that we share the unexpected passing of our beloved, blessed, and highly favored friend, Ronald Keith Simons," the production company wrote in a statement on Facebook. Simons won Tonys for producing "Porgy and Bess," with Norm Lewis and Audra McDonald, "A Gentleman's Guide to Love and Murder," starring Jefferson Mays, "Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike," with Sigourney Weaver, and "Jitney," with John Douglas Thompson. He also co-produced "Hughie," with Forest Whitaker, "The Gin Game," starring Cicely Tyson and James Earl Jones, "Ain't Too Proud: The Life and Times of The Temptations," an all-Black production of "A Streetcar Named Desire," the revival of "for colored girls who have considered suicide/when the rainbow is enuf" and the original work "Thoughts of a Colored Man." In 2022, after the first full season since the death of George Floyd reignited a conversation about race and representation in America, Simons was pleased to see Broadway offer one of its most diverse Tony slates yet. "I can guarantee you I have not seen this many people of color represented across all categories of the Tony Awards," he told The Associated Press. "I was so uplifted and impressed by that." On the film side, Simons produced "Night Catches Us," with Kerry Washington, Anthony Mackie and Wendell Pierce, "Gun Hill Road," with Esai Morales and Judy Reyes, "Blue Caprice," starring Isaiah Washington and Tequan Richmond, and "Mother of George," with Danai Gurira. Simons, who earned a bachelor's degree from Columbia College, an MBA from Columbia Business School and an MFA from the University of Washington, was a product manager at Microsoft when he decided to change his life and pursue a career in entertainment. He began as an actor, appearing in regional theaters including Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park, Seattle Repertory Theatre, Utah Shakespeare Festival and the Classical Theatre of Harlem. He was in the films "27 Dresses" and "Mystery Team," as well as on the small screen in "The Resident," "Law & Order," "Law & Order: Criminal Intent" and "Law & Order: SVU."

entertainment

Tony Award-winning Broadway producer Ron Simons dies at 63. FILE - Director Ron Simons poses for a portrait during the 2011 Sundance Film Festival on Jan. 23, 2011 in Park City, Utah. (AP Photo/Victoria Will, File) The Associated Press NEW YORK -- Ron Simons, an actor who turned into a formidable screen and stage producer, winning four Tony Awards and having several films selected at the Sundance Film Festival, has died. He was 63. SimonSays Entertainment, his New York-based production company said Simons died Wednesday but gave no cause or other details. "It is with heavy hearts that we share the unexpected passing of our beloved, blessed, and highly favored friend, Ronald Keith Simons," the production company wrote in a statement on Facebook. Simons won Tonys for producing "Porgy and Bess," with Norm Lewis and Audra McDonald, "A Gentleman's Guide to Love and Murder," starring Jefferson Mays, "Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike," with Sigourney Weaver, and "Jitney," with John Douglas Thompson. He also co-produced "Hughie," with Forest Whitaker, "The Gin Game," starring Cicely Tyson and James Earl Jones, "Ain't Too Proud: The Life and Times of The Temptations," an all-Black production of "A Streetcar Named Desire," the revival of "for colored girls who have considered suicide/when the rainbow is enuf" and the original work "Thoughts of a Colored Man." In 2022, after the first full season since the death of George Floyd reignited a conversation about race and representation in America, Simons was pleased to see Broadway offer one of its most diverse Tony slates yet. "I can guarantee you I have not seen this many people of color represented across all categories of the Tony Awards," he told The Associated Press. "I was so uplifted and impressed by that." On the film side, Simons produced "Night Catches Us," with Kerry Washington, Anthony Mackie and Wendell Pierce, "Gun Hill Road," with Esai Morales and Judy Reyes, "Blue Caprice," starring Isaiah Washington and Tequan Richmond, and "Mother of George," with Danai Gurira. Simons, who earned a bachelor's degree from Columbia College, an MBA from Columbia Business School and an MFA from the University of Washington, was a product manager at Microsoft when he decided to change his life and pursue a career in entertainment. He began as an actor, appearing in regional theaters including Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park, Seattle Repertory Theatre, Utah Shakespeare Festival and the Classical Theatre of Harlem. He was in the films "27 Dresses" and "Mystery Team," as well as on the small screen in "The Resident," "Law & Order," "Law & Order: Criminal Intent" and "Law & Order: SVU."

Unveiling Agnes Pelton's "Flowering" at Moran's Summer Art + Design sale!

Agnes Pelton (1881-1961), "Flowering," 1929. Oil on canvas. Signed and dated lower right: Agnes Pelton; signed again (twice), titled, and inscribed "Water Mill Long Island N.Y. $200" all in pencil on the verso of the upper and side stretcher bars, 24" H x 19" W est. $300,000-500,000 Unseen in public for nearly one hundred years, "Flowering" was re-discovered by Moran's. Agnes Pelton was a trailblazing artist who skillfully merged spiritual and abstract elements in her works. Born in 1881, Pelton spent much of her life exploring the depths of mystical symbolism and abstraction. Created in 1929 at the zenith of her career, Flowering is a stunning example of her transcendentalist style. Estimated at $300,000 -500,000, the oil painting measures 24" H x 19" W and presents in the original Pelton-designed silver-grey frame. In its day, Flowering was well exhibited in art shows, including 1929 at the Montross Gallery in NYC, 1931 at the Plainfield Public Library, New Jersey, also at the Ogunquit Art Center, Addison Gallery of American Art, Andover, Massachusetts, and the 1932 Annual Exhibit, Society of Modern Artists, California after visiting the state in the late 1920s. A student of Theosophy, Agnes Pelton found her new home in the desert town of Cathedral City. This move conveyed the depth of inspiration, if not spiritual ecstasy for the artist. The relative isolation of the desert kept Pelton insulated in comparison to her contemporaries, but in time Agnes Pelton would become one of the most influential and inspirational female painters of the last century. The acclaimed retrospective at the Whitney Museum of American Art in 2020 would solidify the artist's reputation and catapult her into a rarified spotlight alongside Flowering has a rich provenance, having passed from the artist through the hands of Pelton's friends and neighbors, Matille Prigge "Billie" Seaman and then to

entertainment

Unveiling Agnes Pelton's "Flowering" at Moran's Summer Art + Design sale!. Agnes Pelton (1881-1961), "Flowering," 1929. Oil on canvas. Signed and dated lower right: Agnes Pelton; signed again (twice), titled, and inscribed "Water Mill Long Island N.Y. $200" all in pencil on the verso of the upper and side stretcher bars, 24" H x 19" W est. $300,000-500,000 Unseen in public for nearly one hundred years, "Flowering" was re-discovered by Moran's. Agnes Pelton was a trailblazing artist who skillfully merged spiritual and abstract elements in her works. Born in 1881, Pelton spent much of her life exploring the depths of mystical symbolism and abstraction. Created in 1929 at the zenith of her career, Flowering is a stunning example of her transcendentalist style. Estimated at $300,000 -500,000, the oil painting measures 24" H x 19" W and presents in the original Pelton-designed silver-grey frame. In its day, Flowering was well exhibited in art shows, including 1929 at the Montross Gallery in NYC, 1931 at the Plainfield Public Library, New Jersey, also at the Ogunquit Art Center, Addison Gallery of American Art, Andover, Massachusetts, and the 1932 Annual Exhibit, Society of Modern Artists, California after visiting the state in the late 1920s. A student of Theosophy, Agnes Pelton found her new home in the desert town of Cathedral City. This move conveyed the depth of inspiration, if not spiritual ecstasy for the artist. The relative isolation of the desert kept Pelton insulated in comparison to her contemporaries, but in time Agnes Pelton would become one of the most influential and inspirational female painters of the last century. The acclaimed retrospective at the Whitney Museum of American Art in 2020 would solidify the artist's reputation and catapult her into a rarified spotlight alongside Flowering has a rich provenance, having passed from the artist through the hands of Pelton's friends and neighbors, Matille Prigge "Billie" Seaman and then to

The Science of Having a Great Conversation

Forming meaningful bonds with others can improve your health, make you mentally sharper, and fuel creativity. Making friends can feel daunting, but research shows there are many ways to build better connections. Photograph: eclipse images/Getty Images If you've ever spoken to someone and later felt that you would have better spent your time talking to a brick wall, you'll surely identify with the observations of Rebecca West. "There is no such thing as conversation," the novelist and literary critic wrote in her collection of stories, The Harsh Voice. "It is an illusion. There are intersecting monologues, that is all." If someone feels that their conversations have left no impression on those around them, then that is the definition of existential isolation. You've probably experienced this on a bad date, at an awful dinner party, or during an interminable family gathering. Psychological research has identified many habits and biases that impose barriers between ourselves and others—and if we wish to have greater connection with the people around us, we must learn how to overcome them. The good news is that corrections are very easy to put into practice. Tiny tweaks to our conversational style can bring enormous benefits. Buy this book at: Learn more. Let's begin with the sins of inattention. "The art of conversation is the art of hearing as well as of being heard," declared the early 19th-century essayist William Hazlitt in his On the Conversation of Authors, published in 1820. "Some of the best talkers are, on this account, the worst company." Hazlitt noted that many of his literary acquaintances—who included Samuel Taylor Coleridge, Stendhal, and William Wordsworth—were so keen to show off their wit and intelligence that they lacked the basic civility of listening to others. He instead recommended that we imitate the painter James Northcote, who, he claimed, was the best listener and—as a result—the best converser that he knew. "I never ate or drank with Mr Northcote; but I have lived on his conversation with undiminished relish ever since I can remember," Hazlitt wrote. Who wouldn't want to leave their acquaintances feeling this way? The simplest way of achieving this is to ask more questions, yet surprisingly few people have cultivated this habit effectively. While studying for a PhD in organizational behavior at Harvard University, Karen Huang invited more than 130 participants into her laboratory and asked them to converse in pairs for a quarter of an hour through an online instant messenger. She found that, even in these 15 minutes, people's rates of question-asking varied widely, from around four or fewer at the low end to nine or more at the high end. Asking more questions can make a big difference to someone's likeability. In a separate experiment, Huang's team analyzed recordings of people's conversations during a speed-dating event. Some people consistently asked more questions than others, and this significantly predicted their chance of securing a second date. It's easy to understand why questions are so charming: They demonstrate your wish to build mutual understanding and give you the chance to validate each other's experiences. But even if we do pose lots of questions, we may not be asking the right kind. In her analyses, Huang considered six different categories of questions. You can see the examples below: 6. Rhetorical Yesterday I followed a marching band around. Where were they going? It's a mystery. Huang found that follow-up questions, which ask for more information about a previous point, are much more appealing than the "switch" questions that change topic, or the "mirror" questions that simply copy what someone has already asked you. The most superficial are the introductory questions—essential social niceties, but which hardly demonstrate a genuine interest in another person. You might also avoid boomerasking —that's the habit of posing a question as an excuse to talk about yourself. We could ask about someone's profession, for example—not because we care how their job is going, but because we want to brag about our own promotion. Emerging research suggests that this habit is particularly unlikeable. The act of asking elaboration questions can become self-perpetuating. Once someone had made the effort to draw out their partner with one enquiry, it became much easier to ask another. The Art of Attention People are acutely aware of whether they are being listened to attentively, and their perception of receiving active attention from another predicts their feelings of trust, and contributes to the well-being boost that typically comes from strong social connections. The more attentive we are to someone, the happier they feel. Unfortunately, many of us rely on the wrong cues to signal our interest in others. People can display their attention with nonverbal body language, such as leaning forward, nodding, or making empathetic facial expressions; they can employ "paralinguistic" cues such as murmuring sounds of assent or approval; or they may verbally acknowledge what the other person has said. While nonverbal and paralinguistic cues are often genuine signs of attention, they can also be feigned—and if we rely on these alone, our conversation partners may assume the worst. It is much safer to demonstrate your attention explicitly in the words that you say. Paraphrasing what the other person has said, for example, offers direct proof that you have processed their remark. This is another reason why follow-up questions are so powerful: The details that you include provide the necessary confirmation that you were intent on hearing what they had to say. Be careful to focus on the core point that the person has been trying to convey. If someone describes a bad date to you, for example, it's no good inquiring about the bar or giving your opinions on the film that they watched. You can validate what they are thinking and feeling or perhaps, after acknowledging what they have said, offer an alternative interpretation that may open their mind to a new way of seeing the situation. You must show that you are at least trying to see things their way before offering your alternative take. The practice of "phubbing"—or phone snubbing, constantly interrupting a conversation to check your smartphone—is similarly disruptive. In one observational study, researchers watched 100 pairs of participants conversing in local coffee shops. Some naturally took out their phones and held them in their hands or placed them on the table, while others left them out of sight. At the end of the conversation, the researchers asked each person to fill out a questionnaire exploring the experience, and they found that the mere presence of the phones on the table reduced the pair's feelings of empathy for each other, resulting in a less fulfilling conversation. The Fast Friends Procedure Given Hazlitt's Law, we might conclude that we should always allow our acquaintance to take center stage. This advice can be found in many influential etiquette guides, but psychological research shows that it is misguided: We should feel free to take our fair share of the airtime. The creation of a shared reality between two people relies on us understanding each other. We should try to create conversations that allow both parties to open up about deeper thoughts and feelings to identify points of common ground. Arthur Aron has powerfully demonstrated the advantages of self-disclosure, using an experimental paradigm that is sometimes known as the "fast friends procedure." Aron's participants were first sorted into pairs. They were then given a series of 36 questions to discuss over the next 45 minutes. Half the pairs saw questions that stimulated small talk: How did you celebrate last Halloween? Describe the last pet you owned. Where did you go to high school? This was the low self-disclosure condition. They were perfectly reasonable questions—the kind you might happily ask on a first date—but they weren't necessarily going to provide many profound insights into someone's inner life. The rest of the participants were asked to discuss more probing questions: What would constitute a perfect day for you? If you were able to live to the age of 90 and retain either the mind or body of a 30-year-old for the last 60 years of your life, which would you want? Do you have a secret hunch about how you will die? After the 45 minutes were up, the participants were asked to describe how close they felt to their partner using a seven-point scale, a higher score indicating greater closeness. The people in the high self-disclosure condition rated their relationship as 4, while those in the small talk condition rated themselves as 3. This would be a relatively large effect size for any single psychological intervention, but it's especially noteworthy when you consider that most people's lasting friendships do not score much higher. These results have now been replicated in large studies, which have also shown that it is just as effective during remote communication as face-to-face interactions. Self-disclosure can even increase connection among people from different social groups, increasing closeness regardless of differences in demographic factors, such as age or immigration status, that you may expect to pose as barriers to friendship. When asked to predict how they will feel during the exchange, most people expect that the fast friendship procedure will be painfully awkward. When they engage in the task, however, the conversation flows far more smoothly than they expected, and afterward they report feeling a greater sense of connection with their partners than they had thought possible. People expect their partners to be indifferent to them and to be bored by their self-disclosure. But people are far more interested in our innermost thoughts and feelings than we imagine. Self-disclosure requires a leap of faith, but when we make it, we tend to land safely. People who have undertaken heightened self-disclosure begin to show some of the physiological markers of social connection. When we form a shared reality with someone, our brains and bodies begin to synchronize as we both read and respond to the world in the same way. Our hormonal responses to stress become attuned, for example—so that levels of cortisol rise and fall in tandem as we experience the same events. The warm feelings of affection and trust that arise from self-disclosure seem to be aroused by the release of natural opioids in the brain, which encourages further bonding. To prove this, in 2019 a group of Canadian scientists turned to a drug called naltrexone that blocks the brain's opioid signaling. Someone who is given morphine after taking naltrexone won't feel the pain relief or sense of bliss that typically accompanies the drug. If opioids can explain some of the buzz we get from social connection, then participants who have taken naltrexone should not reap such large benefits from the fast friends procedure. The researchers recruited around 160 participants for their study, who were divided into pairs. Half were given naltrexone, and the others a placebo, before they each discussed the 36 self-disclosure questions. After their chat, each participant took a series of questionnaires describing how the conversation had evolved. As expected, the participants who had taken the naltrexone were less open in the conversations and this blunted the mood boost people normally experience following the exchange. Needless to say, using the 36 questions must be conducted with tact and discretion. While you might slip one or two into a conversation, you would look odd if you rolled them out whenever you met a new acquaintance—unless, of course, you explain what you are doing. More importantly, you should draw on the spirit of this research by being a little more transparent about your deeper thoughts and feelings. Whether you are describing a secret dream, expressing an unexpected emotional reaction to a news story, or talking about a particularly precious memory, be generous with the information that you provide. Eschewing small talk in favor of deeper conversations should boost your long-term life satisfaction. Researchers recently equipped 486 participants with a small "electronically activated recorder" that allowed the scientists to eavesdrop on the participants' interactions. The scientists found that the amount of time someone spent in small talk about daily banalities made almost no difference to their contentment, whereas deeper conversations involving the exchange of meaningful information about their circumstances and interests had a significant impact. When you bare your soul, others will often respond in kind—and you will all feel better for it. The Novelty Penalty We must look at one final psychological phenomenon, known as the "novelty penalty." The term comes from an experiment by Gus Cooney, one of the researchers who discovered the liking gap —the disparity between how much someone thinks another person likes them, versus how much they actually do. His team first placed participants into groups of three. While alone, each member watched one of two short videos: a TED talk about the intelligence of crows or an interview with the owner of a specialist soda shop. The trio then met as a group, and one member—the speaker—was asked to describe the video he or she had seen, while the other two members listened for two minutes. In some groups, the listeners and speakers had all watched the same video, while in others, the speaker spoke about the clip that the listeners hadn't seen. You would expect that learning something new would be far more enjoyable and interesting than hearing something that is already known to you. But the listeners had the opposite reaction: They tended to prefer hearing about the video they had just seen, remaining underwhelmed by the talk that contained fresh information. This is the novelty penalty: a general preference to hear about familiar experiences. You will have almost certainly noticed the novelty penalty when you have returned from an exotic holiday. Your mind is still full of all the sights, sounds, smells, and tastes of the places and the amazing people that you met along the way. As you try to describe the experience, however, you may find people's eyes glazing over. It's not that your audience doesn't care. They simply don't have enough knowledge to immerse themselves in your descriptions and understand why the trip was so special to you. The informational gaps could create a feeling of distance that undermines the sense of a shared reality. One strategy to avoid this would be to focus on topics that are equally familiar to both parties. You may think that it's cool to talk about music that no one else listens to, or films no one else has seen—but this can have the very opposite effect. Looking for shared interests or common experiences to discuss is much healthier. By Vittoria Elliott But avoiding all unfamiliar topics is far from the ideal way of building social connection; if a subject is central to your life and represents an important element of your personality, you need to find a way to express it—otherwise your shared reality with the other person will always have an important part missing. In these cases, you can escape the novelty penalty with vivid storytelling that helps to put the other person in your shoes. If you know that the person is a gastronome, for example, start out by discussing the food you ate on the trip, which should act as a bridge to their own interests and experiences. As you move onto less familiar terrain, you must make sure that you provide enough details to avoid creating unnecessary informational gaps. Think carefully about their baseline knowledge, so that you don't patronize them—if necessary, you should ask how familiar the subject already is—and use this to gauge the elements that you need to include to ease their understanding. In Cooney's experiments, speakers reduced the novelty penalty if they gave a more complete narrative of the videos under discussion. When they were recounting the recent scientific discoveries about crow intelligence, for example, it helped to describe the inspiration for the research, and a general overview of the main conclusions (crows are smart!), followed by more in-depth accounts of the individual findings. They ended by describing how we could train crows to pick up litter in sports stadiums—and how our understanding of crow intelligence might change the way we think about the human mind. With this level of detail, the speakers enjoyed the discussions almost as much as the discussion of the topic that was already familiar. You might also remember the novelty penalty when the roles are reversed, and you are struggling to engage with someone else's experiences. In the past, your general reluctance to ask questions might have prevented you from seeking out the additional information that would allow you to close the gap in understanding. Whoever we are talking to, and whatever we are talking about, we should be looking for balance—in the exchanges between partners, in the depth of the discussion and in the familiarity of the topics. This is the crux of our fifth law of connection: In conversation, demonstrate active attention, engage in self-disclosure, and avoid the novelty penalty, to build mutual understanding and contribute to the merging of our minds. Whether we are on a first date or meeting a lifelong friend, each sentence we speak offers a new opportunity for greater connection.

tech,science

The Science of Having a Great Conversation. Forming meaningful bonds with others can improve your health, make you mentally sharper, and fuel creativity. Making friends can feel daunting, but research shows there are many ways to build better connections. Photograph: eclipse images/Getty Images If you've ever spoken to someone and later felt that you would have better spent your time talking to a brick wall, you'll surely identify with the observations of Rebecca West. "There is no such thing as conversation," the novelist and literary critic wrote in her collection of stories, The Harsh Voice. "It is an illusion. There are intersecting monologues, that is all." If someone feels that their conversations have left no impression on those around them, then that is the definition of existential isolation. You've probably experienced this on a bad date, at an awful dinner party, or during an interminable family gathering. Psychological research has identified many habits and biases that impose barriers between ourselves and others—and if we wish to have greater connection with the people around us, we must learn how to overcome them. The good news is that corrections are very easy to put into practice. Tiny tweaks to our conversational style can bring enormous benefits. Buy this book at: Learn more. Let's begin with the sins of inattention. "The art of conversation is the art of hearing as well as of being heard," declared the early 19th-century essayist William Hazlitt in his On the Conversation of Authors, published in 1820. "Some of the best talkers are, on this account, the worst company." Hazlitt noted that many of his literary acquaintances—who included Samuel Taylor Coleridge, Stendhal, and William Wordsworth—were so keen to show off their wit and intelligence that they lacked the basic civility of listening to others. He instead recommended that we imitate the painter James Northcote, who, he claimed, was the best listener and—as a result—the best converser that he knew. "I never ate or drank with Mr Northcote; but I have lived on his conversation with undiminished relish ever since I can remember," Hazlitt wrote. Who wouldn't want to leave their acquaintances feeling this way? The simplest way of achieving this is to ask more questions, yet surprisingly few people have cultivated this habit effectively. While studying for a PhD in organizational behavior at Harvard University, Karen Huang invited more than 130 participants into her laboratory and asked them to converse in pairs for a quarter of an hour through an online instant messenger. She found that, even in these 15 minutes, people's rates of question-asking varied widely, from around four or fewer at the low end to nine or more at the high end. Asking more questions can make a big difference to someone's likeability. In a separate experiment, Huang's team analyzed recordings of people's conversations during a speed-dating event. Some people consistently asked more questions than others, and this significantly predicted their chance of securing a second date. It's easy to understand why questions are so charming: They demonstrate your wish to build mutual understanding and give you the chance to validate each other's experiences. But even if we do pose lots of questions, we may not be asking the right kind. In her analyses, Huang considered six different categories of questions. You can see the examples below: 6. Rhetorical Yesterday I followed a marching band around. Where were they going? It's a mystery. Huang found that follow-up questions, which ask for more information about a previous point, are much more appealing than the "switch" questions that change topic, or the "mirror" questions that simply copy what someone has already asked you. The most superficial are the introductory questions—essential social niceties, but which hardly demonstrate a genuine interest in another person. You might also avoid boomerasking —that's the habit of posing a question as an excuse to talk about yourself. We could ask about someone's profession, for example—not because we care how their job is going, but because we want to brag about our own promotion. Emerging research suggests that this habit is particularly unlikeable. The act of asking elaboration questions can become self-perpetuating. Once someone had made the effort to draw out their partner with one enquiry, it became much easier to ask another. The Art of Attention People are acutely aware of whether they are being listened to attentively, and their perception of receiving active attention from another predicts their feelings of trust, and contributes to the well-being boost that typically comes from strong social connections. The more attentive we are to someone, the happier they feel. Unfortunately, many of us rely on the wrong cues to signal our interest in others. People can display their attention with nonverbal body language, such as leaning forward, nodding, or making empathetic facial expressions; they can employ "paralinguistic" cues such as murmuring sounds of assent or approval; or they may verbally acknowledge what the other person has said. While nonverbal and paralinguistic cues are often genuine signs of attention, they can also be feigned—and if we rely on these alone, our conversation partners may assume the worst. It is much safer to demonstrate your attention explicitly in the words that you say. Paraphrasing what the other person has said, for example, offers direct proof that you have processed their remark. This is another reason why follow-up questions are so powerful: The details that you include provide the necessary confirmation that you were intent on hearing what they had to say. Be careful to focus on the core point that the person has been trying to convey. If someone describes a bad date to you, for example, it's no good inquiring about the bar or giving your opinions on the film that they watched. You can validate what they are thinking and feeling or perhaps, after acknowledging what they have said, offer an alternative interpretation that may open their mind to a new way of seeing the situation. You must show that you are at least trying to see things their way before offering your alternative take. The practice of "phubbing"—or phone snubbing, constantly interrupting a conversation to check your smartphone—is similarly disruptive. In one observational study, researchers watched 100 pairs of participants conversing in local coffee shops. Some naturally took out their phones and held them in their hands or placed them on the table, while others left them out of sight. At the end of the conversation, the researchers asked each person to fill out a questionnaire exploring the experience, and they found that the mere presence of the phones on the table reduced the pair's feelings of empathy for each other, resulting in a less fulfilling conversation. The Fast Friends Procedure Given Hazlitt's Law, we might conclude that we should always allow our acquaintance to take center stage. This advice can be found in many influential etiquette guides, but psychological research shows that it is misguided: We should feel free to take our fair share of the airtime. The creation of a shared reality between two people relies on us understanding each other. We should try to create conversations that allow both parties to open up about deeper thoughts and feelings to identify points of common ground. Arthur Aron has powerfully demonstrated the advantages of self-disclosure, using an experimental paradigm that is sometimes known as the "fast friends procedure." Aron's participants were first sorted into pairs. They were then given a series of 36 questions to discuss over the next 45 minutes. Half the pairs saw questions that stimulated small talk: How did you celebrate last Halloween? Describe the last pet you owned. Where did you go to high school? This was the low self-disclosure condition. They were perfectly reasonable questions—the kind you might happily ask on a first date—but they weren't necessarily going to provide many profound insights into someone's inner life. The rest of the participants were asked to discuss more probing questions: What would constitute a perfect day for you? If you were able to live to the age of 90 and retain either the mind or body of a 30-year-old for the last 60 years of your life, which would you want? Do you have a secret hunch about how you will die? After the 45 minutes were up, the participants were asked to describe how close they felt to their partner using a seven-point scale, a higher score indicating greater closeness. The people in the high self-disclosure condition rated their relationship as 4, while those in the small talk condition rated themselves as 3. This would be a relatively large effect size for any single psychological intervention, but it's especially noteworthy when you consider that most people's lasting friendships do not score much higher. These results have now been replicated in large studies, which have also shown that it is just as effective during remote communication as face-to-face interactions. Self-disclosure can even increase connection among people from different social groups, increasing closeness regardless of differences in demographic factors, such as age or immigration status, that you may expect to pose as barriers to friendship. When asked to predict how they will feel during the exchange, most people expect that the fast friendship procedure will be painfully awkward. When they engage in the task, however, the conversation flows far more smoothly than they expected, and afterward they report feeling a greater sense of connection with their partners than they had thought possible. People expect their partners to be indifferent to them and to be bored by their self-disclosure. But people are far more interested in our innermost thoughts and feelings than we imagine. Self-disclosure requires a leap of faith, but when we make it, we tend to land safely. People who have undertaken heightened self-disclosure begin to show some of the physiological markers of social connection. When we form a shared reality with someone, our brains and bodies begin to synchronize as we both read and respond to the world in the same way. Our hormonal responses to stress become attuned, for example—so that levels of cortisol rise and fall in tandem as we experience the same events. The warm feelings of affection and trust that arise from self-disclosure seem to be aroused by the release of natural opioids in the brain, which encourages further bonding. To prove this, in 2019 a group of Canadian scientists turned to a drug called naltrexone that blocks the brain's opioid signaling. Someone who is given morphine after taking naltrexone won't feel the pain relief or sense of bliss that typically accompanies the drug. If opioids can explain some of the buzz we get from social connection, then participants who have taken naltrexone should not reap such large benefits from the fast friends procedure. The researchers recruited around 160 participants for their study, who were divided into pairs. Half were given naltrexone, and the others a placebo, before they each discussed the 36 self-disclosure questions. After their chat, each participant took a series of questionnaires describing how the conversation had evolved. As expected, the participants who had taken the naltrexone were less open in the conversations and this blunted the mood boost people normally experience following the exchange. Needless to say, using the 36 questions must be conducted with tact and discretion. While you might slip one or two into a conversation, you would look odd if you rolled them out whenever you met a new acquaintance—unless, of course, you explain what you are doing. More importantly, you should draw on the spirit of this research by being a little more transparent about your deeper thoughts and feelings. Whether you are describing a secret dream, expressing an unexpected emotional reaction to a news story, or talking about a particularly precious memory, be generous with the information that you provide. Eschewing small talk in favor of deeper conversations should boost your long-term life satisfaction. Researchers recently equipped 486 participants with a small "electronically activated recorder" that allowed the scientists to eavesdrop on the participants' interactions. The scientists found that the amount of time someone spent in small talk about daily banalities made almost no difference to their contentment, whereas deeper conversations involving the exchange of meaningful information about their circumstances and interests had a significant impact. When you bare your soul, others will often respond in kind—and you will all feel better for it. The Novelty Penalty We must look at one final psychological phenomenon, known as the "novelty penalty." The term comes from an experiment by Gus Cooney, one of the researchers who discovered the liking gap —the disparity between how much someone thinks another person likes them, versus how much they actually do. His team first placed participants into groups of three. While alone, each member watched one of two short videos: a TED talk about the intelligence of crows or an interview with the owner of a specialist soda shop. The trio then met as a group, and one member—the speaker—was asked to describe the video he or she had seen, while the other two members listened for two minutes. In some groups, the listeners and speakers had all watched the same video, while in others, the speaker spoke about the clip that the listeners hadn't seen. You would expect that learning something new would be far more enjoyable and interesting than hearing something that is already known to you. But the listeners had the opposite reaction: They tended to prefer hearing about the video they had just seen, remaining underwhelmed by the talk that contained fresh information. This is the novelty penalty: a general preference to hear about familiar experiences. You will have almost certainly noticed the novelty penalty when you have returned from an exotic holiday. Your mind is still full of all the sights, sounds, smells, and tastes of the places and the amazing people that you met along the way. As you try to describe the experience, however, you may find people's eyes glazing over. It's not that your audience doesn't care. They simply don't have enough knowledge to immerse themselves in your descriptions and understand why the trip was so special to you. The informational gaps could create a feeling of distance that undermines the sense of a shared reality. One strategy to avoid this would be to focus on topics that are equally familiar to both parties. You may think that it's cool to talk about music that no one else listens to, or films no one else has seen—but this can have the very opposite effect. Looking for shared interests or common experiences to discuss is much healthier. By Vittoria Elliott But avoiding all unfamiliar topics is far from the ideal way of building social connection; if a subject is central to your life and represents an important element of your personality, you need to find a way to express it—otherwise your shared reality with the other person will always have an important part missing. In these cases, you can escape the novelty penalty with vivid storytelling that helps to put the other person in your shoes. If you know that the person is a gastronome, for example, start out by discussing the food you ate on the trip, which should act as a bridge to their own interests and experiences. As you move onto less familiar terrain, you must make sure that you provide enough details to avoid creating unnecessary informational gaps. Think carefully about their baseline knowledge, so that you don't patronize them—if necessary, you should ask how familiar the subject already is—and use this to gauge the elements that you need to include to ease their understanding. In Cooney's experiments, speakers reduced the novelty penalty if they gave a more complete narrative of the videos under discussion. When they were recounting the recent scientific discoveries about crow intelligence, for example, it helped to describe the inspiration for the research, and a general overview of the main conclusions (crows are smart!), followed by more in-depth accounts of the individual findings. They ended by describing how we could train crows to pick up litter in sports stadiums—and how our understanding of crow intelligence might change the way we think about the human mind. With this level of detail, the speakers enjoyed the discussions almost as much as the discussion of the topic that was already familiar. You might also remember the novelty penalty when the roles are reversed, and you are struggling to engage with someone else's experiences. In the past, your general reluctance to ask questions might have prevented you from seeking out the additional information that would allow you to close the gap in understanding. Whoever we are talking to, and whatever we are talking about, we should be looking for balance—in the exchanges between partners, in the depth of the discussion and in the familiarity of the topics. This is the crux of our fifth law of connection: In conversation, demonstrate active attention, engage in self-disclosure, and avoid the novelty penalty, to build mutual understanding and contribute to the merging of our minds. Whether we are on a first date or meeting a lifelong friend, each sentence we speak offers a new opportunity for greater connection.

Max Verstappen holds off Lando Norris to win Spanish GP and increase F1 lead

Red Bull driver Max Verstappen of the Netherlands celebrates after winning the Formula 1 Spanish Grand Prix race at the Barcelona Catalunya racetrack in Montmelo, near Barcelona, Spain, Sunday, June 23, 2024. (AP Photo/Joan Monfort) Max Verstappen steered his Red Bull to victory at the Spanish Grand Prix on Sunday to increase his lead in the Formula 1 drivers championship. Verstappen started from second on the grid behind pole-sitter Lando Norris. But the three-time champion whipped past the McLaren driver by the first turn and then overtook George Russell on lap three of 66 and never looked back. Norris tried to mount a late challenge, but Verstappen upped the pace to cross first. Norris was second, followed by Lewis Hamilton of Mercedes in third. Verstappen said that his moves to get past Norris and Russell so early proved crucial so he could build an advantage and keep the hard-charging Norris at bay. The information you need to know, sent directly to you: Download the CTV News App "I think what made the difference in the race was the beginning," Verstappen said. "I took the lead and had my buffer. After that, we had to drive a defensive race." Verstappen got his seventh win in 10 races this season and claimed his third straight victory at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalonia. Verstappen has 219 points. Norris moved into second place with 150, overtaking Ferrari's Charles Leclerc, who fell into third place with 148 points after finishing fifth. Norris put the blame on his poor start — when he lost two spots — for having to settle for second. The British driver got his first win at Miami in May and was gunning for a second victory. "I should have won," Norris said. "I got a bad straight, it is as simple as that." Top sports headlines, all in one place Hamilton's third place was the first podium of the season for the seven-time world champion, who is in his last season for Mercedes before joining Ferrari next season. Norris was beaten from the starting line by Verstappen and Russell, who whipped around both rivals from his start from fourth on the grid to take a surprise lead after the nearly 600-metre run to the first corner. Verstappen was right behind Russell, however, and within two laps he swerved past him just after his team told him "(this) might be our best opportunity now." Once ahead, Verstappen managed his tires on the tough Barcelona track, and his Red Bull team pulled off two clean pit stops to avoid any mistakes. Norris showed his great form by chasing down both Mercedes after a tire change. He got past Hamilton and then featured in a long duel with Russell midway through the race. Norris swerved past, Russell counterattacked to edge ahead, before Norris finally got in front. But the jousting also favoured Verstappen, who added to his lead. Norris turned up the speed over the final 10 laps and was closing on the Dutchman, but he ran out of time and track. He crossed two seconds behind Verstappen. Russell finished fourth, while it was a bad day for Leclerc and Carlos Sainz as neither Ferrari could contend with the front runners. Sainz, the Spanish fan's best hope for a win, finished sixth. Norris' McLaren partner Oscar Piastri was seventh. Sergio Perez in the other Red Bull was eighth after his start from 11th place following a third-place grid penalty incurred in last round's Canadian GP. Alpine pair Pierre Gasly and Esteban Ocon rounded out the top 10. Fernando Alonso was 12th in his Aston Martin. Conservative surge combined with ballot confusion could crack a Liberal stronghold in Toronto byelection Growing political discontent in a Liberal stronghold could lead to a Conservative breakthrough in an Ontario byelection that may put Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's leadership to the test. On Monday, voters in the riding of Toronto-St. Paul's will head to the polls to elect a new member of Parliament. Blue Jays rookie infielder Orelvis Martinez suspended 80 games for doping violation Toronto Blue Jays infielder Orelvis Martinez's rookie season is on hold almost as soon as it began. A woman is accused of attempting to drown a 3-year-old Muslim child in possible hate crime incident A woman in Texas has been charged with attempted capital murder and injury to a child after trying to drown a three-year-old child at an apartment complex pool and making racial statements, according to police. Why Mount Rainier is the U.S. volcano keeping scientists up at night The snowcapped peak of Mount Rainier, which towers 4.3 kilometres (2.7 miles) above sea level in Washington state, has not produced a significant volcanic eruption in the past 1,000 years. Yet, more than Hawaii's bubbling lava fields or Yellowstone's sprawling supervolcano, it's Mount Rainier that has many U.S. volcanologists worried. 'I feel like I have my life again': Canadian woman describes her freedom from a life controlled by OCD What set Rima Youssef on the path to freedom, she says, was a novel treatment — a form of brain surgery — to shut down the overactive thoughts and compulsions using focused ultrasound. Untreated water available for residents, businesses at 2 Calgary locations as water consumption continues to drop B.C. First Nations involved in salmon farming demand apology from William Shatner, Ryan Reynolds U.K. election betting scandal widens as a fourth Conservative Party official reportedly investigated The chief data officer of Britain's Conservative Party has taken a leave of absence, British media reported Sunday, following growing allegations that the governing party's members used inside information to bet on the date of Britain's July 4 national election before it was announced. Trump floats 'migrant league of fighters' in latest dehumanizing rhetoric against migrants A fourth victim has died a day after a shooting at an Arkansas grocery store, police say A woman is accused of attempting to drown a 3-year-old Muslim child in possible hate crime incident Over 1,000 died during this year's Hajj pilgrimage in Saudi Arabia, officials say More than 1,000 people died during this year's Hajj pilgrimage in Saudi Arabia as the faithful faced extreme high temperatures at Islamic holy sites in the desert kingdom, officials said Sunday. With its new pact with North Korea, Russia raises the stakes with the West over Ukraine Conservative surge combined with ballot confusion could crack a Liberal stronghold in Toronto byelection Growing political discontent in a Liberal stronghold could lead to a Conservative breakthrough in an Ontario byelection that may put Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's leadership to the test. On Monday, voters in the riding of Toronto-St. Paul's will head to the polls to elect a new member of Parliament. Donald Sutherland was 'in awe' of son Kiefer while filming 'Forsaken,' says director CDK hackers want millions in ransom to end car dealership outage, Bloomberg News reports Here's how to take advantage of the market conditions to buy a home CDK hackers want millions in ransom to end car dealership outage, Bloomberg News reports Bugatti's new car is a US$4 million, 1,800 horsepower hybrid 'Historic victory': Judge orders Quebec to pay taxi drivers $143 million for abolishing permits This 16-year-old is U of T's youngest graduate since at least 1979 B.C. court overturns environmental board's ruling over 'apprehension of bias' Conservative surge combined with ballot confusion could crack a Liberal stronghold in Toronto byelection Panthers face task of regrouping for Game 7 with history, Stanley Cup on the line Illegal moose hunters fined $56.5K, suspended for 27 years in northern Ont. A 7 p.m. vigil is planned for the unnamed mother, father and two children at the local soccer complex. B.C. highway reopened after school bus, pedestrian crashes that killed 1 and sent 14 to hospital Traffic began moving again overnight on Highway 97 north of Lac La Hache, B.C., after a pair of crashes – one involving a school bus – left one person dead and sent 14 people to hospital Friday afternoon. B.C. First Nations involved in salmon farming demand apology from William Shatner, Ryan Reynolds Northern Ontario Indigenous not-for-profit energy company releases new book

sports

Max Verstappen holds off Lando Norris to win Spanish GP and increase F1 lead. Red Bull driver Max Verstappen of the Netherlands celebrates after winning the Formula 1 Spanish Grand Prix race at the Barcelona Catalunya racetrack in Montmelo, near Barcelona, Spain, Sunday, June 23, 2024. (AP Photo/Joan Monfort) Max Verstappen steered his Red Bull to victory at the Spanish Grand Prix on Sunday to increase his lead in the Formula 1 drivers championship. Verstappen started from second on the grid behind pole-sitter Lando Norris. But the three-time champion whipped past the McLaren driver by the first turn and then overtook George Russell on lap three of 66 and never looked back. Norris tried to mount a late challenge, but Verstappen upped the pace to cross first. Norris was second, followed by Lewis Hamilton of Mercedes in third. Verstappen said that his moves to get past Norris and Russell so early proved crucial so he could build an advantage and keep the hard-charging Norris at bay. The information you need to know, sent directly to you: Download the CTV News App "I think what made the difference in the race was the beginning," Verstappen said. "I took the lead and had my buffer. After that, we had to drive a defensive race." Verstappen got his seventh win in 10 races this season and claimed his third straight victory at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalonia. Verstappen has 219 points. Norris moved into second place with 150, overtaking Ferrari's Charles Leclerc, who fell into third place with 148 points after finishing fifth. Norris put the blame on his poor start — when he lost two spots — for having to settle for second. The British driver got his first win at Miami in May and was gunning for a second victory. "I should have won," Norris said. "I got a bad straight, it is as simple as that." Top sports headlines, all in one place Hamilton's third place was the first podium of the season for the seven-time world champion, who is in his last season for Mercedes before joining Ferrari next season. Norris was beaten from the starting line by Verstappen and Russell, who whipped around both rivals from his start from fourth on the grid to take a surprise lead after the nearly 600-metre run to the first corner. Verstappen was right behind Russell, however, and within two laps he swerved past him just after his team told him "(this) might be our best opportunity now." Once ahead, Verstappen managed his tires on the tough Barcelona track, and his Red Bull team pulled off two clean pit stops to avoid any mistakes. Norris showed his great form by chasing down both Mercedes after a tire change. He got past Hamilton and then featured in a long duel with Russell midway through the race. Norris swerved past, Russell counterattacked to edge ahead, before Norris finally got in front. But the jousting also favoured Verstappen, who added to his lead. Norris turned up the speed over the final 10 laps and was closing on the Dutchman, but he ran out of time and track. He crossed two seconds behind Verstappen. Russell finished fourth, while it was a bad day for Leclerc and Carlos Sainz as neither Ferrari could contend with the front runners. Sainz, the Spanish fan's best hope for a win, finished sixth. Norris' McLaren partner Oscar Piastri was seventh. Sergio Perez in the other Red Bull was eighth after his start from 11th place following a third-place grid penalty incurred in last round's Canadian GP. Alpine pair Pierre Gasly and Esteban Ocon rounded out the top 10. Fernando Alonso was 12th in his Aston Martin. Conservative surge combined with ballot confusion could crack a Liberal stronghold in Toronto byelection Growing political discontent in a Liberal stronghold could lead to a Conservative breakthrough in an Ontario byelection that may put Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's leadership to the test. On Monday, voters in the riding of Toronto-St. Paul's will head to the polls to elect a new member of Parliament. Blue Jays rookie infielder Orelvis Martinez suspended 80 games for doping violation Toronto Blue Jays infielder Orelvis Martinez's rookie season is on hold almost as soon as it began. A woman is accused of attempting to drown a 3-year-old Muslim child in possible hate crime incident A woman in Texas has been charged with attempted capital murder and injury to a child after trying to drown a three-year-old child at an apartment complex pool and making racial statements, according to police. Why Mount Rainier is the U.S. volcano keeping scientists up at night The snowcapped peak of Mount Rainier, which towers 4.3 kilometres (2.7 miles) above sea level in Washington state, has not produced a significant volcanic eruption in the past 1,000 years. Yet, more than Hawaii's bubbling lava fields or Yellowstone's sprawling supervolcano, it's Mount Rainier that has many U.S. volcanologists worried. 'I feel like I have my life again': Canadian woman describes her freedom from a life controlled by OCD What set Rima Youssef on the path to freedom, she says, was a novel treatment — a form of brain surgery — to shut down the overactive thoughts and compulsions using focused ultrasound. Untreated water available for residents, businesses at 2 Calgary locations as water consumption continues to drop B.C. First Nations involved in salmon farming demand apology from William Shatner, Ryan Reynolds U.K. election betting scandal widens as a fourth Conservative Party official reportedly investigated The chief data officer of Britain's Conservative Party has taken a leave of absence, British media reported Sunday, following growing allegations that the governing party's members used inside information to bet on the date of Britain's July 4 national election before it was announced. Trump floats 'migrant league of fighters' in latest dehumanizing rhetoric against migrants A fourth victim has died a day after a shooting at an Arkansas grocery store, police say A woman is accused of attempting to drown a 3-year-old Muslim child in possible hate crime incident Over 1,000 died during this year's Hajj pilgrimage in Saudi Arabia, officials say More than 1,000 people died during this year's Hajj pilgrimage in Saudi Arabia as the faithful faced extreme high temperatures at Islamic holy sites in the desert kingdom, officials said Sunday. With its new pact with North Korea, Russia raises the stakes with the West over Ukraine Conservative surge combined with ballot confusion could crack a Liberal stronghold in Toronto byelection Growing political discontent in a Liberal stronghold could lead to a Conservative breakthrough in an Ontario byelection that may put Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's leadership to the test. On Monday, voters in the riding of Toronto-St. Paul's will head to the polls to elect a new member of Parliament. Donald Sutherland was 'in awe' of son Kiefer while filming 'Forsaken,' says director CDK hackers want millions in ransom to end car dealership outage, Bloomberg News reports Here's how to take advantage of the market conditions to buy a home CDK hackers want millions in ransom to end car dealership outage, Bloomberg News reports Bugatti's new car is a US$4 million, 1,800 horsepower hybrid 'Historic victory': Judge orders Quebec to pay taxi drivers $143 million for abolishing permits This 16-year-old is U of T's youngest graduate since at least 1979 B.C. court overturns environmental board's ruling over 'apprehension of bias' Conservative surge combined with ballot confusion could crack a Liberal stronghold in Toronto byelection Panthers face task of regrouping for Game 7 with history, Stanley Cup on the line Illegal moose hunters fined $56.5K, suspended for 27 years in northern Ont. A 7 p.m. vigil is planned for the unnamed mother, father and two children at the local soccer complex. B.C. highway reopened after school bus, pedestrian crashes that killed 1 and sent 14 to hospital Traffic began moving again overnight on Highway 97 north of Lac La Hache, B.C., after a pair of crashes – one involving a school bus – left one person dead and sent 14 people to hospital Friday afternoon. B.C. First Nations involved in salmon farming demand apology from William Shatner, Ryan Reynolds Northern Ontario Indigenous not-for-profit energy company releases new book

American Hop Supplier Honors Veterans with Annual Hop Blend

Yakima Chief Hops (YCH), a 100% grower-owned global hop supplier, opens the 7 th Annual Veterans Blend pre-sale! Veterans Blend is a collaborative hop product supporting former U.S. military service members. YCH will donate $3 from every pound sold to Stop Soldier Suicide, a nonprofit organization that works to reduce the number of suicide deaths among Veterans. Brewers are encouraged to place their orders between The blend is curated and selected by military Veterans working in the beer industry. This year's blend will be comprised of Ekuanot ®, Citra ®, El Dorado ®, Simcoe ®, and Crystal, and is expected to offer big berry notes, complimented by tropical citrus, and an underlying herbal character. This compelling combination of hops promises to be an excellent addition to any style of beer. Along with choosing the hops they want to feature in this impact-driven blend, they also nominate and vote for the nonprofit organization the blend will be raising funds for. This year, YCH is proud to announce its partnership with Stop Soldier Suicide. By focusing on care and research that is specific to suicide reduction, Stop Soldier Suicide's mission is to create a future where Veterans are at no greater risk for suicide than any other American. YCH Regional Sales Manager Southeast, and Marine Veteran, Jonathan Sikes adds, "They are helping in an area that is often overlooked or unseen until it's too late. We are honored to help them in their cause providing invaluable support to Veterans who are often hesitant or averse to opening up or seeking help." Veterans are at 72% higher risk of suicide than those who haven't served. Each year, over 6,000 United States military Veterans die by suicide. Stop Soldier Suicide is aggressively working to reduce the military suicide rate by 40% no later than 2030. Brewers traditionally use this blend to create something unique for Veterans Day, Memorial Day, or other occasions to honor those who have served. Those who use this hop blend are encouraged to help maximize the impact by donating to an organization that supports Veterans or involve the Veterans in their community with their brew. Purchase this year's Veteran's Blend

lifestyle

American Hop Supplier Honors Veterans with Annual Hop Blend. Yakima Chief Hops (YCH), a 100% grower-owned global hop supplier, opens the 7 th Annual Veterans Blend pre-sale! Veterans Blend is a collaborative hop product supporting former U.S. military service members. YCH will donate $3 from every pound sold to Stop Soldier Suicide, a nonprofit organization that works to reduce the number of suicide deaths among Veterans. Brewers are encouraged to place their orders between The blend is curated and selected by military Veterans working in the beer industry. This year's blend will be comprised of Ekuanot ®, Citra ®, El Dorado ®, Simcoe ®, and Crystal, and is expected to offer big berry notes, complimented by tropical citrus, and an underlying herbal character. This compelling combination of hops promises to be an excellent addition to any style of beer. Along with choosing the hops they want to feature in this impact-driven blend, they also nominate and vote for the nonprofit organization the blend will be raising funds for. This year, YCH is proud to announce its partnership with Stop Soldier Suicide. By focusing on care and research that is specific to suicide reduction, Stop Soldier Suicide's mission is to create a future where Veterans are at no greater risk for suicide than any other American. YCH Regional Sales Manager Southeast, and Marine Veteran, Jonathan Sikes adds, "They are helping in an area that is often overlooked or unseen until it's too late. We are honored to help them in their cause providing invaluable support to Veterans who are often hesitant or averse to opening up or seeking help." Veterans are at 72% higher risk of suicide than those who haven't served. Each year, over 6,000 United States military Veterans die by suicide. Stop Soldier Suicide is aggressively working to reduce the military suicide rate by 40% no later than 2030. Brewers traditionally use this blend to create something unique for Veterans Day, Memorial Day, or other occasions to honor those who have served. Those who use this hop blend are encouraged to help maximize the impact by donating to an organization that supports Veterans or involve the Veterans in their community with their brew. Purchase this year's Veteran's Blend

Introducing ZWCAD 2025: Create Amazing Things

June 4, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- ZWSOFT, a reliable all-in-one CAx solutions provider, today announced the release of ZWCAD 2025, the latest version of its powerful 2D CAD solution. Elaine Zhu, Go-to-market Manager of ZWCAD, said, "We are committed to creating not only a reliable and stable 2D CAD tool in the market, but also a tool that offers powerful 3D viewing and basic 3D modeling capabilities, and is more intelligent and collaborative. She added, "In ZWCAD 2025, we've not only refined our 2D functions, but have also introduced significant upgrades in 3D capabilities, the user interface and industry-specific modules. We're confident that these enhancements can enhance the overall user experience and meet the varied needs of our customers." Now, let's dive into the key new features and enhancements in ZWCAD 2025! Efficient improvement In ZWCAD 2025, users can open, pan and zoom complex 3D models faster and smoother. Tests on ZWCAD 2025 revealed that compared to ZWCAD 2024, the efficiency of opening 3D models has increased by 62.8%, while the efficiency of viewing 3D models has increased by 34.4%. These enhancements will offer users a seamless experience even when dealing with complex projects. New Visual Styles With the addition of 4 new visual styles for 3D models, including Conceptual, Realistic, Shade of Grey, and X-ray, and the optimization of display quality of existing visual styles, ZWCAD 2025 meets various visualization needs, ensuring users' designs are viewed precisely as intended. ZWCAD 2025 can directly import STEP, including AP203 and AP214 versions. This eliminates the need for format conversion and enhances collaboration between upstream and downstream partners. Additionally, it allows users to specify insert locations, import methods and display settings to simplify workflows. In ZWCAD 2025, three 3D gizmos were added to enable users to move, rotate, or scale a set of objects along a 3D axis or plane respectively. Beyond that, a Transform gizmo was also added to allow users to switch between move, rotate and scale more conveniently. Ribbon Improvement The R&D team has revamped the Ribbon to make it easier for users to customize their user interface. The ribbon can be slid out, dragged, floated and collapsed as icons, so users can build their own workspace that aligns perfectly with their workflow. Additionally, if they're transitioning from AutoCAD® or a previous ZWCAD version, users can seamlessly migrate their CUIX settings to enjoy a familiar environment without the need to start from scratch. The Panel was also revamped to enhance users' drawing experience. Panels, including the Properties Panel, Layer Properties Manager and more, can be stacked with other panels or hidden automatically to provide designers with a bigger drawing area. A panel navigator is added to let users drag or dock panels more conveniently. In ZWCAD 2025, users can drag drawing windows out of the program as floating windows to view multiple drawings simultaneously. If they have two monitors, they can move the floating window onto another monitor. This feature avoids the hassle of switching between tabs or launching two or more programs when they need to use another drawing for reference.

entertainment

Introducing ZWCAD 2025: Create Amazing Things. June 4, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- ZWSOFT, a reliable all-in-one CAx solutions provider, today announced the release of ZWCAD 2025, the latest version of its powerful 2D CAD solution. Elaine Zhu, Go-to-market Manager of ZWCAD, said, "We are committed to creating not only a reliable and stable 2D CAD tool in the market, but also a tool that offers powerful 3D viewing and basic 3D modeling capabilities, and is more intelligent and collaborative. She added, "In ZWCAD 2025, we've not only refined our 2D functions, but have also introduced significant upgrades in 3D capabilities, the user interface and industry-specific modules. We're confident that these enhancements can enhance the overall user experience and meet the varied needs of our customers." Now, let's dive into the key new features and enhancements in ZWCAD 2025! Efficient improvement In ZWCAD 2025, users can open, pan and zoom complex 3D models faster and smoother. Tests on ZWCAD 2025 revealed that compared to ZWCAD 2024, the efficiency of opening 3D models has increased by 62.8%, while the efficiency of viewing 3D models has increased by 34.4%. These enhancements will offer users a seamless experience even when dealing with complex projects. New Visual Styles With the addition of 4 new visual styles for 3D models, including Conceptual, Realistic, Shade of Grey, and X-ray, and the optimization of display quality of existing visual styles, ZWCAD 2025 meets various visualization needs, ensuring users' designs are viewed precisely as intended. ZWCAD 2025 can directly import STEP, including AP203 and AP214 versions. This eliminates the need for format conversion and enhances collaboration between upstream and downstream partners. Additionally, it allows users to specify insert locations, import methods and display settings to simplify workflows. In ZWCAD 2025, three 3D gizmos were added to enable users to move, rotate, or scale a set of objects along a 3D axis or plane respectively. Beyond that, a Transform gizmo was also added to allow users to switch between move, rotate and scale more conveniently. Ribbon Improvement The R&D team has revamped the Ribbon to make it easier for users to customize their user interface. The ribbon can be slid out, dragged, floated and collapsed as icons, so users can build their own workspace that aligns perfectly with their workflow. Additionally, if they're transitioning from AutoCAD® or a previous ZWCAD version, users can seamlessly migrate their CUIX settings to enjoy a familiar environment without the need to start from scratch. The Panel was also revamped to enhance users' drawing experience. Panels, including the Properties Panel, Layer Properties Manager and more, can be stacked with other panels or hidden automatically to provide designers with a bigger drawing area. A panel navigator is added to let users drag or dock panels more conveniently. In ZWCAD 2025, users can drag drawing windows out of the program as floating windows to view multiple drawings simultaneously. If they have two monitors, they can move the floating window onto another monitor. This feature avoids the hassle of switching between tabs or launching two or more programs when they need to use another drawing for reference.

5 missiles land near ship in Red Sea, likely the latest attack by Yemen's Houthis

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates -- A ship traveling through the Red Sea came under repeated missile fire Friday in a likely attack launched by Yemen's Houthi rebels, authorities said, the latest targeting the crucial maritime route. Five missiles landed near the vessel as it traveled off the coast of the rebel-held port city of Hodeida in Yemen, the British military's United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations center said. The missiles landed near the vessel, but caused no damage, the UKTMO added. The Houthis did not immediately claim the attack. However, it can take them hours or even days before they acknowledge an assault. The rebels have targeted more than 60 vessels by firing missiles and drones in their campaign that has killed a total of four sailors. They seized one vessel and sank two since November. A U.S.-led airstrike campaign has targeted the Houthis since January, with a series of strikes on May 30 killing at least 16 people and wounding 42 others, the rebels say. The Houthis maintain that their attacks target ships linked to Israel, the United States or Britain. However, many of the ships attacked have little or no connection to the Israel-Hamas war — including some bound for Iran. Late on Tuesday, Houthi military spokesman Brig. Gen. Yahya Saree said the group was responsible for an attack Monday on the Liberian-flagged, Greek-managed container ship MSC Sarah V. On Wednesday, the Houthis claimed they used a new hypersonic ballistic missile in the assault, which targeted a ship farther away than nearly all of the previous assaults they've launched in the Gulf of Aden. The U.S. military's Central Command also said it destroyed a Houthi radar site. Another attack Wednesday in the Gulf of Aden was suspected to have been carried out by the Houthis, though they have yet to claim it.

world

5 missiles land near ship in Red Sea, likely the latest attack by Yemen's Houthis. DUBAI, United Arab Emirates -- A ship traveling through the Red Sea came under repeated missile fire Friday in a likely attack launched by Yemen's Houthi rebels, authorities said, the latest targeting the crucial maritime route. Five missiles landed near the vessel as it traveled off the coast of the rebel-held port city of Hodeida in Yemen, the British military's United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations center said. The missiles landed near the vessel, but caused no damage, the UKTMO added. The Houthis did not immediately claim the attack. However, it can take them hours or even days before they acknowledge an assault. The rebels have targeted more than 60 vessels by firing missiles and drones in their campaign that has killed a total of four sailors. They seized one vessel and sank two since November. A U.S.-led airstrike campaign has targeted the Houthis since January, with a series of strikes on May 30 killing at least 16 people and wounding 42 others, the rebels say. The Houthis maintain that their attacks target ships linked to Israel, the United States or Britain. However, many of the ships attacked have little or no connection to the Israel-Hamas war — including some bound for Iran. Late on Tuesday, Houthi military spokesman Brig. Gen. Yahya Saree said the group was responsible for an attack Monday on the Liberian-flagged, Greek-managed container ship MSC Sarah V. On Wednesday, the Houthis claimed they used a new hypersonic ballistic missile in the assault, which targeted a ship farther away than nearly all of the previous assaults they've launched in the Gulf of Aden. The U.S. military's Central Command also said it destroyed a Houthi radar site. Another attack Wednesday in the Gulf of Aden was suspected to have been carried out by the Houthis, though they have yet to claim it.

Doomlings Announces New Variety Expansion 'Imaginary Ends'

June 28, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Doomlings announced today 'Imaginary Ends,' a new Variety Expansion to its flagship game that contains five thematically linked expansion sets packaged together in one box: Magical Merchants – Your age pile has been compromised. "Magical" merchants have smuggled their way in to sell you trinkets with "awesome" powers. Unfortunately, some of these powers aren't as awesome as they seem. But don't worry! Complete the trinket's objective to pocket it and score extra points! Deeplings – Lurking in the fathomless darkness are Deeplings, which feature the new "suppress" mechanic. When you suppress a card, you hide it face-down underneath a trait in your trait pile. Suppressed cards are worth 1 point each. And because they don't count as traits, you can grow in power while keeping your trait pile small! Glitterlings – Glitterlings live in a happy-go-lucky land of make-believe where childhood never ends and cupcakes and marshmallows meet for tea. These Sparkly Balls are all about CHANCE! With the right amount of luck, huge new combos are possible. Moonlings – Moonlings are weirdos. Not only do they speak their own language, they also force you to play with fewer cards. But these unexpected visitors have some unexpected benefits too, allowing you to give unwanted cards to opponents and even rewarding you for having a lower Gene Pool! Fuzelings – Fuzelings combine the art and mechanics of Deeplings, Glitterlings, and Moonlings. They can help you get bigger bonuses from Drop of Life effects and trigger new combos! Each box also contains 1 Mystery Holofoil collectible card. For a limited time, these cards will be marked with the signature Doomlings 1st Edition star and will have a guaranteed rarity of Scarce or Better, before the full collection of holofoils is released in Imaginary Ends Gold Packs, coming soon.

business,lifestyle

Doomlings Announces New Variety Expansion 'Imaginary Ends'. June 28, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Doomlings announced today 'Imaginary Ends,' a new Variety Expansion to its flagship game that contains five thematically linked expansion sets packaged together in one box: Magical Merchants – Your age pile has been compromised. "Magical" merchants have smuggled their way in to sell you trinkets with "awesome" powers. Unfortunately, some of these powers aren't as awesome as they seem. But don't worry! Complete the trinket's objective to pocket it and score extra points! Deeplings – Lurking in the fathomless darkness are Deeplings, which feature the new "suppress" mechanic. When you suppress a card, you hide it face-down underneath a trait in your trait pile. Suppressed cards are worth 1 point each. And because they don't count as traits, you can grow in power while keeping your trait pile small! Glitterlings – Glitterlings live in a happy-go-lucky land of make-believe where childhood never ends and cupcakes and marshmallows meet for tea. These Sparkly Balls are all about CHANCE! With the right amount of luck, huge new combos are possible. Moonlings – Moonlings are weirdos. Not only do they speak their own language, they also force you to play with fewer cards. But these unexpected visitors have some unexpected benefits too, allowing you to give unwanted cards to opponents and even rewarding you for having a lower Gene Pool! Fuzelings – Fuzelings combine the art and mechanics of Deeplings, Glitterlings, and Moonlings. They can help you get bigger bonuses from Drop of Life effects and trigger new combos! Each box also contains 1 Mystery Holofoil collectible card. For a limited time, these cards will be marked with the signature Doomlings 1st Edition star and will have a guaranteed rarity of Scarce or Better, before the full collection of holofoils is released in Imaginary Ends Gold Packs, coming soon.

Dormant Bitcoin miner sends $3m to Binance after 14 years of inactivity

data from Lookonchain, the address 1PDTD…m3Jcm sent the funds to 11 years dormant, 20 minutes to transfer $60m: Mysterious Bitcoin wallet activation piques curiosity The "Satoshi era" address refers to addresses that were active during the early days of the Bitcoin network, specifically from the time when the first cryptocurrency was created by Satoshi Nakamoto in 2009 until around 2011, which is when Satoshi Nakamoto mysteriously disappeared. This is not the first instance of old Bitcoin wallets reactivating. Several addresses from the "Satoshi era" have shown activity since early 2023. In July of last year, a wallet dormant for 11 years transferred $30 million worth of Bitcoin to other wallets. In August, another wallet moved 1,005 BTC to a new address.

crypto

Dormant Bitcoin miner sends $3m to Binance after 14 years of inactivity. data from Lookonchain, the address 1PDTD…m3Jcm sent the funds to 11 years dormant, 20 minutes to transfer $60m: Mysterious Bitcoin wallet activation piques curiosity The "Satoshi era" address refers to addresses that were active during the early days of the Bitcoin network, specifically from the time when the first cryptocurrency was created by Satoshi Nakamoto in 2009 until around 2011, which is when Satoshi Nakamoto mysteriously disappeared. This is not the first instance of old Bitcoin wallets reactivating. Several addresses from the "Satoshi era" have shown activity since early 2023. In July of last year, a wallet dormant for 11 years transferred $30 million worth of Bitcoin to other wallets. In August, another wallet moved 1,005 BTC to a new address.

Hard facts or hysteria: Is technology ruining our kids lives?

At about eight o’clock each night, a little voice calls me. “C’mon,” it says, “It will relax you. You know you want it.” I tell myself I don’t need it. I’m perfectly fine, sitting here watching “House Hunters” reruns with my husband. But it’s no use. I can’t resist the temptation. With trembling hands, I reach for my tablet and jab the all-too-familiar icon. The screen comes alive with animated googly-eyed characters, bright primary blocks, flashing gold coins, polka-dotted balloons and twirling rockets. I feel my heart quicken with a surge of excitement. When I run out of lives on Toon Blast, I click the Toy Blast icon. I switch back and forth between the two nearly identical games in an adrenaline-fueled frenzy until my daughter yells, “Mom! Are you listening to me?”, my husband bellows at me to come to bed, or my eyes bleed. Whichever comes first. A few years ago, I used to “tsk” at those “losers” who would post their Candy Crush levels on Facebook. When my aunt suggested I try Words With Friends, I scoffed and condescended. I might gander at a New York Times crossword puzzle or flop down a round of solitaire, but I didn’t have time for silly apps. Now here I am, a grown woman, ignoring my children and husband while I poke at cartoon characters on my tablet like some kind of trained chimpanzee. How did this happen? According to Adam Alter, author of Irresistible: The Rise of Addictive Technology and the Business of Keeping Us Hooked (2017), tech executives are to blame for me being a Toon Blast junkie. Apparently, today’s industry big shots select apps based on how addictive they are. In fact, the tech industry is now being compared to American tobacco companies. In the 1960s, big tobacco execs realized that their customers’ chemical dependence was their products’ crucial selling point, but they didn’t publicly acknowledge nicotine as addictive until 30 years later. Today’s tech industry is being accused of the same kind of consumer manipulation. In January, two big investors sent an open letter to Apple, citing the harmful effects of cell phone overuse on children, and calling on Apple to prevent such overuse through more parental controls. The research cited in the letter — and all over the internet — is nothing short of alarming. The letter, citing a study by Professor Jean Twenge of San Diego State University, stated that “U.S. teenagers who spend 3 hours a day or more on electronic devices are 35 percent more likely, and those who spend 5 hours or more are 71 percent more likely, to have a risk factor for suicide than those who spend less than 1 hour.” Another study published last month found that restricting bedroom use of smartphones was related to decreased risk of addiction, better focus, more satisfying relationships, and overall happiness. A similar study found teenage girls at particular risk of depression and suicide from smartphone overuse. Some researchers have argued that digital technology is to blame for the delay in young people making social-transitions such as working full-time, getting married, and becoming parents. Moreover, over half of American teenagers themselves admitted to “feeling addicted” to their smartphones, in a 2016 survey by Common Sense Media. However, other reputable scientists and industry insiders say that the research conducted thus far is inconclusive or flawed, and the worry over mobile device overuse is overblown. Some blame parents for not monitoring their children, while others cite studies showing that cell phone usage has actually benefitted young people socially. The only thing that is clear in this quagmire of sneaky tech executives, blame-deflecting parents and attention-seeking scientists is that, until there is unbiased research based on facts rather than fear or finances, parents have to use common sense in limiting their kids tech usage. All this analysis would normally induce cravings for a few mind-numbing rounds of Toon Blast, but one study I read could cure my addiction cold turkey: a global survey conducted by AVG Technologies found that 54 percent of kids feel unimportant when their parents are distracted by their mobile devices. Oh, the irony. www.themeatandpotatoesoflife.com www.adamalterauthor.com www.thinkdifferentlyaboutkids.com www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0747563218301523?via%3Dihub www.nature.com/articles/d41586-018-02109-8 www.commonsensemedia.org/about-us/news/press-releases/new-report-finds-teens-feel-addicted-to-their-phones-causing-tension-at www.investors.com/politics/editorials/no-apple-is-not-responsible-for-your-kids-smartphone-addiction/ www.commonsensemedia.org/about-us/news/press-releases/new-report-finds-teens-feel-addicted-to-their-phones-causing-tension-at www.journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/2167702617723376

military

Hard facts or hysteria: Is technology ruining our kids lives?. At about eight o’clock each night, a little voice calls me. “C’mon,” it says, “It will relax you. You know you want it.” I tell myself I don’t need it. I’m perfectly fine, sitting here watching “House Hunters” reruns with my husband. But it’s no use. I can’t resist the temptation. With trembling hands, I reach for my tablet and jab the all-too-familiar icon. The screen comes alive with animated googly-eyed characters, bright primary blocks, flashing gold coins, polka-dotted balloons and twirling rockets. I feel my heart quicken with a surge of excitement. When I run out of lives on Toon Blast, I click the Toy Blast icon. I switch back and forth between the two nearly identical games in an adrenaline-fueled frenzy until my daughter yells, “Mom! Are you listening to me?”, my husband bellows at me to come to bed, or my eyes bleed. Whichever comes first. A few years ago, I used to “tsk” at those “losers” who would post their Candy Crush levels on Facebook. When my aunt suggested I try Words With Friends, I scoffed and condescended. I might gander at a New York Times crossword puzzle or flop down a round of solitaire, but I didn’t have time for silly apps. Now here I am, a grown woman, ignoring my children and husband while I poke at cartoon characters on my tablet like some kind of trained chimpanzee. How did this happen? According to Adam Alter, author of Irresistible: The Rise of Addictive Technology and the Business of Keeping Us Hooked (2017), tech executives are to blame for me being a Toon Blast junkie. Apparently, today’s industry big shots select apps based on how addictive they are. In fact, the tech industry is now being compared to American tobacco companies. In the 1960s, big tobacco execs realized that their customers’ chemical dependence was their products’ crucial selling point, but they didn’t publicly acknowledge nicotine as addictive until 30 years later. Today’s tech industry is being accused of the same kind of consumer manipulation. In January, two big investors sent an open letter to Apple, citing the harmful effects of cell phone overuse on children, and calling on Apple to prevent such overuse through more parental controls. The research cited in the letter — and all over the internet — is nothing short of alarming. The letter, citing a study by Professor Jean Twenge of San Diego State University, stated that “U.S. teenagers who spend 3 hours a day or more on electronic devices are 35 percent more likely, and those who spend 5 hours or more are 71 percent more likely, to have a risk factor for suicide than those who spend less than 1 hour.” Another study published last month found that restricting bedroom use of smartphones was related to decreased risk of addiction, better focus, more satisfying relationships, and overall happiness. A similar study found teenage girls at particular risk of depression and suicide from smartphone overuse. Some researchers have argued that digital technology is to blame for the delay in young people making social-transitions such as working full-time, getting married, and becoming parents. Moreover, over half of American teenagers themselves admitted to “feeling addicted” to their smartphones, in a 2016 survey by Common Sense Media. However, other reputable scientists and industry insiders say that the research conducted thus far is inconclusive or flawed, and the worry over mobile device overuse is overblown. Some blame parents for not monitoring their children, while others cite studies showing that cell phone usage has actually benefitted young people socially. The only thing that is clear in this quagmire of sneaky tech executives, blame-deflecting parents and attention-seeking scientists is that, until there is unbiased research based on facts rather than fear or finances, parents have to use common sense in limiting their kids tech usage. All this analysis would normally induce cravings for a few mind-numbing rounds of Toon Blast, but one study I read could cure my addiction cold turkey: a global survey conducted by AVG Technologies found that 54 percent of kids feel unimportant when their parents are distracted by their mobile devices. Oh, the irony. www.themeatandpotatoesoflife.com www.adamalterauthor.com www.thinkdifferentlyaboutkids.com www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0747563218301523?via%3Dihub www.nature.com/articles/d41586-018-02109-8 www.commonsensemedia.org/about-us/news/press-releases/new-report-finds-teens-feel-addicted-to-their-phones-causing-tension-at www.investors.com/politics/editorials/no-apple-is-not-responsible-for-your-kids-smartphone-addiction/ www.commonsensemedia.org/about-us/news/press-releases/new-report-finds-teens-feel-addicted-to-their-phones-causing-tension-at www.journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/2167702617723376

US Shifts Assault Ship to the Mediterranean to Deter Risk of Israel-Lebanon Conflict Escalating

WASHINGTON — The amphibious assault ship USS Wasp entered the eastern Mediterranean Sea this week as the U.S. positions warships to try to keep fighting between Israel and Hezbollah in Lebanon from escalating into a wider war in the Middle East. While the Wasp has the capability to assist in the evacuation of civilians if full-scale war breaks out between Israel and Hezbollah along the Lebanon border, that's not the primary reason it was rotated in, a U.S. official said. "It's about deterrence," the official said. A second U.S. official said the rotation is similar to how the U.S. sent the USS Bataan assault ship into the waters around Israel shortly after Hamas' Oct. 7 attack on the country, with the vessel remaining for months in the eastern Mediterranean to help provide options and try to contain the conflict. The officials spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss sensitive operational details. U.S. European Command, which is responsible for ships operating in the Mediterranean, announced the move this week, saying the Wasp and the 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit aboard would sail with the dock landing ship USS Oak Hill, which is used to transport Marines, landing craft, vehicles and cargo. The Oak Hill is already in the Mediterranean. The Wasp also is sailing with the amphibious transport dock ship USS New York, which can deliver troops either by on-deck helicopters or landing vessels. It all comes as the Iranian-backed Hezbollah militant group and Israel have exchanged near-daily cross-border strikes since the Oct. 7 attacks that launched the Israel-Hamas war in Gaza, and they have been escalating gradually. The Israeli army said last week that it has "approved and validated" plans for an offensive in Lebanon, although any decision would come from the country's political leaders. Gen. CQ Brown, chairman of the U.S. Joint Chiefs of Staff, said Sunday that any Israeli military offensive into Lebanon would risk an Iranian response in defense of Hezbollah, triggering a broader war that could put American forces in the region in danger. The U.S. military also has shifted other ships in the region. The Pentagon said the aircraft carrier Eisenhower, based in Norfolk, Virginia, is returning home after a deployment of more than eight months countering strikes from Yemen's Houthi rebels on commercial shipping in the Red Sea that the Navy says is

military

US Shifts Assault Ship to the Mediterranean to Deter Risk of Israel-Lebanon Conflict Escalating. WASHINGTON — The amphibious assault ship USS Wasp entered the eastern Mediterranean Sea this week as the U.S. positions warships to try to keep fighting between Israel and Hezbollah in Lebanon from escalating into a wider war in the Middle East. While the Wasp has the capability to assist in the evacuation of civilians if full-scale war breaks out between Israel and Hezbollah along the Lebanon border, that's not the primary reason it was rotated in, a U.S. official said. "It's about deterrence," the official said. A second U.S. official said the rotation is similar to how the U.S. sent the USS Bataan assault ship into the waters around Israel shortly after Hamas' Oct. 7 attack on the country, with the vessel remaining for months in the eastern Mediterranean to help provide options and try to contain the conflict. The officials spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss sensitive operational details. U.S. European Command, which is responsible for ships operating in the Mediterranean, announced the move this week, saying the Wasp and the 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit aboard would sail with the dock landing ship USS Oak Hill, which is used to transport Marines, landing craft, vehicles and cargo. The Oak Hill is already in the Mediterranean. The Wasp also is sailing with the amphibious transport dock ship USS New York, which can deliver troops either by on-deck helicopters or landing vessels. It all comes as the Iranian-backed Hezbollah militant group and Israel have exchanged near-daily cross-border strikes since the Oct. 7 attacks that launched the Israel-Hamas war in Gaza, and they have been escalating gradually. The Israeli army said last week that it has "approved and validated" plans for an offensive in Lebanon, although any decision would come from the country's political leaders. Gen. CQ Brown, chairman of the U.S. Joint Chiefs of Staff, said Sunday that any Israeli military offensive into Lebanon would risk an Iranian response in defense of Hezbollah, triggering a broader war that could put American forces in the region in danger. The U.S. military also has shifted other ships in the region. The Pentagon said the aircraft carrier Eisenhower, based in Norfolk, Virginia, is returning home after a deployment of more than eight months countering strikes from Yemen's Houthi rebels on commercial shipping in the Red Sea that the Navy says is

‘It was an awakening’: Diane Abbott, Nicola Sturgeon, Rory Stewart and more on the books that shaped their politics

Chosen by Caroline Lucas The natural world is fundamental to my politics but, like many others, I tended to focus on saving it without always considering our interdependence. It wasn't until I read Braiding Sweetgrass, Robin Wall Kimmerer's mix of memoir, call to arms, celebration and warning that I fully grasped the richness of ourselves as nature. Subtitled Indigenous Wisdom, Scientific Knowledge and the Teachings of Plants, this book is about intimately loving our one life-sustaining planet. Wall Kimmerer's daily practice of gratitude for the uniquely valuable role in our ecosystem played by kin such as the moss spiders or the wild strawberries chimed with the way I was thinking anew about my relationship with the Earth. But it's also a book about what nature offers in return: her abundant generosity; the moments of joy; the power of the wind, sun and water; the land as everything from grocery store and pharmacy to living link with our ancestors. As Wall Kimmerer writes: "Knowing that you love the earth changes you, activates you to defend and protect and celebrate. But when you feel the earth loves you in return, that feeling transforms the relationship from a one-way street into a sacred bond." Her words were an awakening, gave new impetus to my campaigning alongside nature writer Mary Colwell for a Natural History GCSE and drew me more recently to the bid by campaigning group We Are Nature to secure a dictionary definition of nature that rejects a viewpoint in which we are dominant and superior to it – and instead better reflects that we are part of it, not apart. Green MP 2010-2024, former leader of the Green party of England and Wal es. The Female Eunuch by Germaine Greer Photograph: Laura Hynd/Camera press One of the most fundamental aspects of my politics has been my feminism. In the 1970s, as I moved from school to university, this was a new and exciting way of understanding the world. And one of the most important feminist texts of the time was The Female Eunuch. Published in 1970, it was an international bestseller and if you called yourself a feminist, you needed to have read it. Among other things, it deconstructed the submissive role that much of society still expected of women. It was not Greer that made me a feminist. Looking back, I can see my feminism flowed partly from my West Indian background. That society is ostensibly patriarchal, but for generations, strong black women have often been the rock of the family and community. Other things also informed my feminism and belief that women could do anything in the world they wanted to and take up any authority role they chose. I went to an all-girls grammar school where all the staff, including the headteacher, were women. Attending the women's Cambridge college Newnham also bears some responsibility for my lifelong belief in women's equality. I read many black feminist writers of the time, such as Angela Davis, Toni Morrison and Alice Walker. They all helped to make me the feminist politician I am today. Back in the 70s many male left activists refused to see feminism as serious politics. Even now male politicians sometimes dismissively refer to feminism as "identity politics". But equality is at the heart of my politics. This includes social equality, race equality and women's equality. Labour MP 1987-2024 and former shadow home secretary. Team of Rivals by Doris Kearns Goodwin I read Team of Rivals shortly before I became a government minister. I've had a fascination with Abraham Lincoln for a long time, and over the years I have devoured many books about him and the US civil war. Team of Rivals, however, is in a league of its own. It had a profound effect on me, and I often found myself leafing through it when I was going through challenging times as first minister – especially during the Covid years, when the pressure of leadership weighed most heavily on me. It is one of the finest character portraits ever written of Lincoln the person, but to describe it as only that doesn't do it justice. It is, more than anything, a brilliant study of the art of leadership. Through the genius of Lincoln, the book explores many of the attributes successful leaders need (and which few, if any, in the modern age possess to the extent or in quite the combination Lincoln did). We learn about the psychological intricacies of team building; resilience and fortitude in the face of unimaginable adversity; the importance of learning from mistakes – one of the most powerful sections of the book is the account of Lincoln visiting injured troops in hospital after losing the first big battle of the war. He wanted to hear their views on what had gone wrong, so he could amend his strategy, thereby demonstrating the capacity for human empathy that is such a vital component of leadership. Above all, the book reminds us of the power of purpose, of the strength leaders often find when confronted with challenges that transcend day-to-day politics. I would recommend it to every aspiring politician. Former first minister of Scotland and leader of the Scottish National party; served as an MSP 1999-2024. From Yalta to Vietnam by David Horowitz The Vietnam war was the great radical cause of my youth. Even in the isolation of my Catholic boarding school, with only the Times and Daily Telegraph to rely on for information about the outside world, I managed to work out that there was something wrong with the official version of events. From Yalta to Vietnam was the book that confirmed my suspicions. Starting with the carve up of Europe agreed by Churchill and Stalin at Yalta, Horowitz goes on to recount various postwar crises – the Berlin blockade, the Korean war, the US-organised coups in Iran and Guatemala, the blockade of Cuba and, of course, the destruction of Vietnam. In every case the US was painted as the villain and the role of the Soviet Union was downplayed. That, for many years, was my worldview. And to some extent it still is, though these days – thanks to, among others, Robert Conquest's The Great Terror and Frank Dikötter's trilogy on Mao's China – I am under no illusion about communism. But here is the irony: Horowitz, the US radical and author of this book, has turned into a neocon, vociferously repudiating just about everything he ever stood for. Former cabinet minister, Labour MP 1987-2010 and author. Error of Judgement: The Birmingham Bombings and the Scandal That Shook Britain is published by Monoray. Animal Farm by George Orwell It was 1964 when we 14-year-old boys of Form 4Y at Sloane Grammar were given Animal Farm to read by our English teacher Mr Carlen. Each of us had to read a page out loud before passing Orwell's masterpiece to the next hinge-lidded desk for the narrative to continue. Mr Carlen's contribution to our education wasn't just to introduce us to a brilliant story, it was to explain its subtext. We were gripped by the animals' uprising against the cruel and inebriated farmer, Mr Jones. It was our teacher who explained that Mr Jones was Tsar Nicholas II and that Snowball and Napoleon, the two young pigs who led the struggle to take over the farm, were Trotsky and Stalin. The word "satire" was becoming common parlance with That Was the Week That Was appearing on our TV screens. For me, nothing could be as perfectly satirical as the alterations made to the "Seven Commandments of Animalism", in particular the distortion of "All Animals Are Equal" by the addition of "But Some Are More Equal Than Others". There was another brilliant young teacher at Sloane. Peter Pallai taught us economics. He'd fled Budapest just as the Russian tanks rolled in to crush the Hungarian uprising of 1956. I remember asking if he'd read Animal Farm at school when he was our age. No, he hadn't. There was a list of proscribed books in communist Hungary. At the top of that list was the Bible – second was Animal Farm. Labour MP 1997-2017 and former home secretary. His latest book, Death on the Thames, is published by Wildfire. Is Democracy Possible Here? by Ronald Dworkin Chosen by Shami Chakrabarti This was the political book that most significantly "changed me". Before reading it, I thought of human rights principles as an often vital legal constraint on the excesses of politics. Afterwards, I was completely convinced that they could also provide both inspiration for democratic politics and policymaking and the values capable of binding even fierce ideological rivals together in respectful and productive debate. I had come across Professor Dworkin's more academic legal philosophical work many years earlier as an undergraduate. However, five years into the "war on terror", the more deliberately practical and political book – covering legal exceptionalism in the face of terrorism and the roles of religion and taxation in politics, was invaluable to me as director of Liberty. Very American in context, its argument for the "red and blue" of a divided United States to unite around the core human rights value of dignity seemed equally apposite to the UK, albeit with the coloured shirts worn the other way round. In the throes of UK and US elections Dworkin's 2006 warnings and encouragements stand the test of even more challenging times for rights, freedoms and democracy all over the world. Human rights activist, life peer, barrister and former Labour shadow atto rney general. Rivals in the Storm by Damian Collins Photograph: Christopher Owens/The Guardian This very recent book is an astonishing argument for the power of politicians at a time when it often feels as though there is no power anywhere. Politicians feel stifled by the civil service, by the media, by business and international markets. All of those other institutions feel equally stifled. After 14 years of Conservative government, it's difficult to believe that we have succeeded in addressing the fundamental challenges of our age. And we are in some doubt as to whether an incoming Labour government will have more success. We feel our politicians are useless. But in Collins's book we see Lloyd George – not even as prime minister but as chancellor – shifting the most fundamental issues of public policy, often almost single-handedly. He appears to have a preternatural ability to get to the nub of an issue and bring insights not available to the specialists. Lloyd George is able, for example, to challenge the conventional wisdom of the generals and push for a different approach to munition production from the one that they recommended. And rather than failing as an amateur in the face of experts, Lloyd George seems to spot things that they miss. He does it not just through his raw intelligence but an extraordinary combination of charisma and feel for the public. Collins emphasises the importance of Lloyd George's speeches – the care that he put into their construction. He focuses in particular on a 1914 speech in which Lloyd George draws on his non-conformist heritage, and the peace of Welsh valleys, to make the case for conscription and war. The book should be inspiring to anybody who fears that their vote is wasted and who hesitates to get involved in politics. But I'm also very conscious of how far I fell short of this example of leadership. And how far short so many of us seem to fall. A splendid reflection on leadership and power, written by a serving member of parliament, deep inside the institution of politics. Brady-Johnson professor of grand strategy, Yale University; a former UK Conservative cabinet minister, an MP 2010-2019, author of Politics on the Edge (Vintage). Letters to My Grandchildren by Tony Benn Photograph: Suki Dhanda/The Observer It is no secret that I admire and have been inspired by Tony Benn. The truth is that I was enamoured with his words long before I ever heard him speak. Reading his 2009 book, Letters to My Grandchildren, felt like discovering a new band for the first time. One of the biggest problems in politics is that most people are intimidated by it. They believe they're not qualified or informed enough to challenge the powers that be or change the society they were born into. This book connects the dots of power to show how that mindset is often the very barrier holding us back. Benn educated people without ever patronising them. His ability to condense complex, far-reaching issues – such as defence, technology, healthcare, housing – into understandable, matter-of-fact letters is something I have aspired to do throughout my life. It undoubtedly influenced my own approach to debating and writing speeches for the House of Commons. At 15 I was inspired by people who seemed to be sincerely guided by their morals and their desire to see a better world. Nelson Mandela, Martin Luther King Jr and Marsha P Johnson are just a few names that jump to mind, but discovering this book was the first time I had come across an authoritative figure who wrote with such clarity and compassion about British politics. Most of all, the unapologetic humanity that is weaved through every argument he makes served as a secular sermon of sorts for my young atheist heart. To be honest, it often still does. Scottish National party MSP 2015-2024. She was 20 when first elected. On Liberty by John Stuart Mill Chosen by Simon Hughes Which book to choose – from a long shortlist? The Bible, Shakespeare, Dickens, Orwell, Forster, Grimond, Mandela, Helen Suzman, Lloyd George biographies or Bermondsey Story, Brockway's biography of my greatest predecessor Alfred Salter? None "changed me into a Liberal". That was done (aged 14) by the 1966 Liberal manifesto! But. Written by the great radical London philosopher John Stuart Mill and published in 1859, six years before he became independent Liberal MP for Westminster, On Liberty is why as lawyer, MP and civil liberties minister I could never be a socialist, social democrat, Green or Conservative. A great, short and not difficult read, Mill's book is as relevant now as ever. It is not about "liberty of will" but "civil or social liberty", the need always to challenge the "tyranny of the prevailing opinion and feeling". Mill's "very simple principle" is that "the only purpose for which power can be rightfully exercised over any member of a civilised community, against his will, is to prevent harm to others. His own good, either physical or moral, is not a sufficient warrant." Liberty of conscience, discussion, expression, action and association follow. We must resist the imposition of majority beliefs on those who do not share them. Mill also sees liberty as a means of improving human character and happiness – "individuality, as one of the elements of wellbeing". As Liberal Democrat federal president, my symbol of office was a copy of On Liberty. As a justice minister, one of my responsibilities was to try to stop illiberal legislation. Now, as a voter, I am determined to ensure that the UK – with no written constitution – never ceases to be bound by the European convention on human rights. Liberties left undefended by the courts may never be recovered. Liberal Democrat MP 1983-2015 and former minister of state for justice and civil liberties. Now chancellor of London South Bank University. Chosen by Daniel Fink elstein The primary inspiration for my politics was the experiences of my parents. They were keen that we had a normal childhood – and they succeeded. But having a mother who had been in Belsen and a father who had nearly starved to death on the edge of Siberia inevitably shaped my views. Then, in my early 20s, I read a short book, recommended to me by my brother, that helped me understand what had happened to Mum and Dad in terms of ideas rather than just stories. Bryan Magee's Popper is a short biography and critical review of the philosopher Karl Popper. It describes his theory of science and moves from that to critiques of Plato and Marx. It made me appreciate that the Nazis and the Soviets made a common error, how they were united in a way of thinking that was bound to lead them to murder their opponents. Reading that book was a crucial moment in the development of my thinking. Popper's ideas underpin my belief in pluralism, my resistance to utopian and revolutionary movements, and my gentle conservatism. The book made me see the problems with both a reactionary failure to adjust my opinion and a radical fervour based on overconfidence. I gave it to my nephew Simon when he was a baby, along with a copy of Winnie-the-Pooh. I've no idea if, when he grew up, he ever read it. But he is now involved in politics, too, and we do share broadly the same views. Journalist and Conservative peer. His book Hitler, Stalin, Mum and Dad is out now in paperback (William Collins). Chosen by Andrea Leadso m The reason to become an MP is surely to make the world a better place. This is maybe not something voters would believe right now of many politicians, but having a focus on changing things for the better is what has driven my politics. The political book that has most inspired me is William Hague's on William Wilberforce. A Yorkshireman, Wilberforce began his political career in 1780, and a few years later he became an evangelical Christian. He went on to become the greatest English abolitionist, leading the parliamentary campaign against slavery that led to the Slave Trade Act of 1807. While he had his detractors, who accused him of fighting overseas enslavement rather than social injustice at home, I think it was his focus that led to his ultimate success – better to create one world-changing improvement than to shout loudly and ineffectively about everything. Wilberforce helped to change the world for the better, and his approach should set an example for every aspiring politician.

world

‘It was an awakening’: Diane Abbott, Nicola Sturgeon, Rory Stewart and more on the books that shaped their politics. Chosen by Caroline Lucas The natural world is fundamental to my politics but, like many others, I tended to focus on saving it without always considering our interdependence. It wasn't until I read Braiding Sweetgrass, Robin Wall Kimmerer's mix of memoir, call to arms, celebration and warning that I fully grasped the richness of ourselves as nature. Subtitled Indigenous Wisdom, Scientific Knowledge and the Teachings of Plants, this book is about intimately loving our one life-sustaining planet. Wall Kimmerer's daily practice of gratitude for the uniquely valuable role in our ecosystem played by kin such as the moss spiders or the wild strawberries chimed with the way I was thinking anew about my relationship with the Earth. But it's also a book about what nature offers in return: her abundant generosity; the moments of joy; the power of the wind, sun and water; the land as everything from grocery store and pharmacy to living link with our ancestors. As Wall Kimmerer writes: "Knowing that you love the earth changes you, activates you to defend and protect and celebrate. But when you feel the earth loves you in return, that feeling transforms the relationship from a one-way street into a sacred bond." Her words were an awakening, gave new impetus to my campaigning alongside nature writer Mary Colwell for a Natural History GCSE and drew me more recently to the bid by campaigning group We Are Nature to secure a dictionary definition of nature that rejects a viewpoint in which we are dominant and superior to it – and instead better reflects that we are part of it, not apart. Green MP 2010-2024, former leader of the Green party of England and Wal es. The Female Eunuch by Germaine Greer Photograph: Laura Hynd/Camera press One of the most fundamental aspects of my politics has been my feminism. In the 1970s, as I moved from school to university, this was a new and exciting way of understanding the world. And one of the most important feminist texts of the time was The Female Eunuch. Published in 1970, it was an international bestseller and if you called yourself a feminist, you needed to have read it. Among other things, it deconstructed the submissive role that much of society still expected of women. It was not Greer that made me a feminist. Looking back, I can see my feminism flowed partly from my West Indian background. That society is ostensibly patriarchal, but for generations, strong black women have often been the rock of the family and community. Other things also informed my feminism and belief that women could do anything in the world they wanted to and take up any authority role they chose. I went to an all-girls grammar school where all the staff, including the headteacher, were women. Attending the women's Cambridge college Newnham also bears some responsibility for my lifelong belief in women's equality. I read many black feminist writers of the time, such as Angela Davis, Toni Morrison and Alice Walker. They all helped to make me the feminist politician I am today. Back in the 70s many male left activists refused to see feminism as serious politics. Even now male politicians sometimes dismissively refer to feminism as "identity politics". But equality is at the heart of my politics. This includes social equality, race equality and women's equality. Labour MP 1987-2024 and former shadow home secretary. Team of Rivals by Doris Kearns Goodwin I read Team of Rivals shortly before I became a government minister. I've had a fascination with Abraham Lincoln for a long time, and over the years I have devoured many books about him and the US civil war. Team of Rivals, however, is in a league of its own. It had a profound effect on me, and I often found myself leafing through it when I was going through challenging times as first minister – especially during the Covid years, when the pressure of leadership weighed most heavily on me. It is one of the finest character portraits ever written of Lincoln the person, but to describe it as only that doesn't do it justice. It is, more than anything, a brilliant study of the art of leadership. Through the genius of Lincoln, the book explores many of the attributes successful leaders need (and which few, if any, in the modern age possess to the extent or in quite the combination Lincoln did). We learn about the psychological intricacies of team building; resilience and fortitude in the face of unimaginable adversity; the importance of learning from mistakes – one of the most powerful sections of the book is the account of Lincoln visiting injured troops in hospital after losing the first big battle of the war. He wanted to hear their views on what had gone wrong, so he could amend his strategy, thereby demonstrating the capacity for human empathy that is such a vital component of leadership. Above all, the book reminds us of the power of purpose, of the strength leaders often find when confronted with challenges that transcend day-to-day politics. I would recommend it to every aspiring politician. Former first minister of Scotland and leader of the Scottish National party; served as an MSP 1999-2024. From Yalta to Vietnam by David Horowitz The Vietnam war was the great radical cause of my youth. Even in the isolation of my Catholic boarding school, with only the Times and Daily Telegraph to rely on for information about the outside world, I managed to work out that there was something wrong with the official version of events. From Yalta to Vietnam was the book that confirmed my suspicions. Starting with the carve up of Europe agreed by Churchill and Stalin at Yalta, Horowitz goes on to recount various postwar crises – the Berlin blockade, the Korean war, the US-organised coups in Iran and Guatemala, the blockade of Cuba and, of course, the destruction of Vietnam. In every case the US was painted as the villain and the role of the Soviet Union was downplayed. That, for many years, was my worldview. And to some extent it still is, though these days – thanks to, among others, Robert Conquest's The Great Terror and Frank Dikötter's trilogy on Mao's China – I am under no illusion about communism. But here is the irony: Horowitz, the US radical and author of this book, has turned into a neocon, vociferously repudiating just about everything he ever stood for. Former cabinet minister, Labour MP 1987-2010 and author. Error of Judgement: The Birmingham Bombings and the Scandal That Shook Britain is published by Monoray. Animal Farm by George Orwell It was 1964 when we 14-year-old boys of Form 4Y at Sloane Grammar were given Animal Farm to read by our English teacher Mr Carlen. Each of us had to read a page out loud before passing Orwell's masterpiece to the next hinge-lidded desk for the narrative to continue. Mr Carlen's contribution to our education wasn't just to introduce us to a brilliant story, it was to explain its subtext. We were gripped by the animals' uprising against the cruel and inebriated farmer, Mr Jones. It was our teacher who explained that Mr Jones was Tsar Nicholas II and that Snowball and Napoleon, the two young pigs who led the struggle to take over the farm, were Trotsky and Stalin. The word "satire" was becoming common parlance with That Was the Week That Was appearing on our TV screens. For me, nothing could be as perfectly satirical as the alterations made to the "Seven Commandments of Animalism", in particular the distortion of "All Animals Are Equal" by the addition of "But Some Are More Equal Than Others". There was another brilliant young teacher at Sloane. Peter Pallai taught us economics. He'd fled Budapest just as the Russian tanks rolled in to crush the Hungarian uprising of 1956. I remember asking if he'd read Animal Farm at school when he was our age. No, he hadn't. There was a list of proscribed books in communist Hungary. At the top of that list was the Bible – second was Animal Farm. Labour MP 1997-2017 and former home secretary. His latest book, Death on the Thames, is published by Wildfire. Is Democracy Possible Here? by Ronald Dworkin Chosen by Shami Chakrabarti This was the political book that most significantly "changed me". Before reading it, I thought of human rights principles as an often vital legal constraint on the excesses of politics. Afterwards, I was completely convinced that they could also provide both inspiration for democratic politics and policymaking and the values capable of binding even fierce ideological rivals together in respectful and productive debate. I had come across Professor Dworkin's more academic legal philosophical work many years earlier as an undergraduate. However, five years into the "war on terror", the more deliberately practical and political book – covering legal exceptionalism in the face of terrorism and the roles of religion and taxation in politics, was invaluable to me as director of Liberty. Very American in context, its argument for the "red and blue" of a divided United States to unite around the core human rights value of dignity seemed equally apposite to the UK, albeit with the coloured shirts worn the other way round. In the throes of UK and US elections Dworkin's 2006 warnings and encouragements stand the test of even more challenging times for rights, freedoms and democracy all over the world. Human rights activist, life peer, barrister and former Labour shadow atto rney general. Rivals in the Storm by Damian Collins Photograph: Christopher Owens/The Guardian This very recent book is an astonishing argument for the power of politicians at a time when it often feels as though there is no power anywhere. Politicians feel stifled by the civil service, by the media, by business and international markets. All of those other institutions feel equally stifled. After 14 years of Conservative government, it's difficult to believe that we have succeeded in addressing the fundamental challenges of our age. And we are in some doubt as to whether an incoming Labour government will have more success. We feel our politicians are useless. But in Collins's book we see Lloyd George – not even as prime minister but as chancellor – shifting the most fundamental issues of public policy, often almost single-handedly. He appears to have a preternatural ability to get to the nub of an issue and bring insights not available to the specialists. Lloyd George is able, for example, to challenge the conventional wisdom of the generals and push for a different approach to munition production from the one that they recommended. And rather than failing as an amateur in the face of experts, Lloyd George seems to spot things that they miss. He does it not just through his raw intelligence but an extraordinary combination of charisma and feel for the public. Collins emphasises the importance of Lloyd George's speeches – the care that he put into their construction. He focuses in particular on a 1914 speech in which Lloyd George draws on his non-conformist heritage, and the peace of Welsh valleys, to make the case for conscription and war. The book should be inspiring to anybody who fears that their vote is wasted and who hesitates to get involved in politics. But I'm also very conscious of how far I fell short of this example of leadership. And how far short so many of us seem to fall. A splendid reflection on leadership and power, written by a serving member of parliament, deep inside the institution of politics. Brady-Johnson professor of grand strategy, Yale University; a former UK Conservative cabinet minister, an MP 2010-2019, author of Politics on the Edge (Vintage). Letters to My Grandchildren by Tony Benn Photograph: Suki Dhanda/The Observer It is no secret that I admire and have been inspired by Tony Benn. The truth is that I was enamoured with his words long before I ever heard him speak. Reading his 2009 book, Letters to My Grandchildren, felt like discovering a new band for the first time. One of the biggest problems in politics is that most people are intimidated by it. They believe they're not qualified or informed enough to challenge the powers that be or change the society they were born into. This book connects the dots of power to show how that mindset is often the very barrier holding us back. Benn educated people without ever patronising them. His ability to condense complex, far-reaching issues – such as defence, technology, healthcare, housing – into understandable, matter-of-fact letters is something I have aspired to do throughout my life. It undoubtedly influenced my own approach to debating and writing speeches for the House of Commons. At 15 I was inspired by people who seemed to be sincerely guided by their morals and their desire to see a better world. Nelson Mandela, Martin Luther King Jr and Marsha P Johnson are just a few names that jump to mind, but discovering this book was the first time I had come across an authoritative figure who wrote with such clarity and compassion about British politics. Most of all, the unapologetic humanity that is weaved through every argument he makes served as a secular sermon of sorts for my young atheist heart. To be honest, it often still does. Scottish National party MSP 2015-2024. She was 20 when first elected. On Liberty by John Stuart Mill Chosen by Simon Hughes Which book to choose – from a long shortlist? The Bible, Shakespeare, Dickens, Orwell, Forster, Grimond, Mandela, Helen Suzman, Lloyd George biographies or Bermondsey Story, Brockway's biography of my greatest predecessor Alfred Salter? None "changed me into a Liberal". That was done (aged 14) by the 1966 Liberal manifesto! But. Written by the great radical London philosopher John Stuart Mill and published in 1859, six years before he became independent Liberal MP for Westminster, On Liberty is why as lawyer, MP and civil liberties minister I could never be a socialist, social democrat, Green or Conservative. A great, short and not difficult read, Mill's book is as relevant now as ever. It is not about "liberty of will" but "civil or social liberty", the need always to challenge the "tyranny of the prevailing opinion and feeling". Mill's "very simple principle" is that "the only purpose for which power can be rightfully exercised over any member of a civilised community, against his will, is to prevent harm to others. His own good, either physical or moral, is not a sufficient warrant." Liberty of conscience, discussion, expression, action and association follow. We must resist the imposition of majority beliefs on those who do not share them. Mill also sees liberty as a means of improving human character and happiness – "individuality, as one of the elements of wellbeing". As Liberal Democrat federal president, my symbol of office was a copy of On Liberty. As a justice minister, one of my responsibilities was to try to stop illiberal legislation. Now, as a voter, I am determined to ensure that the UK – with no written constitution – never ceases to be bound by the European convention on human rights. Liberties left undefended by the courts may never be recovered. Liberal Democrat MP 1983-2015 and former minister of state for justice and civil liberties. Now chancellor of London South Bank University. Chosen by Daniel Fink elstein The primary inspiration for my politics was the experiences of my parents. They were keen that we had a normal childhood – and they succeeded. But having a mother who had been in Belsen and a father who had nearly starved to death on the edge of Siberia inevitably shaped my views. Then, in my early 20s, I read a short book, recommended to me by my brother, that helped me understand what had happened to Mum and Dad in terms of ideas rather than just stories. Bryan Magee's Popper is a short biography and critical review of the philosopher Karl Popper. It describes his theory of science and moves from that to critiques of Plato and Marx. It made me appreciate that the Nazis and the Soviets made a common error, how they were united in a way of thinking that was bound to lead them to murder their opponents. Reading that book was a crucial moment in the development of my thinking. Popper's ideas underpin my belief in pluralism, my resistance to utopian and revolutionary movements, and my gentle conservatism. The book made me see the problems with both a reactionary failure to adjust my opinion and a radical fervour based on overconfidence. I gave it to my nephew Simon when he was a baby, along with a copy of Winnie-the-Pooh. I've no idea if, when he grew up, he ever read it. But he is now involved in politics, too, and we do share broadly the same views. Journalist and Conservative peer. His book Hitler, Stalin, Mum and Dad is out now in paperback (William Collins). Chosen by Andrea Leadso m The reason to become an MP is surely to make the world a better place. This is maybe not something voters would believe right now of many politicians, but having a focus on changing things for the better is what has driven my politics. The political book that has most inspired me is William Hague's on William Wilberforce. A Yorkshireman, Wilberforce began his political career in 1780, and a few years later he became an evangelical Christian. He went on to become the greatest English abolitionist, leading the parliamentary campaign against slavery that led to the Slave Trade Act of 1807. While he had his detractors, who accused him of fighting overseas enslavement rather than social injustice at home, I think it was his focus that led to his ultimate success – better to create one world-changing improvement than to shout loudly and ineffectively about everything. Wilberforce helped to change the world for the better, and his approach should set an example for every aspiring politician.

Ether ETF Listing Approval Sees Billions Poured Into Restaking Protocol Ether.Fi

Restaking protocol Ether.fi has soared to record highs in terms of deposits and total value locked (TVL) as investors anticipate the approval of a spot ether (ETH) exchange-traded fund (ETF) in the U.S. More than 270,000 ether ($995 million) has been deposited to Ether.fi over the past ten days. The inflows, coupled with ether's recent rise in price, have spurred the protocol's with TVL to increase from $4 billion to $5.4 billion, an all-time high according to DefiLlama. Restaking is a strategy used by traders to earn an extra yield on ether that is already staked on the Ethereum blockchain. Ether.fi currently offers an annual yield of 3.48%, with an additional 15.1% being available through the product's liquid vault. The increase in activity could suggest that investors are looking to gain exposure to the Ethereum ecosystem while betting on whether staking could be incorporated into ETF products in the future. Ether.fi's CEO Mike Silagadze, told CoinDesk that it will be a "matter of time" before ether ETFs begin to implement staking and restaking to generate a yield for shareholders. "I think there is question whether staking, particularly liquid staking, turns ETH into a security," Silagadze said. "I think how it is going to start is you will have ETH ETFs that are either contracted out or run their own infrastructure, those nodes will be compliant and censored and all of that stuff, but it'll have a nice baked-in yield. Restaking is much more complex, so I think it'll get there; it'll just be a matter of time." Silagadze added that the SEC's approval will help shift the narrative as more people become aware of Ethereum and smart contracts. "It's just more awareness," Silagadze said. "A lot of people that are sophisticated know what restaking is; they just have no way to access it or allocate to this asset. So I think it helps with the narrative shift because more people become aware of what Ethereum is." interests in a variety of blockchain and digital asset businesses and significant holdings of digital assets, including bitcoin. CoinDesk operates as an independent subsidiary with an editorial committee to protect journalistic independence. CoinDesk employees, including journalists, may receive options in the Bullish group as part of their compensation.

crypto

Ether ETF Listing Approval Sees Billions Poured Into Restaking Protocol Ether.Fi. Restaking protocol Ether.fi has soared to record highs in terms of deposits and total value locked (TVL) as investors anticipate the approval of a spot ether (ETH) exchange-traded fund (ETF) in the U.S. More than 270,000 ether ($995 million) has been deposited to Ether.fi over the past ten days. The inflows, coupled with ether's recent rise in price, have spurred the protocol's with TVL to increase from $4 billion to $5.4 billion, an all-time high according to DefiLlama. Restaking is a strategy used by traders to earn an extra yield on ether that is already staked on the Ethereum blockchain. Ether.fi currently offers an annual yield of 3.48%, with an additional 15.1% being available through the product's liquid vault. The increase in activity could suggest that investors are looking to gain exposure to the Ethereum ecosystem while betting on whether staking could be incorporated into ETF products in the future. Ether.fi's CEO Mike Silagadze, told CoinDesk that it will be a "matter of time" before ether ETFs begin to implement staking and restaking to generate a yield for shareholders. "I think there is question whether staking, particularly liquid staking, turns ETH into a security," Silagadze said. "I think how it is going to start is you will have ETH ETFs that are either contracted out or run their own infrastructure, those nodes will be compliant and censored and all of that stuff, but it'll have a nice baked-in yield. Restaking is much more complex, so I think it'll get there; it'll just be a matter of time." Silagadze added that the SEC's approval will help shift the narrative as more people become aware of Ethereum and smart contracts. "It's just more awareness," Silagadze said. "A lot of people that are sophisticated know what restaking is; they just have no way to access it or allocate to this asset. So I think it helps with the narrative shift because more people become aware of what Ethereum is." interests in a variety of blockchain and digital asset businesses and significant holdings of digital assets, including bitcoin. CoinDesk operates as an independent subsidiary with an editorial committee to protect journalistic independence. CoinDesk employees, including journalists, may receive options in the Bullish group as part of their compensation.

Jim Ratcliffe’s Ineos pulls launch of Fusilier electric SUV

Sir Jim Ratcliffe's Ineos has delayed the launch of its Fusilier electric SUV, blaming weak consumer demand and uncertainty about government policies. Ratcliffe only unveiled plans to produce the low-emission vehicles in February, with production expected to begin in 2027. However, it emerged on Wednesday that the project to build the Fusilier, to be marketed as a plug-in hybrid and electric vehicle (EV), had been delayed indefinitely. Ratcliffe is the founder and chief executive of Ineos, the fracking to chemicals group. The company is also a minority investor in Premier League football club Manchester United and has been pushing into new sectors, including electric car-making. Ratcliffe had said the Fusilier vehicle, smaller than the company's existing Grenadier 4x4, would be equipped with an electric motor powered by a battery, as well as a range-extender option using a small gas engine to keep the battery charged up. However, the company said regulatory changes could hurt the viability of its gas-engine range-extender. The company said: "We are delaying the launch of the Ineos Fusilier for two reasons: reluctant consumer uptake of EVs, and industry uncertainty around tariffs, timings, and taxation." It added that there needs to be long-term clarity from policymakers to meet net zero targets. An Ineos Automotive spokesperson said that the gas-powered range-extender would be banned in Europe and the UK in 2035, according to Bloomberg, which first reported the delay. If the Labour party are successful in Thursday's general election, it has pledged to bring forward the ban on the sale of new petrol cars by five years to 2030. The EU's move to impose new tariffs on imports of Chinese-made EVs into the trading bloc has prompted fears of a global trade war, centred on EVs. The tariffs of up to 38% on imports of Chinese EVs come into effect on Thursday barring a last minute U-turn. They will be imposed on top of the existing 10% levy on cars imported into the EU, meaning Chinese-made EVs face total tariffs of up to 48%.

business

Jim Ratcliffe’s Ineos pulls launch of Fusilier electric SUV. Sir Jim Ratcliffe's Ineos has delayed the launch of its Fusilier electric SUV, blaming weak consumer demand and uncertainty about government policies. Ratcliffe only unveiled plans to produce the low-emission vehicles in February, with production expected to begin in 2027. However, it emerged on Wednesday that the project to build the Fusilier, to be marketed as a plug-in hybrid and electric vehicle (EV), had been delayed indefinitely. Ratcliffe is the founder and chief executive of Ineos, the fracking to chemicals group. The company is also a minority investor in Premier League football club Manchester United and has been pushing into new sectors, including electric car-making. Ratcliffe had said the Fusilier vehicle, smaller than the company's existing Grenadier 4x4, would be equipped with an electric motor powered by a battery, as well as a range-extender option using a small gas engine to keep the battery charged up. However, the company said regulatory changes could hurt the viability of its gas-engine range-extender. The company said: "We are delaying the launch of the Ineos Fusilier for two reasons: reluctant consumer uptake of EVs, and industry uncertainty around tariffs, timings, and taxation." It added that there needs to be long-term clarity from policymakers to meet net zero targets. An Ineos Automotive spokesperson said that the gas-powered range-extender would be banned in Europe and the UK in 2035, according to Bloomberg, which first reported the delay. If the Labour party are successful in Thursday's general election, it has pledged to bring forward the ban on the sale of new petrol cars by five years to 2030. The EU's move to impose new tariffs on imports of Chinese-made EVs into the trading bloc has prompted fears of a global trade war, centred on EVs. The tariffs of up to 38% on imports of Chinese EVs come into effect on Thursday barring a last minute U-turn. They will be imposed on top of the existing 10% levy on cars imported into the EU, meaning Chinese-made EVs face total tariffs of up to 48%.

Ibram X. Kendi's antiracism center saw poor financial, admin decisions, former staffers say: report

The author and professor says that children are most likely to be harmed by racism, and parents need to step in when they are young. Join Fox News for access to this content You have reached your maximum number of articles. Log in or create an account FREE of charge to continue reading. By entering your email and pushing continue, you are agreeing to Fox News' Privacy Policy, which includes our Notice of Financial Incentive. Having trouble? Click here. The Center for Antiracist Research at Boston University, founded by Ibram X. Kendi, the academic known for his hardline left-wing racial views, has been in the midst of financial and administrative disarray since its inception, according to media reports. Former staffers at the center had become frustrated with being required to take on jobs they were neither hired to do nor qualified to complete, Yanique Redwood, the center's former executive director, told the New York Times. "Everyone was overwhelmed," Redwood told the NYT. "There were too many promises being made to funders. Products were being promised that could never be delivered." IBRAM KENDI SUGGESTS TIM SCOTT IS RACIST FOR DENYING UNITED STATES IS RACIST Ibram X. Kendi founded the Center for Antiracist Research at Boston University after the murder of George Floyd. (Arturo Holmes/Getty Images for MVAAFF) "Nothing was in place," she said. "It was unbelievable that an institution like that, with so much spotlight on it, just did not have systems. I understood why I was being brought in." Staffers also told Redwood they were unsure of the center's mission. The center was founded by Kendi in 2020 following the death of George Floyd, which ushered in a wave of racial and social justice protests and calls for racial equity. Liberal philanthropists donated tens of millions of dollars. Prominent donors included George Soros' Foundation to Promote Open Society, Twitter co-founder Jack Dorsey, the Ford Foundation and the Rockefeller Foundation. Kendi is one of the leading figures pushing for the inclusion of critical race theory in schools. The author has stated that he is a believer in systemic racism and the only possible way to dismantle it is for America to "identify and describe it" first. VIRGINIA PARENTS APPEAL TO REMOVE A SO-CALLED ANTI-RACIST POLICY FROM SCHOOL DISTRICT: 'RACIST AT ITS CORE' (Getty Images) He rose to prominence for his defense of critical race theory as well as teaching racial concepts to children. He has published several books on the subject of racism including "How to Be an Anti-Racist" and the children's book "Antiracist Baby." In an attempt to address the confusion and frustration at center, Redwood advised Kendi to hold a retreat so employees could air their grievances, the NYT story said. During the gathering, Saida Grundy, a sociologist, accused Kendi's vision of social change of being "a mile wide and an inch deep" and argued that the center needed a more specific goal than just "fighting racism." Research emerging from the center was relatively low, producing only two pieces of original academic research through November 2023. In addition, Kendi allegedly withheld information about the center's finances for six months, according to the report. He also caused a stir when he agreed for the center to partner with the diversity, equity and inclusion arms of the consulting firm Deloitte, according to the Times. Staffers were upset over not being consulted and because Deloitte contracts for police departments and prisons. File photo of Boston University sign in Boston, Massachusetts.

usa

Ibram X. Kendi's antiracism center saw poor financial, admin decisions, former staffers say: report. The author and professor says that children are most likely to be harmed by racism, and parents need to step in when they are young. Join Fox News for access to this content You have reached your maximum number of articles. Log in or create an account FREE of charge to continue reading. By entering your email and pushing continue, you are agreeing to Fox News' Privacy Policy, which includes our Notice of Financial Incentive. Having trouble? Click here. The Center for Antiracist Research at Boston University, founded by Ibram X. Kendi, the academic known for his hardline left-wing racial views, has been in the midst of financial and administrative disarray since its inception, according to media reports. Former staffers at the center had become frustrated with being required to take on jobs they were neither hired to do nor qualified to complete, Yanique Redwood, the center's former executive director, told the New York Times. "Everyone was overwhelmed," Redwood told the NYT. "There were too many promises being made to funders. Products were being promised that could never be delivered." IBRAM KENDI SUGGESTS TIM SCOTT IS RACIST FOR DENYING UNITED STATES IS RACIST Ibram X. Kendi founded the Center for Antiracist Research at Boston University after the murder of George Floyd. (Arturo Holmes/Getty Images for MVAAFF) "Nothing was in place," she said. "It was unbelievable that an institution like that, with so much spotlight on it, just did not have systems. I understood why I was being brought in." Staffers also told Redwood they were unsure of the center's mission. The center was founded by Kendi in 2020 following the death of George Floyd, which ushered in a wave of racial and social justice protests and calls for racial equity. Liberal philanthropists donated tens of millions of dollars. Prominent donors included George Soros' Foundation to Promote Open Society, Twitter co-founder Jack Dorsey, the Ford Foundation and the Rockefeller Foundation. Kendi is one of the leading figures pushing for the inclusion of critical race theory in schools. The author has stated that he is a believer in systemic racism and the only possible way to dismantle it is for America to "identify and describe it" first. VIRGINIA PARENTS APPEAL TO REMOVE A SO-CALLED ANTI-RACIST POLICY FROM SCHOOL DISTRICT: 'RACIST AT ITS CORE' (Getty Images) He rose to prominence for his defense of critical race theory as well as teaching racial concepts to children. He has published several books on the subject of racism including "How to Be an Anti-Racist" and the children's book "Antiracist Baby." In an attempt to address the confusion and frustration at center, Redwood advised Kendi to hold a retreat so employees could air their grievances, the NYT story said. During the gathering, Saida Grundy, a sociologist, accused Kendi's vision of social change of being "a mile wide and an inch deep" and argued that the center needed a more specific goal than just "fighting racism." Research emerging from the center was relatively low, producing only two pieces of original academic research through November 2023. In addition, Kendi allegedly withheld information about the center's finances for six months, according to the report. He also caused a stir when he agreed for the center to partner with the diversity, equity and inclusion arms of the consulting firm Deloitte, according to the Times. Staffers were upset over not being consulted and because Deloitte contracts for police departments and prisons. File photo of Boston University sign in Boston, Massachusetts.

How to handle the two capital gains inclusion rates planned for this year

Reviews and recommendations are unbiased and products are independently selected. Postmedia may earn an affiliate commission from purchases made through links on this page. Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Exclusive articles from Barbara Shecter, Joe O'Connor, Gabriel Friedman, Victoria Wells and others. Daily content from Financial Times, the world's leading global business publication. Unlimited online access to read articles from Financial Post, National Post and 15 news sites across Canada with one account. National Post ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition to view on any device, share and comment on. Daily puzzles, including the New York Times Crossword. Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Exclusive articles from Barbara Shecter, Joe O'Connor, Gabriel Friedman, Victoria Wells and others. Daily content from Financial Times, the world's leading global business publication. Unlimited online access to read articles from Financial Post, National Post and 15 news sites across Canada with one account. National Post ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition to view on any device, share and comment on. Daily puzzles, including the New York Times Crossword. Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account. Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments. Enjoy additional articles per month. Get email updates from your favourite authors. Article content First, you must apply them against other capital gains in the tax year in which the capital loss was realized. Once you've exhausted all gains in that current year, you can choose to carry any net capital loss back and apply it against any taxable capital gains in any of the previous three years. Alternatively, they can be carried forward indefinitely and used to reduce taxable capital gains in any future year. But how will the loss carryback and carryforward rules apply with the change in inclusion rates? What if a loss is realized when the inclusion rate was 50 per cent, but the gain to which you want to apply that loss is at the new two-thirds inclusion rate? And how do taxpayers deal with the two separate inclusion rates in 2024? The draft legislation and backgrounder released this week help answer these questions. Article content Continuing our example above, let's say the taxpayer incurred that $6,000 capital loss in 1998, when the inclusion rate was 75 per cent. This resulted in a net capital loss of $4,500. Now, let's assume the taxpayer realized a capital gain of $6,000 in 2023, when the inclusion rate was 50 per cent, resulting in a taxable capital gain of $3,000. If the taxpayer claimed the $4,500 net capital loss from 1998 as a deduction in computing their taxable income in 2023, the taxpayer would be entitled to a deduction of only $3,000 because the net capital loss from 1998 needs to be adjusted to reflect the inclusion rate that applies to the year in which the net capital loss is deducted (2023). The result is that the capital loss of $6,000 from 1998 fully offsets the capital gain of $6,000 from 2023. These adjustments may also be required when losses are applied to periods before or after the inclusion rate date change of June 25, 2024. The government set out a table of adjustment factors to be applied to the capital loss, depending on the year it was realized. For example, if a capital loss was realized in 2023 when the inclusion rate was 50 per cent and is to be applied in 2024 to capital gains with an inclusion rate (for gains above $250,000) of two-thirds, the inclusion rate adjustment factor is 1.33, so a net capital loss in 2023 of $50,000 becomes a net capital loss of $66,667 after June 24 ($50,000 times 1.33) when applied to gains of more than $250,000. Article content Let's look at a second example. In 2025, Ali has a capital gain of $450,000, a capital loss of $50,000 and a capital loss carried forward from 2017 of $300,000. First, we calculate Ali's net capital gain for 2025, which would be $400,000 ($450,000 minus $50,000, both of which were realized in 2025). The first $250,000 would be included at a 50 per cent inclusion rate, resulting in a taxable capital gain of $125,000, while the remaining $150,000 ($400,000 minus $250,000) would be included at the two-thirds inclusion rate, resulting in a $100,000 taxable gain. As a result, Ali's 2025 taxable capital gains would total $225,000. If Ali wishes to apply her 2017 capital loss carried forward of $300,000 to 2025, her net gain for 2025 would be $100,000 ($400,000 minus $300,000), of which only 50 per cent would be taxable since it's less than $250,000. So, Ali would pay tax on 50 per cent of the $100,000 for a taxable gain of $50,000. It's a little trickier for 2024, given that two different inclusion rates apply for this transition year. As a result, taxpayers will need to separately identify capital gains and losses realized before June 25, 2024 (period one), and those realized on or after June 25, 2024 (period two). Gains and losses from the same period are first netted against each other. Taxpayers will be subject to the higher two-thirds inclusion rate for net gains above $250,000 in period two, to the extent that these net gains are not offset by a net loss incurred in period one. CRA wins against two more taxpayers fighting pandemic aid repayment Let's say Katy realized a capital gain of $600,000 on June 1, 2024, a capital loss of $75,000 on July 25, 2024, and a capital gain of $475,000 on Oct. 1, 2024. Katy's period one gain of $600,000 is 50 per cent taxable for a taxable gain of $300,000. Her period two net gain is $400,000 ($475,000 minus $75,000). Katy would pay tax on 50 per cent of the first $250,000 of this $400,000 gain, and pay two-thirds tax on the remaining $150,000 of the gain, so that her period two gain would be $225,000 (half of $250,000 plus two-thirds of $150,000). As a result, her total 2024 taxable gain would be $525,000, consisting of her period one gain of $300,000, plus her period two gain of $225,000. Jamie Golombek, FCPA, FCA, CFP, CLU, TEP, is the managing director, Tax & Estate Planning with CIBC Private Wealth in Toronto.

business,lifestyle

How to handle the two capital gains inclusion rates planned for this year. Reviews and recommendations are unbiased and products are independently selected. Postmedia may earn an affiliate commission from purchases made through links on this page. Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Exclusive articles from Barbara Shecter, Joe O'Connor, Gabriel Friedman, Victoria Wells and others. Daily content from Financial Times, the world's leading global business publication. Unlimited online access to read articles from Financial Post, National Post and 15 news sites across Canada with one account. National Post ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition to view on any device, share and comment on. Daily puzzles, including the New York Times Crossword. Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Exclusive articles from Barbara Shecter, Joe O'Connor, Gabriel Friedman, Victoria Wells and others. Daily content from Financial Times, the world's leading global business publication. Unlimited online access to read articles from Financial Post, National Post and 15 news sites across Canada with one account. National Post ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition to view on any device, share and comment on. Daily puzzles, including the New York Times Crossword. Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account. Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments. Enjoy additional articles per month. Get email updates from your favourite authors. Article content First, you must apply them against other capital gains in the tax year in which the capital loss was realized. Once you've exhausted all gains in that current year, you can choose to carry any net capital loss back and apply it against any taxable capital gains in any of the previous three years. Alternatively, they can be carried forward indefinitely and used to reduce taxable capital gains in any future year. But how will the loss carryback and carryforward rules apply with the change in inclusion rates? What if a loss is realized when the inclusion rate was 50 per cent, but the gain to which you want to apply that loss is at the new two-thirds inclusion rate? And how do taxpayers deal with the two separate inclusion rates in 2024? The draft legislation and backgrounder released this week help answer these questions. Article content Continuing our example above, let's say the taxpayer incurred that $6,000 capital loss in 1998, when the inclusion rate was 75 per cent. This resulted in a net capital loss of $4,500. Now, let's assume the taxpayer realized a capital gain of $6,000 in 2023, when the inclusion rate was 50 per cent, resulting in a taxable capital gain of $3,000. If the taxpayer claimed the $4,500 net capital loss from 1998 as a deduction in computing their taxable income in 2023, the taxpayer would be entitled to a deduction of only $3,000 because the net capital loss from 1998 needs to be adjusted to reflect the inclusion rate that applies to the year in which the net capital loss is deducted (2023). The result is that the capital loss of $6,000 from 1998 fully offsets the capital gain of $6,000 from 2023. These adjustments may also be required when losses are applied to periods before or after the inclusion rate date change of June 25, 2024. The government set out a table of adjustment factors to be applied to the capital loss, depending on the year it was realized. For example, if a capital loss was realized in 2023 when the inclusion rate was 50 per cent and is to be applied in 2024 to capital gains with an inclusion rate (for gains above $250,000) of two-thirds, the inclusion rate adjustment factor is 1.33, so a net capital loss in 2023 of $50,000 becomes a net capital loss of $66,667 after June 24 ($50,000 times 1.33) when applied to gains of more than $250,000. Article content Let's look at a second example. In 2025, Ali has a capital gain of $450,000, a capital loss of $50,000 and a capital loss carried forward from 2017 of $300,000. First, we calculate Ali's net capital gain for 2025, which would be $400,000 ($450,000 minus $50,000, both of which were realized in 2025). The first $250,000 would be included at a 50 per cent inclusion rate, resulting in a taxable capital gain of $125,000, while the remaining $150,000 ($400,000 minus $250,000) would be included at the two-thirds inclusion rate, resulting in a $100,000 taxable gain. As a result, Ali's 2025 taxable capital gains would total $225,000. If Ali wishes to apply her 2017 capital loss carried forward of $300,000 to 2025, her net gain for 2025 would be $100,000 ($400,000 minus $300,000), of which only 50 per cent would be taxable since it's less than $250,000. So, Ali would pay tax on 50 per cent of the $100,000 for a taxable gain of $50,000. It's a little trickier for 2024, given that two different inclusion rates apply for this transition year. As a result, taxpayers will need to separately identify capital gains and losses realized before June 25, 2024 (period one), and those realized on or after June 25, 2024 (period two). Gains and losses from the same period are first netted against each other. Taxpayers will be subject to the higher two-thirds inclusion rate for net gains above $250,000 in period two, to the extent that these net gains are not offset by a net loss incurred in period one. CRA wins against two more taxpayers fighting pandemic aid repayment Let's say Katy realized a capital gain of $600,000 on June 1, 2024, a capital loss of $75,000 on July 25, 2024, and a capital gain of $475,000 on Oct. 1, 2024. Katy's period one gain of $600,000 is 50 per cent taxable for a taxable gain of $300,000. Her period two net gain is $400,000 ($475,000 minus $75,000). Katy would pay tax on 50 per cent of the first $250,000 of this $400,000 gain, and pay two-thirds tax on the remaining $150,000 of the gain, so that her period two gain would be $225,000 (half of $250,000 plus two-thirds of $150,000). As a result, her total 2024 taxable gain would be $525,000, consisting of her period one gain of $300,000, plus her period two gain of $225,000. Jamie Golombek, FCPA, FCA, CFP, CLU, TEP, is the managing director, Tax & Estate Planning with CIBC Private Wealth in Toronto.

MOUNTAIN VIEW GRAND RESORT &amp; SPA INTRODUCES EXCITING NEW SUMMER EVENTS, PACKAGES, AND SPECIAL OFFERS

WHITEFIELD, N.H., June 13, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Set amid the stunning peaks of the White Mountains, Mountain View Grand Resort and Spa launched its lineup of summer events, activities, packages, and special offers. This season, guests can indulge in a variety of outdoor thrills, family fun, and engaging farm experiences, making this four-seasons retreat the perfect destination for summer excitement. Summer Events Celebration is in the air at Mountain View Grand this summer. The resort will celebrate Father's Day with a host of events designed to honor and delight dads. The weekend will begin with "Donuts With Dad," offering complimentary donuts, coffee, and juice. Throughout the weekend, fathers will be invited to golf for free when accompanied by their children, providing an opportunity for family bonding on the resort's scenic course. In addition to golfing, a range of family-friendly activities are available to make this Father's Day one to remember. This 4 th of July weekend, Mountain View Grand will host an Independence Day celebration. The weekend will include poolside relaxation, family lawn games, pickleball and tennis, and Teen Movie Nights. On July 6, the festivities ramp up with an enchanting animal parade; Red, White, and Blue BBQ; and a spectacular fireworks display. Interactive Farm Experiences and Outdoor Adventures With more than 1,700 acres, Mountain View Grand provides ample opportunities for exploration and adventure. Guests can hike and mountain bike various trails and take part in educational programming at Mountain View Farm. Some highlights include Meet the Farmer, an interactive session with the resort's farmer to learn more about the animals and gain insights into farm life; Chicken Chats, an engaging program that lets guests gather fresh eggs and enjoy the charming antics of the farm's feathered residents; and Llama + Goat Experience, a fun meet-and-greet with furry friends and a picnic lunch. Special Offers Mountain View Grand is also rolling out several special offers to enhance the summer fun. The Weathervane Theatre Experience includes a complimentary dessert when dining at Harvest Tavern or Bar either before or after a show at the theater. Guests simply present their ticket stub or online receipt to take advantage of the offer, available June through October. Now that Mountain View Golf Course is open for the season, golf enthusiasts can benefit from the daily special—Twilight Tee Time. From Sunday through Wednesday, starting at 3pm, guests can play nine holes for only $28, golf cart included. Female golfers can also take advantage of Ladies Nine & Wine Night on Tuesdays in which two golfers play 18 holes for just $60. After the game, ladies presenting their golf receipt at the Club House receive a complimentary appetizer. Both offers are available through Columbus Day. The resort will also offer monthly spa specials for guests to enjoy. New Packages This summer, Mountain View Grand is unveiling a variety of new packages designed to cater to every type of traveler. Whether guests are seeking family fun, a spa retreat, a golfing escape, or another memorable experience, there is a perfect package for them to save on their getaway. Highlights include the resort's Third Night Free package, allowing guests to extend their stay; Locals Offer, in which New Hampshire residents enjoy 20 percent off the best available rate and receive a $100 resort credit; and Family Package, which comes with a $200 resort credit that can be used for a host of activities suitable for all ages. www.mountainviewgrand.com or call (855) 837-2100. ABOUT MOUNTAIN VIEW GRAND RESORT & SPA Mountain View Grand Resort & Spa is a timeless retreat set amid the picturesque peaks of New Hampshire's legendary White Mountains. With a rich history dating back to the late 19 th century, the resort has evolved from a family-run inn into a cherished grand hotel, encompassing 141 guest rooms and suites; signature seed-to-table experiences at Harvest Tavern; extraordinary pairings at 1865 Wine Cellar; indoor and outdoor pools; Tower Spa; a historic nine-hole golf course; and a working farm with educational programming and animal encounters. Recognized on the National Register of Historic Places, Mountain View Grand offers a luxury four-season escape within its expansive 1,700 acres of pristine landscape, inviting guests to explore and discover. In addition to fitness and wellness experiences, the resort also offers a host of engaging activities such as hiking, mountain biking, tennis, disc golf, cheesemaking, gardening classes, sleigh rides, and more. A game room and movie theater are also available for indoor entertainment. Situated within three hours of four major airports, Mountain View Grand provides convenient access for guests looking to immerse themselves in the breathtaking beauty of nature. For more information about Mountain View Grand Resort & Spa, visit

entertainment

MOUNTAIN VIEW GRAND RESORT &amp; SPA INTRODUCES EXCITING NEW SUMMER EVENTS, PACKAGES, AND SPECIAL OFFERS. WHITEFIELD, N.H., June 13, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Set amid the stunning peaks of the White Mountains, Mountain View Grand Resort and Spa launched its lineup of summer events, activities, packages, and special offers. This season, guests can indulge in a variety of outdoor thrills, family fun, and engaging farm experiences, making this four-seasons retreat the perfect destination for summer excitement. Summer Events Celebration is in the air at Mountain View Grand this summer. The resort will celebrate Father's Day with a host of events designed to honor and delight dads. The weekend will begin with "Donuts With Dad," offering complimentary donuts, coffee, and juice. Throughout the weekend, fathers will be invited to golf for free when accompanied by their children, providing an opportunity for family bonding on the resort's scenic course. In addition to golfing, a range of family-friendly activities are available to make this Father's Day one to remember. This 4 th of July weekend, Mountain View Grand will host an Independence Day celebration. The weekend will include poolside relaxation, family lawn games, pickleball and tennis, and Teen Movie Nights. On July 6, the festivities ramp up with an enchanting animal parade; Red, White, and Blue BBQ; and a spectacular fireworks display. Interactive Farm Experiences and Outdoor Adventures With more than 1,700 acres, Mountain View Grand provides ample opportunities for exploration and adventure. Guests can hike and mountain bike various trails and take part in educational programming at Mountain View Farm. Some highlights include Meet the Farmer, an interactive session with the resort's farmer to learn more about the animals and gain insights into farm life; Chicken Chats, an engaging program that lets guests gather fresh eggs and enjoy the charming antics of the farm's feathered residents; and Llama + Goat Experience, a fun meet-and-greet with furry friends and a picnic lunch. Special Offers Mountain View Grand is also rolling out several special offers to enhance the summer fun. The Weathervane Theatre Experience includes a complimentary dessert when dining at Harvest Tavern or Bar either before or after a show at the theater. Guests simply present their ticket stub or online receipt to take advantage of the offer, available June through October. Now that Mountain View Golf Course is open for the season, golf enthusiasts can benefit from the daily special—Twilight Tee Time. From Sunday through Wednesday, starting at 3pm, guests can play nine holes for only $28, golf cart included. Female golfers can also take advantage of Ladies Nine & Wine Night on Tuesdays in which two golfers play 18 holes for just $60. After the game, ladies presenting their golf receipt at the Club House receive a complimentary appetizer. Both offers are available through Columbus Day. The resort will also offer monthly spa specials for guests to enjoy. New Packages This summer, Mountain View Grand is unveiling a variety of new packages designed to cater to every type of traveler. Whether guests are seeking family fun, a spa retreat, a golfing escape, or another memorable experience, there is a perfect package for them to save on their getaway. Highlights include the resort's Third Night Free package, allowing guests to extend their stay; Locals Offer, in which New Hampshire residents enjoy 20 percent off the best available rate and receive a $100 resort credit; and Family Package, which comes with a $200 resort credit that can be used for a host of activities suitable for all ages. www.mountainviewgrand.com or call (855) 837-2100. ABOUT MOUNTAIN VIEW GRAND RESORT & SPA Mountain View Grand Resort & Spa is a timeless retreat set amid the picturesque peaks of New Hampshire's legendary White Mountains. With a rich history dating back to the late 19 th century, the resort has evolved from a family-run inn into a cherished grand hotel, encompassing 141 guest rooms and suites; signature seed-to-table experiences at Harvest Tavern; extraordinary pairings at 1865 Wine Cellar; indoor and outdoor pools; Tower Spa; a historic nine-hole golf course; and a working farm with educational programming and animal encounters. Recognized on the National Register of Historic Places, Mountain View Grand offers a luxury four-season escape within its expansive 1,700 acres of pristine landscape, inviting guests to explore and discover. In addition to fitness and wellness experiences, the resort also offers a host of engaging activities such as hiking, mountain biking, tennis, disc golf, cheesemaking, gardening classes, sleigh rides, and more. A game room and movie theater are also available for indoor entertainment. Situated within three hours of four major airports, Mountain View Grand provides convenient access for guests looking to immerse themselves in the breathtaking beauty of nature. For more information about Mountain View Grand Resort & Spa, visit

Cutting-edge technology on show at Euro 2024 is changing the face of soccer

For instance, there are still complaints about VAR decisions _ just as there were about decisions in the days before VAR was introduced. Regardless, the world's most popular sport continues to be impacted by rapidly-developing technologies in the wider world. Right calls VAR decisions have, in large part, seemed to be a smoother process here than seen, for instance, in the Premier League last season. UEFA is deploying semi-automated offside technology, along with AI and Adidas' connected ball technology to speed up the review process and improve accuracy. Ten cameras are installed in each of the host stadiums, which UEFA says track 29 different points of the body on every player. Combined with the official tournament ball, which has a sensor to help detect every touch, and AI, the decision-making process is supposed to be quicker and more conclusive than before. Perhaps too conclusive for some. Belgium's Romelu Lukaku had three goals ruled out in his opening two games — two for offside and one for a handball from teammate Lois Openda in the build up, which was detected by the ball's sensor. Goal-line technology has ended debate over marginal calls in terms of whether the ball has crossed the line. There are seven cameras in each goal and a signal is sent to the referee's watch, which vibrates if the ball has crossed the line. UEFA says results are sent within one second of the action. The ball While the Adidas Fussballliebe, which is the official match ball of the Euros, is assisting with offside calls, it also seems to be a hit with players. It's made from recycled polyester and other materials including corn fibers, sugar cane and wood pulp, and players have spoken of the speed and distance it generates. That would appear to be evident judging by the number of stunning long-range goals scored during the group stage, such as Arda Guler's curling effort from around 20 meters in Turkey's 3-1 win against Georgia. Cristiano Ronaldo is an ambassador for a band which monitors sleep and biometric data such cardiovascular and muscular load. Tracking vests have long-been used to measure distances covered by players. Southgate is also wearing a smart watch which retails at $6,500, has its own tracking capabilities and also provides score alerts during the tournament. One unexpected wearable is Kylian Mbappe's custom-made protective mask — the France striker needed it after suffering a broken nose in his opening game. Teams have a suite of recovery devices to help players cope with the congested tournament schedule. Spain's base camp in Donaueschingen has a hyperbaric oxygen chamber, a cryogenic chamber and a phototherapy bed to help speed muscular recovery after practice or a game. A hyperbaric oxygen chamber is used to breathe in 100% pure oxygen. Cryogenic treatment involves the use of cold temperatures, while phototherapy uses light. England captain Harry Kane has made use of air compression boots, which massage players' legs and increase circulation. Boredom can be one of the biggest issues to deal with during a long tournament, with players spending time away from home and their family and friends. They can often be seen arriving at stadiums with their state-of-the-art, noise-cancelling headphones. Not every player uses the latest technology, however — England's Cole Palmer was seen wearing corded ear buds. Personal devices are a must, with smart phones, pads and gaming devices usually close at hand. Germany's Kai Havertz was seen carrying a popular video game console as he stepped off the team bus. Germany's base in Herzogenaurach also has a giant cinema screen by an outdoor pool. All the devices aren't purely for fun or distraction. For Spain's 16-year-old winger Lamine Yamal, his spare time can be taken up with catching up with homework on his pad.

world

Cutting-edge technology on show at Euro 2024 is changing the face of soccer. For instance, there are still complaints about VAR decisions _ just as there were about decisions in the days before VAR was introduced. Regardless, the world's most popular sport continues to be impacted by rapidly-developing technologies in the wider world. Right calls VAR decisions have, in large part, seemed to be a smoother process here than seen, for instance, in the Premier League last season. UEFA is deploying semi-automated offside technology, along with AI and Adidas' connected ball technology to speed up the review process and improve accuracy. Ten cameras are installed in each of the host stadiums, which UEFA says track 29 different points of the body on every player. Combined with the official tournament ball, which has a sensor to help detect every touch, and AI, the decision-making process is supposed to be quicker and more conclusive than before. Perhaps too conclusive for some. Belgium's Romelu Lukaku had three goals ruled out in his opening two games — two for offside and one for a handball from teammate Lois Openda in the build up, which was detected by the ball's sensor. Goal-line technology has ended debate over marginal calls in terms of whether the ball has crossed the line. There are seven cameras in each goal and a signal is sent to the referee's watch, which vibrates if the ball has crossed the line. UEFA says results are sent within one second of the action. The ball While the Adidas Fussballliebe, which is the official match ball of the Euros, is assisting with offside calls, it also seems to be a hit with players. It's made from recycled polyester and other materials including corn fibers, sugar cane and wood pulp, and players have spoken of the speed and distance it generates. That would appear to be evident judging by the number of stunning long-range goals scored during the group stage, such as Arda Guler's curling effort from around 20 meters in Turkey's 3-1 win against Georgia. Cristiano Ronaldo is an ambassador for a band which monitors sleep and biometric data such cardiovascular and muscular load. Tracking vests have long-been used to measure distances covered by players. Southgate is also wearing a smart watch which retails at $6,500, has its own tracking capabilities and also provides score alerts during the tournament. One unexpected wearable is Kylian Mbappe's custom-made protective mask — the France striker needed it after suffering a broken nose in his opening game. Teams have a suite of recovery devices to help players cope with the congested tournament schedule. Spain's base camp in Donaueschingen has a hyperbaric oxygen chamber, a cryogenic chamber and a phototherapy bed to help speed muscular recovery after practice or a game. A hyperbaric oxygen chamber is used to breathe in 100% pure oxygen. Cryogenic treatment involves the use of cold temperatures, while phototherapy uses light. England captain Harry Kane has made use of air compression boots, which massage players' legs and increase circulation. Boredom can be one of the biggest issues to deal with during a long tournament, with players spending time away from home and their family and friends. They can often be seen arriving at stadiums with their state-of-the-art, noise-cancelling headphones. Not every player uses the latest technology, however — England's Cole Palmer was seen wearing corded ear buds. Personal devices are a must, with smart phones, pads and gaming devices usually close at hand. Germany's Kai Havertz was seen carrying a popular video game console as he stepped off the team bus. Germany's base in Herzogenaurach also has a giant cinema screen by an outdoor pool. All the devices aren't purely for fun or distraction. For Spain's 16-year-old winger Lamine Yamal, his spare time can be taken up with catching up with homework on his pad.

Olympic champion swimmers tell Congress U.S. athletes have lost faith in anti-doping regulator

Michael Phelps, former Olympic athlete, testifies during a House Committee on Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations hearing examining Anti-Doping Measures in Advance of the 2024 Olympics, on Capitol Hill, Tuesday, June 25, 2024, in Washington. (AP Photo/Rod Lamkey, Jr.) The Associated Press WASHINGTON -- U.S. Olympic athletes have lost faith in the World Anti-Doping Agency to rid their sports of cheaters ahead of next month's Summer Games in Paris, two former gold medalists told a House subcommittee on Tuesday night. The testimony by Michael Phelps and Allison Schmitt followed revelations this spring that 23 Chinese swimmers had tested positive for a banned heart medication ahead of the Tokyo Olympics in 2021 but were allowed by WADA to compete. Five of those swimmers went on to win medals, including three golds. Phelps is the most decorated swimmer in history and a 23-time Olympic gold medalist. Schmitt, a four-time gold medalist, was part of the U.S. 800-meter freestyle relay team that finished a close second to China at the Tokyo Games. Both the Chinese and U.S. teams broke the previous world record in the relay. "We raced hard. We trained hard. We followed every protocol. We accepted our defeat with grace," Schmitt said. "Many of us will be haunted by this podium finish that may have been impacted by doping." Eleven of the Chinese swimmers who tested positive ahead of Tokyo are set to compete again in Paris. Phelps, wearing a dark suit, was joined by his wife, Nicole, and youngest son, Nico, who was born in January. He nodded in agreement multiple times as members of Congress criticized WADA and said Americans should be able to watch the Olympics without wondering if the competition is rigged. Phelps expressed frustration that nothing had changed since he testified before the same subcommittee seven years ago about WADA's handling of Russian state-sponsored doping. "Sitting here once again, it is clear to me that any attempts of reform at WADA have fallen short, and there are still deeply rooted, systemic problems that prove detrimental to the integrity of international sports and athletes' right to fair competition, time and time again," Phelps said. The global doping regulator accepted Chinese anti-doping officials' conclusion that the 23 athletes had ingested the banned substance through contaminated food at a hotel. Independent anti-doping experts have questioned that finding, with U.S. Anti-Doping Agency CEO Travis Tygart calling it "outrageous." "The banned drug, which is only available in pill form, somehow ended up in the kitchen of a hotel the swimmers were staying at," said Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers, R-Wash., the chair of the Energy and Commerce Committee, adding that WADA "somehow concluded this explanation was plausible." WADA said COVID-19 pandemic restrictions in China prevented an "on the ground probe" of the positive tests and concluded that it could not disprove Chinese authorities' explanation. WADA President Witold Banka was invited to testify Tuesday but declined. "Unfortunately, there persists a narrative from some in the U.S. suggesting that WADA somehow acted inappropriately or showed bias towards China, despite there being no evidence to support that theory," Banka said in a statement. "WADA understands the tense relationship that exists between the governments of China and U.S. and has no mandate to be part of that. It is not appropriate for anti-doping to be politicized in this way." In response to criticism, WADA appointed an independent investigator, Swiss prosecutor Eric Cottier, to review its handling of the China case. Cottier was appointed on April 25 and was expected to deliver his findings within two months. His appointment, too, angered critics who pointed out his potential conflicts of interest. The United States contributes more funding to WADA than any other country, including nearly $3.7 million this year. China has given WADA $1.8 million more than its required dues since 2018, Tygart noted in his testimony. Tygart called on the U.S. to condition its future funding of WADA on reforms at the agency, an idea that both Republican and Democratic lawmakers said they supported. "I think the threat of that if not actually suspending (funding) for a period of time will go a long way to influence the truth getting out," Tygart said. "We should ensure that our money is going for a good purpose and right now it's absolutely not."

sports

Olympic champion swimmers tell Congress U.S. athletes have lost faith in anti-doping regulator. Michael Phelps, former Olympic athlete, testifies during a House Committee on Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations hearing examining Anti-Doping Measures in Advance of the 2024 Olympics, on Capitol Hill, Tuesday, June 25, 2024, in Washington. (AP Photo/Rod Lamkey, Jr.) The Associated Press WASHINGTON -- U.S. Olympic athletes have lost faith in the World Anti-Doping Agency to rid their sports of cheaters ahead of next month's Summer Games in Paris, two former gold medalists told a House subcommittee on Tuesday night. The testimony by Michael Phelps and Allison Schmitt followed revelations this spring that 23 Chinese swimmers had tested positive for a banned heart medication ahead of the Tokyo Olympics in 2021 but were allowed by WADA to compete. Five of those swimmers went on to win medals, including three golds. Phelps is the most decorated swimmer in history and a 23-time Olympic gold medalist. Schmitt, a four-time gold medalist, was part of the U.S. 800-meter freestyle relay team that finished a close second to China at the Tokyo Games. Both the Chinese and U.S. teams broke the previous world record in the relay. "We raced hard. We trained hard. We followed every protocol. We accepted our defeat with grace," Schmitt said. "Many of us will be haunted by this podium finish that may have been impacted by doping." Eleven of the Chinese swimmers who tested positive ahead of Tokyo are set to compete again in Paris. Phelps, wearing a dark suit, was joined by his wife, Nicole, and youngest son, Nico, who was born in January. He nodded in agreement multiple times as members of Congress criticized WADA and said Americans should be able to watch the Olympics without wondering if the competition is rigged. Phelps expressed frustration that nothing had changed since he testified before the same subcommittee seven years ago about WADA's handling of Russian state-sponsored doping. "Sitting here once again, it is clear to me that any attempts of reform at WADA have fallen short, and there are still deeply rooted, systemic problems that prove detrimental to the integrity of international sports and athletes' right to fair competition, time and time again," Phelps said. The global doping regulator accepted Chinese anti-doping officials' conclusion that the 23 athletes had ingested the banned substance through contaminated food at a hotel. Independent anti-doping experts have questioned that finding, with U.S. Anti-Doping Agency CEO Travis Tygart calling it "outrageous." "The banned drug, which is only available in pill form, somehow ended up in the kitchen of a hotel the swimmers were staying at," said Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers, R-Wash., the chair of the Energy and Commerce Committee, adding that WADA "somehow concluded this explanation was plausible." WADA said COVID-19 pandemic restrictions in China prevented an "on the ground probe" of the positive tests and concluded that it could not disprove Chinese authorities' explanation. WADA President Witold Banka was invited to testify Tuesday but declined. "Unfortunately, there persists a narrative from some in the U.S. suggesting that WADA somehow acted inappropriately or showed bias towards China, despite there being no evidence to support that theory," Banka said in a statement. "WADA understands the tense relationship that exists between the governments of China and U.S. and has no mandate to be part of that. It is not appropriate for anti-doping to be politicized in this way." In response to criticism, WADA appointed an independent investigator, Swiss prosecutor Eric Cottier, to review its handling of the China case. Cottier was appointed on April 25 and was expected to deliver his findings within two months. His appointment, too, angered critics who pointed out his potential conflicts of interest. The United States contributes more funding to WADA than any other country, including nearly $3.7 million this year. China has given WADA $1.8 million more than its required dues since 2018, Tygart noted in his testimony. Tygart called on the U.S. to condition its future funding of WADA on reforms at the agency, an idea that both Republican and Democratic lawmakers said they supported. "I think the threat of that if not actually suspending (funding) for a period of time will go a long way to influence the truth getting out," Tygart said. "We should ensure that our money is going for a good purpose and right now it's absolutely not."

Cooking and coughing: Respiratory diseases plague Kenya as more people burn wood to save money

Jane Muthoni, 65, cooks using firewood at her home in Kiambu, Kenya, Tuesday, May 21, 2024. Respiratory diseases have been the most prevalent diseases in Kenya for the past several years and are on the rise, according to government authorities, with 19.6 million reported cases last year. Burning biomass such as firewood is the largest contributor to those diseases. (AP Photo/Andrew Kasuku) The Associated Press NAIROBI, Kenya -- Piles of firewood surrounded Jane Muthoni in her kitchen made of iron sheets. The roof, walls and wooden pillars were covered in soot. As she blew on the flame for tea, the 65-year-old was engulfed in smoke. "I've used firewood all my life," she said. "Sometimes I usually cough from inhaling the smoke, and my eyes itch, but there's nothing I can do about it. I don't have money to even buy charcoal." She was unaware of the lasting toll on her health. But experts are. Respiratory diseases have been the most prevalent diseases in Kenya for the past several years and are on the rise, according to government authorities, with 19.6 million reported cases last year. Burning biomass such as firewood is the largest contributor to those diseases, said Evans Amukoye, a scientist with the Kenya Medical Research Institute's respiratory diseases research center. "One can have itchy eyes, coughs while inhaling the smoke, and for serious cases like chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, you find that you cannot walk as your lungs have become tight," Amukoye said. The disease is caused by indoor or outdoor air pollution or smoking. Data from Kenya's health ministry shows that chronic obstructive pulmonary disease is responsible for 1.7% of deaths in the country. People in low-income areas are diagnosed with respiratory diseases later in life compared to middle-class people in urban areas with better awareness and access to health care, Amukoye said. Families in informal neighborhoods and rural areas are the most affected as most people rely on firewood or fossil fuels for cooking. Women hunched over a smoking fire at stalls for tea or snacks is a common sight in the capital, Nairobi, and beyond. The government's 2022 Demographic and Health Survey showed a high dependence on traditional fuels for cooking in Kenya. The number of households relying on biomass like firewood increased from 4.7 million to 6.7 million between 2020 and 2022. Economist Abraham Muriu said he believes the increase in Kenyans using firewood is a result of economic shocks caused by reduced incomes during the COVID pandemic and ongoing high inflation. "Firewood is readily available and the most accessible fossil fuel, especially in rural areas," Muriu said. He said more Kenyans in urban areas have likely resorted to using firewood or charcoal, too, as prices and taxes rise. Blackened sacks of charcoal are openly on sale at some Nairobi intersections, and the hunt for firewood across the country is constant. Mercy Letting, 33, a businesswoman in Nairobi's Kasarani neighborhood was using charcoal to make meals for customers in the first six months after opening her restaurant early last year. With time, it affected her health. "I am asthmatic, so whenever I used charcoal to cook the smoke would always trigger an attack, forcing me to spend part of my daily earnings on medication. This happened five times," she said. She found it expensive, spending 4,500 Kenyan shillings ($33) per month to buy a sack of charcoal. "I eventually had to buy an 'eco-friendly' cooker, which has been great for my health and good for business." It requires less charcoal. Letting also bought an induction burner, which she said is faster in cooking and more efficient as she spends only 50 Kenyan shillings ($0.38) per day on electricity. Although companies pursue "clean cooking" options, high prices remain an obstacle to many Kenyans. "If we want to deliver a truly clean and efficient solution to users across Africa, it needs to be affordable for them," said Chris McKinney, the chief commercial officer at BURN Manufacturing, which describes itself as a "modern cookstove" company based on the outskirts of Nairobi. "This has been the key barrier to scaling for us," he said. The Associated Press receives financial support for global health and development coverage in Africa from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation Trust. The AP is solely responsible for all content. Find AP's standards for working with philanthropies, a list of supporters and funded coverage areas at

health

Cooking and coughing: Respiratory diseases plague Kenya as more people burn wood to save money. Jane Muthoni, 65, cooks using firewood at her home in Kiambu, Kenya, Tuesday, May 21, 2024. Respiratory diseases have been the most prevalent diseases in Kenya for the past several years and are on the rise, according to government authorities, with 19.6 million reported cases last year. Burning biomass such as firewood is the largest contributor to those diseases. (AP Photo/Andrew Kasuku) The Associated Press NAIROBI, Kenya -- Piles of firewood surrounded Jane Muthoni in her kitchen made of iron sheets. The roof, walls and wooden pillars were covered in soot. As she blew on the flame for tea, the 65-year-old was engulfed in smoke. "I've used firewood all my life," she said. "Sometimes I usually cough from inhaling the smoke, and my eyes itch, but there's nothing I can do about it. I don't have money to even buy charcoal." She was unaware of the lasting toll on her health. But experts are. Respiratory diseases have been the most prevalent diseases in Kenya for the past several years and are on the rise, according to government authorities, with 19.6 million reported cases last year. Burning biomass such as firewood is the largest contributor to those diseases, said Evans Amukoye, a scientist with the Kenya Medical Research Institute's respiratory diseases research center. "One can have itchy eyes, coughs while inhaling the smoke, and for serious cases like chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, you find that you cannot walk as your lungs have become tight," Amukoye said. The disease is caused by indoor or outdoor air pollution or smoking. Data from Kenya's health ministry shows that chronic obstructive pulmonary disease is responsible for 1.7% of deaths in the country. People in low-income areas are diagnosed with respiratory diseases later in life compared to middle-class people in urban areas with better awareness and access to health care, Amukoye said. Families in informal neighborhoods and rural areas are the most affected as most people rely on firewood or fossil fuels for cooking. Women hunched over a smoking fire at stalls for tea or snacks is a common sight in the capital, Nairobi, and beyond. The government's 2022 Demographic and Health Survey showed a high dependence on traditional fuels for cooking in Kenya. The number of households relying on biomass like firewood increased from 4.7 million to 6.7 million between 2020 and 2022. Economist Abraham Muriu said he believes the increase in Kenyans using firewood is a result of economic shocks caused by reduced incomes during the COVID pandemic and ongoing high inflation. "Firewood is readily available and the most accessible fossil fuel, especially in rural areas," Muriu said. He said more Kenyans in urban areas have likely resorted to using firewood or charcoal, too, as prices and taxes rise. Blackened sacks of charcoal are openly on sale at some Nairobi intersections, and the hunt for firewood across the country is constant. Mercy Letting, 33, a businesswoman in Nairobi's Kasarani neighborhood was using charcoal to make meals for customers in the first six months after opening her restaurant early last year. With time, it affected her health. "I am asthmatic, so whenever I used charcoal to cook the smoke would always trigger an attack, forcing me to spend part of my daily earnings on medication. This happened five times," she said. She found it expensive, spending 4,500 Kenyan shillings ($33) per month to buy a sack of charcoal. "I eventually had to buy an 'eco-friendly' cooker, which has been great for my health and good for business." It requires less charcoal. Letting also bought an induction burner, which she said is faster in cooking and more efficient as she spends only 50 Kenyan shillings ($0.38) per day on electricity. Although companies pursue "clean cooking" options, high prices remain an obstacle to many Kenyans. "If we want to deliver a truly clean and efficient solution to users across Africa, it needs to be affordable for them," said Chris McKinney, the chief commercial officer at BURN Manufacturing, which describes itself as a "modern cookstove" company based on the outskirts of Nairobi. "This has been the key barrier to scaling for us," he said. The Associated Press receives financial support for global health and development coverage in Africa from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation Trust. The AP is solely responsible for all content. Find AP's standards for working with philanthropies, a list of supporters and funded coverage areas at

Sweden protests against death penalties given to 3 Swedes in Iraq

FILE - Sweden's Foreign Minister Tobias Billstrom speaks with the media as he arrives for a meeting of EU foreign ministers at the European Council building in Brussels, Jan. 22, 2024. Sweden's Foreign Ministry said Thursday it will summon the Iraqi chargé d'affaires to protest once again against more death sentences handed down to Swedes in Iraq. (AP Photo/Virginia Mayo, File) The Associated Press COPENHAGEN, Denmark -- Sweden's Foreign Ministry said Thursday it will summon the Iraqi chargé d'affaires in Stockholm to protest against death sentences received by Swedes in Iraq. Last month, Stockholm protested over a death sentence given to a Swede. On Thursday, two more cases were confirmed, bringing the total to at least three Swedes who have been sentenced to death in Iraq in recent weeks. All were related to a deadly shooting earlier this year, the Foreign Ministry said. The ministry said it has also received information that a fourth Swedish citizen has received a death sentence that could be drug related. However, "there are certain uncertainties regarding the person's identity, which is why the Ministry of Foreign Affairs cannot confirm the sentence at the moment," it said. "We are acting to ensure that the sentences are not carried out," the ministry said, adding that Sweden condemns any use of the death penalty. "We oppose it always, everywhere and under any circumstances," it said. The ministry said it has been in contact with the Swedes and their families but declined to give further details, citing privacy regulations. Swedish media have said the three Swedes are accused of involvement in the murder of a criminal in Iraq. The killing earlier this year is believed to be linked to a gang war between two Swedish groups that has resulted in numerous killings and attempted murders, some occurring outside Sweden. The Foxtrot network and its rival, Rumba, have been involved in deadly feuds for years.

world

Sweden protests against death penalties given to 3 Swedes in Iraq. FILE - Sweden's Foreign Minister Tobias Billstrom speaks with the media as he arrives for a meeting of EU foreign ministers at the European Council building in Brussels, Jan. 22, 2024. Sweden's Foreign Ministry said Thursday it will summon the Iraqi chargé d'affaires to protest once again against more death sentences handed down to Swedes in Iraq. (AP Photo/Virginia Mayo, File) The Associated Press COPENHAGEN, Denmark -- Sweden's Foreign Ministry said Thursday it will summon the Iraqi chargé d'affaires in Stockholm to protest against death sentences received by Swedes in Iraq. Last month, Stockholm protested over a death sentence given to a Swede. On Thursday, two more cases were confirmed, bringing the total to at least three Swedes who have been sentenced to death in Iraq in recent weeks. All were related to a deadly shooting earlier this year, the Foreign Ministry said. The ministry said it has also received information that a fourth Swedish citizen has received a death sentence that could be drug related. However, "there are certain uncertainties regarding the person's identity, which is why the Ministry of Foreign Affairs cannot confirm the sentence at the moment," it said. "We are acting to ensure that the sentences are not carried out," the ministry said, adding that Sweden condemns any use of the death penalty. "We oppose it always, everywhere and under any circumstances," it said. The ministry said it has been in contact with the Swedes and their families but declined to give further details, citing privacy regulations. Swedish media have said the three Swedes are accused of involvement in the murder of a criminal in Iraq. The killing earlier this year is believed to be linked to a gang war between two Swedish groups that has resulted in numerous killings and attempted murders, some occurring outside Sweden. The Foxtrot network and its rival, Rumba, have been involved in deadly feuds for years.

Navigating smooth transitions through the Navy’s Relocation Assistance Program

NORFOLK, Va. — The Navy’s Relocation Assistance Program (RAP) is a mission-essential service dedicated to supporting Sailors and their families during the often-challenging period of a permanent change of station (PCS) move. Frequent relocations are a common aspect of military life, and RAP aims to mitigate the associated stress by structuring its services to make the relocation process as smooth and efficient as possible. “Relocating to a new permanent duty station can be stressful, but Sailors and their families don’t have to do it alone,” said Douglas Morfeld, regional work and family life coordinator for FFSC. “All Fleet and Family Support Centers (FFSC) in Hampton Roads, Virginia, have relocation providers that offer ‘Smooth Move’ and ‘Moving Overseas’ workshops to assist Sailors with their PCS moves.” RAP offers a comprehensive suite of resources to those undergoing a move. Among these are one-on-one counseling sessions and a variety of classes that cover essential topics such as home buying, renting, and relocating outside the continental United States. “Fleet and Family Support can alleviate your stress and guide you through the application process, and entitlements to prepare you for your PCS, separation, or retirement,” said Kimberly Bowen, Naval Support Activity Hampton Roads FFSC relocation services provider. The program is designed to support Sailors and their families before departure and upon arrival at their new duty station. This dual-phase approach ensures that comprehensive assistance is available throughout the entire relocation process. One notable feature of RAP is the sponsorship program; it connects relocating Sailors and their families with command sponsors from their new duty station. “I highly encourage Sailors — once they receive their orders and right before they execute their PCS move — to contact their command and request their sponsor point of contact information, if not already provided, to help support an easy transition to their new duty station,” said Morfeld. Beyond immediate relocation needs, RAP serves as a valuable resource for base and area information, both for newcomers and those making their preparations to depart. RAP maintains an extensive electronic resource library, which includes military relocation books, brochures, preparation tips, and information on military installations. This library is a vital resource for families, providing all the information they need to plan their move, such as tips on relocating pets, local schools, and health care services. The program’s educational efforts also extend to financial savings. By educating members about the entire PCS process, and making them aware of all PCS and travel money entitlements, RAP has a proven track record of savings for service members The program has significantly streamlined the transition process. By offering a wide range of services and resources, RAP ensures that the move to a new duty station is as seamless as possible, allowing service members to focus on their duties and families to settle into their new homes with minimal stress. To find more information on the Relocation Assistance Program, contact your local FFSC or visit the Military One Source Plan My Move website https://www.militaryonesource.mil/resources/network/plan-my-move/.

military,usa

Navigating smooth transitions through the Navy’s Relocation Assistance Program. NORFOLK, Va. — The Navy’s Relocation Assistance Program (RAP) is a mission-essential service dedicated to supporting Sailors and their families during the often-challenging period of a permanent change of station (PCS) move. Frequent relocations are a common aspect of military life, and RAP aims to mitigate the associated stress by structuring its services to make the relocation process as smooth and efficient as possible. “Relocating to a new permanent duty station can be stressful, but Sailors and their families don’t have to do it alone,” said Douglas Morfeld, regional work and family life coordinator for FFSC. “All Fleet and Family Support Centers (FFSC) in Hampton Roads, Virginia, have relocation providers that offer ‘Smooth Move’ and ‘Moving Overseas’ workshops to assist Sailors with their PCS moves.” RAP offers a comprehensive suite of resources to those undergoing a move. Among these are one-on-one counseling sessions and a variety of classes that cover essential topics such as home buying, renting, and relocating outside the continental United States. “Fleet and Family Support can alleviate your stress and guide you through the application process, and entitlements to prepare you for your PCS, separation, or retirement,” said Kimberly Bowen, Naval Support Activity Hampton Roads FFSC relocation services provider. The program is designed to support Sailors and their families before departure and upon arrival at their new duty station. This dual-phase approach ensures that comprehensive assistance is available throughout the entire relocation process. One notable feature of RAP is the sponsorship program; it connects relocating Sailors and their families with command sponsors from their new duty station. “I highly encourage Sailors — once they receive their orders and right before they execute their PCS move — to contact their command and request their sponsor point of contact information, if not already provided, to help support an easy transition to their new duty station,” said Morfeld. Beyond immediate relocation needs, RAP serves as a valuable resource for base and area information, both for newcomers and those making their preparations to depart. RAP maintains an extensive electronic resource library, which includes military relocation books, brochures, preparation tips, and information on military installations. This library is a vital resource for families, providing all the information they need to plan their move, such as tips on relocating pets, local schools, and health care services. The program’s educational efforts also extend to financial savings. By educating members about the entire PCS process, and making them aware of all PCS and travel money entitlements, RAP has a proven track record of savings for service members The program has significantly streamlined the transition process. By offering a wide range of services and resources, RAP ensures that the move to a new duty station is as seamless as possible, allowing service members to focus on their duties and families to settle into their new homes with minimal stress. To find more information on the Relocation Assistance Program, contact your local FFSC or visit the Military One Source Plan My Move website https://www.militaryonesource.mil/resources/network/plan-my-move/.

Dave O'Hara Joins Rohirrim Board

Rohirrim uses its patented, first-ever, organization-specific generative-AI technology to develop groundbreaking products that aim to reimagine how people work, particularly when it comes to time-intensive, repetitive, and manual tasks. Rohirrim was born out of the need to improve the work-life balance of proposal teams and has stayed true to its vision in the continuous pursuit of new ways to make people's work lives better. (PRNewsfoto/Rohirrim) During his tenure with Microsoft, O'Hara served as Commercial Chief Financial Officer and a member of the senior leadership team. Prior to that, he served as the Chief Operating Officer of Microsoft Advertising and a VP of Business Development. He came to Microsoft through the acquisition of Great Plains in 2001. O'Hara has previously served on the board of directors for technology companies AppNexus, Caradigm, and Intelligent Insights. "Dave is more than just an industry veteran, he's a powerhouse whose expertise will be crucial in driving growth for Rohirrim. He will have a tremendous impact on the future of organization-specific generative AI." shared Steven Aberle, Rohirrim Founder and CEO. "With 30 years of experience in finance and technology, Dave has an innovative mindset and passion for building successful, long-term partnerships. We look forward to working closely with Dave as we expand Rohirrim's reach and continue to build our growing team." Rohirrim's RohanRFP uses patented organization-specific generative AI technology to unlock the power of an organization's data and help create complex, long-form documents in a fraction of the time. The easy-to-use UX, and the seamless workflows of RohanRFP were purpose-built for their use cases, but what makes RohanRFP the clear leader in the space are the level of security and flexibility of deployment. Customers' information that is handled in RohanRFP meets the compliance standards of CMMC, SOC2, among others. Deployment model options give customers the choice to either have Rohirrim manage and maintain the underlying infrastructure for them, or to host RohanRFP behind their own firewall for added control and customization. "I am very excited to join the Rohirrim board. Rohirrim has a powerful AI platform for multiple enterprise products." said O'Hara. "Witnessing firsthand the growth and development of generative AI, I am looking forward to seeing Rohirrim's customers benefit from this solution to produce high-quality proposals in record time." By generating the first draft of an RFP in a fraction of the time, proposal teams have more time to focus on what they do best: storytelling and persuasion, making their proposal responses more compelling and competitive. By reducing costs and increasing the volume of RFP submissions, RohanRFP can have a profound impact on an organization's business growth. About Rohirrim Rohirrim uses its patented, first-ever, organization-specific generative-AI technology to develop groundbreaking products that aim to reimagine how people work, particularly when it comes to time-intensive, repetitive, and manual tasks. Rohirrim was born out of the need to improve the work-life balance of proposal teams and has stayed true to its vision in the continuous pursuit of new ways to make people's work lives better. Learn more at

tech,lifestyle

Dave O'Hara Joins Rohirrim Board. Rohirrim uses its patented, first-ever, organization-specific generative-AI technology to develop groundbreaking products that aim to reimagine how people work, particularly when it comes to time-intensive, repetitive, and manual tasks. Rohirrim was born out of the need to improve the work-life balance of proposal teams and has stayed true to its vision in the continuous pursuit of new ways to make people's work lives better. (PRNewsfoto/Rohirrim) During his tenure with Microsoft, O'Hara served as Commercial Chief Financial Officer and a member of the senior leadership team. Prior to that, he served as the Chief Operating Officer of Microsoft Advertising and a VP of Business Development. He came to Microsoft through the acquisition of Great Plains in 2001. O'Hara has previously served on the board of directors for technology companies AppNexus, Caradigm, and Intelligent Insights. "Dave is more than just an industry veteran, he's a powerhouse whose expertise will be crucial in driving growth for Rohirrim. He will have a tremendous impact on the future of organization-specific generative AI." shared Steven Aberle, Rohirrim Founder and CEO. "With 30 years of experience in finance and technology, Dave has an innovative mindset and passion for building successful, long-term partnerships. We look forward to working closely with Dave as we expand Rohirrim's reach and continue to build our growing team." Rohirrim's RohanRFP uses patented organization-specific generative AI technology to unlock the power of an organization's data and help create complex, long-form documents in a fraction of the time. The easy-to-use UX, and the seamless workflows of RohanRFP were purpose-built for their use cases, but what makes RohanRFP the clear leader in the space are the level of security and flexibility of deployment. Customers' information that is handled in RohanRFP meets the compliance standards of CMMC, SOC2, among others. Deployment model options give customers the choice to either have Rohirrim manage and maintain the underlying infrastructure for them, or to host RohanRFP behind their own firewall for added control and customization. "I am very excited to join the Rohirrim board. Rohirrim has a powerful AI platform for multiple enterprise products." said O'Hara. "Witnessing firsthand the growth and development of generative AI, I am looking forward to seeing Rohirrim's customers benefit from this solution to produce high-quality proposals in record time." By generating the first draft of an RFP in a fraction of the time, proposal teams have more time to focus on what they do best: storytelling and persuasion, making their proposal responses more compelling and competitive. By reducing costs and increasing the volume of RFP submissions, RohanRFP can have a profound impact on an organization's business growth. About Rohirrim Rohirrim uses its patented, first-ever, organization-specific generative-AI technology to develop groundbreaking products that aim to reimagine how people work, particularly when it comes to time-intensive, repetitive, and manual tasks. Rohirrim was born out of the need to improve the work-life balance of proposal teams and has stayed true to its vision in the continuous pursuit of new ways to make people's work lives better. Learn more at

Top California Democrats announce ballot measure targeting retail theft

FILE - Tubby, the dog of former state Sen. Gloria Romero, D-Los Angeles, sits during a news conference organized by the Californians for Safer Communities Coalition, April 18, 2024, in Culver City, Calif. Top California Democrats announced Sunday, June 30, they will ask voters to approve a plan cracking down on retail theft. The retailers' proposal would make stealing a felony for repeat offenders and increase punishment for fentanyl dealing. (AP Photo/Ryan Sun, File) The Associated Press SACRAMENTO, Calif. -- Top California Democrats announced Sunday they will ask voters to approve a plan cracking down on retail theft. The plan is an effort to compete with another crime-focused measure backed by a coalition of business groups that lawmakers said would result in more people being put behind bars. Both proposals would include make shoplifting a felony for repeat offenders and increase penalties for fentanyl dealers. Under the retailers' plan, any prior theft-related convictions, even if they happened years ago, would count toward a three-strike policy for increased sentences. Lawmakers also are proposing harsher punishment for repeat thieves, but the convictions would have to happen within three years of each other. Prosecutors could aggregate the amount of all stolen goods within three years to charge harsher offenses under the Democrats' plan. Lawmakers hope to place the measure on the ballot in November. They will vote to advance the plan and deliver it to Gov. Gavin Newsom for his signature before the deadline on Wednesday. The last-minute plan is an attempt by top California Democrats to override another initiative cracking down on shoplifters and drug dealers, which is backed by a broad coalition of businesses, law enforcement and local officials. The proposal by the business groups, which is already on the November ballot, would also make possession of fentanyl a felony and authorize judges to order those with multiple drug charges to get treatment. Lawmakers said the change would disproportionately incarcerate low-income people and those with substance use issues rather than target ringleaders who hire large groups of people to steal goods for resale online. Republican lawmakers blasted the Democrats' plan, with one calling it " a sham " to confuse voters. The coalition of retailers and state leaders have clashed over how to crack down retail theft crimes. The retailers' proposal would roll back parts of Proposition 47, the progressive ballot measure approved by 60% of state voters in 2014 that reduced certain theft and drug possession offenses from felonies to misdemeanors to help address overcrowding in jails. In recent years, Proposition 47 has become the focus of critics who say California is too lax on crime. Democrat leaders, including Newsom, repeatedly rejected calls to unravel Proposition 47 or to go back to voters for crime reforms. Democratic lawmakers were fast-tracking a legislative package of 13 bills that would go after organized online reseller schemes and auto thieves and provide funding for drug addiction counselors. State leaders planned to enact the proposals into laws as soon as this month and void the package if voters approve the business groups' proposal in November. They abandoned that plan Saturday night. Democrats also are concerned the retailers' tough-on-crime proposal would drive more Republicans and conservative voters to the polls in contested U.S. House races that could determine control of Congress. Crime is shaping up to be the major political issue in California's November's election. San Francisco Mayor London Breed and Los Angeles District Attorney George Gascón face tough reelection bids against challengers who have criticized their approaches to crime and punishment.

usa

Top California Democrats announce ballot measure targeting retail theft. FILE - Tubby, the dog of former state Sen. Gloria Romero, D-Los Angeles, sits during a news conference organized by the Californians for Safer Communities Coalition, April 18, 2024, in Culver City, Calif. Top California Democrats announced Sunday, June 30, they will ask voters to approve a plan cracking down on retail theft. The retailers' proposal would make stealing a felony for repeat offenders and increase punishment for fentanyl dealing. (AP Photo/Ryan Sun, File) The Associated Press SACRAMENTO, Calif. -- Top California Democrats announced Sunday they will ask voters to approve a plan cracking down on retail theft. The plan is an effort to compete with another crime-focused measure backed by a coalition of business groups that lawmakers said would result in more people being put behind bars. Both proposals would include make shoplifting a felony for repeat offenders and increase penalties for fentanyl dealers. Under the retailers' plan, any prior theft-related convictions, even if they happened years ago, would count toward a three-strike policy for increased sentences. Lawmakers also are proposing harsher punishment for repeat thieves, but the convictions would have to happen within three years of each other. Prosecutors could aggregate the amount of all stolen goods within three years to charge harsher offenses under the Democrats' plan. Lawmakers hope to place the measure on the ballot in November. They will vote to advance the plan and deliver it to Gov. Gavin Newsom for his signature before the deadline on Wednesday. The last-minute plan is an attempt by top California Democrats to override another initiative cracking down on shoplifters and drug dealers, which is backed by a broad coalition of businesses, law enforcement and local officials. The proposal by the business groups, which is already on the November ballot, would also make possession of fentanyl a felony and authorize judges to order those with multiple drug charges to get treatment. Lawmakers said the change would disproportionately incarcerate low-income people and those with substance use issues rather than target ringleaders who hire large groups of people to steal goods for resale online. Republican lawmakers blasted the Democrats' plan, with one calling it " a sham " to confuse voters. The coalition of retailers and state leaders have clashed over how to crack down retail theft crimes. The retailers' proposal would roll back parts of Proposition 47, the progressive ballot measure approved by 60% of state voters in 2014 that reduced certain theft and drug possession offenses from felonies to misdemeanors to help address overcrowding in jails. In recent years, Proposition 47 has become the focus of critics who say California is too lax on crime. Democrat leaders, including Newsom, repeatedly rejected calls to unravel Proposition 47 or to go back to voters for crime reforms. Democratic lawmakers were fast-tracking a legislative package of 13 bills that would go after organized online reseller schemes and auto thieves and provide funding for drug addiction counselors. State leaders planned to enact the proposals into laws as soon as this month and void the package if voters approve the business groups' proposal in November. They abandoned that plan Saturday night. Democrats also are concerned the retailers' tough-on-crime proposal would drive more Republicans and conservative voters to the polls in contested U.S. House races that could determine control of Congress. Crime is shaping up to be the major political issue in California's November's election. San Francisco Mayor London Breed and Los Angeles District Attorney George Gascón face tough reelection bids against challengers who have criticized their approaches to crime and punishment.

Switching to rail: Will trains replace flights more quickly?

Before the Coronavirus crisis, the environmental debate was one of the major issues in European aviation, especially with regard to short-haul flights. In November 2019 for example, KLM told aeroTELEGRAPH that it will no longer only connect Amsterdam and Brussels by train. «We will develop a product to fly to London and take the train back», said Boet Kreiken, who is responsible for the customer experience at the Dutch airline. «I think in the long term, short distances will be covered by trains.» Swiss opts for more feeder trains In February, the airline organisation IATA and the international railway association UIC agreed to develop standards to make it easier to link flights and train journeys in the future. This should make more feeder train connections possible around the world, something Lufthansa, Swiss and Austrian already offer. Then came the Covid-19 pandemic. And in mid-August, Swiss announced a feeder train from Geneva to Zurich airport: «Due to the coronavirus pandemic, the number of Swiss flights between the national airports of Zurich and Geneva was reduced.» Air France drops many domestic flights However, it is generally difficult to say whether the effects of the pandemic are accelerating the switch from flight to train on more and more routes, or whether the development of corresponding rail connections would have been equally rapid even without the virus outbreak. One must look at the individual cases. For example, in return for Coronavirus-related state aid, Air France agreed not to offer any more domestic routes that can be covered in two and a half hours (or less) by high-speed train. The government also made it a condition for the airline to reduce CO2 emissions per passenger kilometre by 50 percent by 2030. Air France therefore plans to reduce its 2021 domestic services by around 40 percent. Austrian railways lead the way at night Austria decided in June – without connection to the pandemic – to increase the tax on short-haul flights of up to 350 kilometres. In an interview with aeroTELEGRAPH, Environment Minister Leonore Gewessler said that the aim was to switch to climate-friendly alternatives where possible. «We want to initiate this change with these measures, because especially on short distances the future is the train», said Gewessler. Night trains are a special chapter. Germany’s railway operator Deutsche Bahn (DB) withdrew from operating night trains at the end of 2016 despite criticism. The Austrian Federal Railways (ÖBB) took over part of the services and sleeping and couchette trains. The company not only operates a route network from Vienna under the name Nightjet, but has also just announced an expansion together with the Swiss Federal Railways (SBB). The network is to extend from Hamburg in the north to Barcelona and Rome in the south by 2024, with Zurich being in the middle. Graphic: ÖBB/SBB Design company for jets now designs night trains The Austrian railway company has commissioned the renowned design company Priestman Goode – which also counts major airlines such as Lufthansa, Swiss, United Airlines and Qatar Airways among its customers – to equip new night trains. France is also debating the expansion of night train connections to several European destinations. In Germany, the Green Party appeal to the government to promote fast night trains in Europe, coordinated by a European railway agency. High-speed rail is often missing However, all these efforts to expand night trains cannot be seen in close connection with Covid-19. Anyone who has ever travelled in a sleeping car with several passengers knows that there is a lack of social distance. For example, the Swiss Federal Railway declared: «The night train on the Zurich – Budapest route will run without sleeping and couchette cars until further notice» and «The night train on the Zurich – Prague route will be suspended until further notice». But even beyond the Coronavirus pandemic and sleeping cars, there are still hurdles in the way of replacing flights by trains on a large scale. KLM manager Boet Kreiken, for example, stressed that Europe still needs to invest heavily in infrastructure for high-speed trains. Airlines see new regional opportunities The challenges are not easy to master everywhere, as the manager made clear: «The Netherlands are essentially sand and mud», explained Kreiken. For fast trains with speeds of over 300 kilometres per hour (186 miles per hour), this is a challenge, especially in curves. This was already evident on the route between Amsterdam and Brussels: «You can only really step on the gas after Breda», a city in the south of the country. However, some airlines see a chance even in short domestic flights – and are not deterred by Coronavirus. Green Airlines, for example, is currently preparing for take-off in Germany as a new airline, it will first launch flights between Karlsruhe and capital Berlin.

aerospace

Switching to rail: Will trains replace flights more quickly?. Before the Coronavirus crisis, the environmental debate was one of the major issues in European aviation, especially with regard to short-haul flights. In November 2019 for example, KLM told aeroTELEGRAPH that it will no longer only connect Amsterdam and Brussels by train. «We will develop a product to fly to London and take the train back», said Boet Kreiken, who is responsible for the customer experience at the Dutch airline. «I think in the long term, short distances will be covered by trains.» Swiss opts for more feeder trains In February, the airline organisation IATA and the international railway association UIC agreed to develop standards to make it easier to link flights and train journeys in the future. This should make more feeder train connections possible around the world, something Lufthansa, Swiss and Austrian already offer. Then came the Covid-19 pandemic. And in mid-August, Swiss announced a feeder train from Geneva to Zurich airport: «Due to the coronavirus pandemic, the number of Swiss flights between the national airports of Zurich and Geneva was reduced.» Air France drops many domestic flights However, it is generally difficult to say whether the effects of the pandemic are accelerating the switch from flight to train on more and more routes, or whether the development of corresponding rail connections would have been equally rapid even without the virus outbreak. One must look at the individual cases. For example, in return for Coronavirus-related state aid, Air France agreed not to offer any more domestic routes that can be covered in two and a half hours (or less) by high-speed train. The government also made it a condition for the airline to reduce CO2 emissions per passenger kilometre by 50 percent by 2030. Air France therefore plans to reduce its 2021 domestic services by around 40 percent. Austrian railways lead the way at night Austria decided in June – without connection to the pandemic – to increase the tax on short-haul flights of up to 350 kilometres. In an interview with aeroTELEGRAPH, Environment Minister Leonore Gewessler said that the aim was to switch to climate-friendly alternatives where possible. «We want to initiate this change with these measures, because especially on short distances the future is the train», said Gewessler. Night trains are a special chapter. Germany’s railway operator Deutsche Bahn (DB) withdrew from operating night trains at the end of 2016 despite criticism. The Austrian Federal Railways (ÖBB) took over part of the services and sleeping and couchette trains. The company not only operates a route network from Vienna under the name Nightjet, but has also just announced an expansion together with the Swiss Federal Railways (SBB). The network is to extend from Hamburg in the north to Barcelona and Rome in the south by 2024, with Zurich being in the middle. Graphic: ÖBB/SBB Design company for jets now designs night trains The Austrian railway company has commissioned the renowned design company Priestman Goode – which also counts major airlines such as Lufthansa, Swiss, United Airlines and Qatar Airways among its customers – to equip new night trains. France is also debating the expansion of night train connections to several European destinations. In Germany, the Green Party appeal to the government to promote fast night trains in Europe, coordinated by a European railway agency. High-speed rail is often missing However, all these efforts to expand night trains cannot be seen in close connection with Covid-19. Anyone who has ever travelled in a sleeping car with several passengers knows that there is a lack of social distance. For example, the Swiss Federal Railway declared: «The night train on the Zurich – Budapest route will run without sleeping and couchette cars until further notice» and «The night train on the Zurich – Prague route will be suspended until further notice». But even beyond the Coronavirus pandemic and sleeping cars, there are still hurdles in the way of replacing flights by trains on a large scale. KLM manager Boet Kreiken, for example, stressed that Europe still needs to invest heavily in infrastructure for high-speed trains. Airlines see new regional opportunities The challenges are not easy to master everywhere, as the manager made clear: «The Netherlands are essentially sand and mud», explained Kreiken. For fast trains with speeds of over 300 kilometres per hour (186 miles per hour), this is a challenge, especially in curves. This was already evident on the route between Amsterdam and Brussels: «You can only really step on the gas after Breda», a city in the south of the country. However, some airlines see a chance even in short domestic flights – and are not deterred by Coronavirus. Green Airlines, for example, is currently preparing for take-off in Germany as a new airline, it will first launch flights between Karlsruhe and capital Berlin.

Revealed: how Sunak dropped smoking ban amid lobbying from tobacco firms

Rishi Sunak abandoned his "legacy" policy to ban smoking for future generations amid a backlash from the tobacco industry in the form of legal threats, lobbying and a charm offensive aimed at Conservative MPs, an investigation reveals. The UK had been on course to become the first country to ban smoking for future generations, via the tobacco and vaping bill, which Downing Street hoped would help define Sunak's place in British political history. An investigation by the Guardian and the Examination, a non-profit newsroom that investigates global health threats, has uncovered how the UK's largest cigarette companies fought against the policy, which would have raised the smoking age by one year every year. After months of fierce opposition from the industry – and intervention from MPs and thinktanks with ties to tobacco firms – the proposal was excluded from the "wash-up" process, when outgoing governments choose which policies to fast-track and which to drop. The policy, which in effect banned smoking for anyone born after 2009, was left out despite MPs having voted in favour of it. Documents and freedom of information requests reveal how four of the world's largest tobacco firms – the UK's Imperial Brands and British American Tobacco (BAT), Japan Tobacco International (JTI) and US-headquartered Philip Morris International (PMI) – put ministers on notice of a legal backlash. Imperial and BAT wrote to the health secretary, Victoria Atkins, in February, to claim the consultation process preceding legislation was "unlawful" because industry views had not been considered. The Department of Imperial Brands sells half of all of the cigarettes smoked in the UK. Photograph: Chris Radburn/PA The Marlboro-owner PMI and JTI, which makes Camel and Benson & Hedges, said the treaty permitted interactions with cigarette firms if they were "necessary". Imperial, which owns Lambert & Butler and Gauloises, followed up its warning with a legal letter threatening a "judicial review" challenging the consultation process. Government lawyers responded by saying legal action might "derail" a bill that ministers believed could save tens of thousands of lives and billions of pounds in NHS costs. BAT, JTI and PMI were named as interested parties in Imperial's letter, giving them the right to join as co-claimants if a judicial review went ahead. Imperial, which sells half of all of the cigarettes smoked in the UK, has not filed court proceedings but a spokesperson said the company was "keeping the situation under review as we monitor legislative developments". The legal threats came after the industry opposed the legislation in its submissions to the consultation, despite claiming publicly that they wanted to phase out cigarettes. PMI's chief executive, Jacek Olczak, indicated in 2021 interviews that it could stop selling cigarettes in the UK within 10 years. However, the company's UK subsidiary told the consultation it "did not support the age of sale ban as outlined", arguing instead for "further restrictions" on "combustible tobacco" – ie cigarettes – instead of an outright ban. PMI told the Guardian the bill risked "confusing" consumers because it included restrictions on some smoke-free products such as vapes, adding that it "firmly believes in phasing out cigarettes, to the benefit of the 6.4 million adult smokers in the UK". BAT, which has previously advocated for a "smokeless" future, proposed raising the age of sale to 21 instead. As the government pressed ahead with its plans despite opposition, tobacco firms courted rightwing and libertarian Tory MPs. In January, three months after Sunak announced his policy on smoking, the then Clacton MP, Giles Watling, attended a "business lunch" with officials from JTI. Two months later, he went to the company's annual party at the British Museum in London. In May, he proposed an amendment that would have replaced Sunak's proposals with a new minimum age of 21. Privacy Notice: Newsletters may contain info about charities, online ads, and content funded by outside parties. For more information see our Privacy Policy. We use Google reCaptcha to protect our website and the Google after newsletter promotion Other MPs targeted by the tobacco industry included the business secretary, Kemi Badenoch. The Imported Tobacco Products Advisory Council wrote to her in March complaining about the "open dismissal of industry views in the decision making process". Its secretary general, Tatiana Camacho, accused the health department of "taking a position that seems to go against the spirit of collaboration and inclusiveness". A month later Badenoch voted against the smoking ban at its second reading in the Commons, posting on X at the time: "The principle of equality under the law is a fundamental one … We should not treat legally competent adults differently in this way, where people born a day apart will have permanently different rights." Two Conservative MPs, including Badenoch's closest political aide, also attended a lunch and drinks reception hosted by the smoking lobby group Forest, days before the tobacco bill was in effect shelved. A Sunak 'nanny state' beermat. Illustration: Howard McWilliam Badenoch's parliamentary private secretary, Alexander Stafford, attended alongside fellow Conservative MP Andrew Rosindell. Tobacco lobbyists present included Camacho and Richard Cleary, who left Badenoch's department to join Imperial in January. Stafford has said he does not smoke but opposed the ban as a "lover of freedom, a lover of choice and a lover of information". He and Rosindell did not return a request for comment. The Forest director Simon Clark said the organisation did not seek to persuade MPs who attended to oppose the bill becoming law but did outline the group's position in a speech. The government also came under pressure from rightwing thinktanks funded by the tobacco industry during the consultation process. In total, there were 307 responses in which the respondent disclosed ties to the tobacco industry, including from the Institute of Economic Affairs (IEA) and Adam Smith Institute. Both have received funding from JTI, while the IEA has also received money from Imperial and BAT. BAT, the owner of Lucky Strike and Rothmans, said: "We are clear that combustible cigarettes pose serious health risks, and the only way to avoid these risks is not to start smoking or to quit. "However, we do not believe that a generational sales ban will have the desired impact given the serious unintended consequences that are likely to follow, such as age verification being difficult to manage, and an increase in illicit trading."

uk

Revealed: how Sunak dropped smoking ban amid lobbying from tobacco firms. Rishi Sunak abandoned his "legacy" policy to ban smoking for future generations amid a backlash from the tobacco industry in the form of legal threats, lobbying and a charm offensive aimed at Conservative MPs, an investigation reveals. The UK had been on course to become the first country to ban smoking for future generations, via the tobacco and vaping bill, which Downing Street hoped would help define Sunak's place in British political history. An investigation by the Guardian and the Examination, a non-profit newsroom that investigates global health threats, has uncovered how the UK's largest cigarette companies fought against the policy, which would have raised the smoking age by one year every year. After months of fierce opposition from the industry – and intervention from MPs and thinktanks with ties to tobacco firms – the proposal was excluded from the "wash-up" process, when outgoing governments choose which policies to fast-track and which to drop. The policy, which in effect banned smoking for anyone born after 2009, was left out despite MPs having voted in favour of it. Documents and freedom of information requests reveal how four of the world's largest tobacco firms – the UK's Imperial Brands and British American Tobacco (BAT), Japan Tobacco International (JTI) and US-headquartered Philip Morris International (PMI) – put ministers on notice of a legal backlash. Imperial and BAT wrote to the health secretary, Victoria Atkins, in February, to claim the consultation process preceding legislation was "unlawful" because industry views had not been considered. The Department of Imperial Brands sells half of all of the cigarettes smoked in the UK. Photograph: Chris Radburn/PA The Marlboro-owner PMI and JTI, which makes Camel and Benson & Hedges, said the treaty permitted interactions with cigarette firms if they were "necessary". Imperial, which owns Lambert & Butler and Gauloises, followed up its warning with a legal letter threatening a "judicial review" challenging the consultation process. Government lawyers responded by saying legal action might "derail" a bill that ministers believed could save tens of thousands of lives and billions of pounds in NHS costs. BAT, JTI and PMI were named as interested parties in Imperial's letter, giving them the right to join as co-claimants if a judicial review went ahead. Imperial, which sells half of all of the cigarettes smoked in the UK, has not filed court proceedings but a spokesperson said the company was "keeping the situation under review as we monitor legislative developments". The legal threats came after the industry opposed the legislation in its submissions to the consultation, despite claiming publicly that they wanted to phase out cigarettes. PMI's chief executive, Jacek Olczak, indicated in 2021 interviews that it could stop selling cigarettes in the UK within 10 years. However, the company's UK subsidiary told the consultation it "did not support the age of sale ban as outlined", arguing instead for "further restrictions" on "combustible tobacco" – ie cigarettes – instead of an outright ban. PMI told the Guardian the bill risked "confusing" consumers because it included restrictions on some smoke-free products such as vapes, adding that it "firmly believes in phasing out cigarettes, to the benefit of the 6.4 million adult smokers in the UK". BAT, which has previously advocated for a "smokeless" future, proposed raising the age of sale to 21 instead. As the government pressed ahead with its plans despite opposition, tobacco firms courted rightwing and libertarian Tory MPs. In January, three months after Sunak announced his policy on smoking, the then Clacton MP, Giles Watling, attended a "business lunch" with officials from JTI. Two months later, he went to the company's annual party at the British Museum in London. In May, he proposed an amendment that would have replaced Sunak's proposals with a new minimum age of 21. Privacy Notice: Newsletters may contain info about charities, online ads, and content funded by outside parties. For more information see our Privacy Policy. We use Google reCaptcha to protect our website and the Google after newsletter promotion Other MPs targeted by the tobacco industry included the business secretary, Kemi Badenoch. The Imported Tobacco Products Advisory Council wrote to her in March complaining about the "open dismissal of industry views in the decision making process". Its secretary general, Tatiana Camacho, accused the health department of "taking a position that seems to go against the spirit of collaboration and inclusiveness". A month later Badenoch voted against the smoking ban at its second reading in the Commons, posting on X at the time: "The principle of equality under the law is a fundamental one … We should not treat legally competent adults differently in this way, where people born a day apart will have permanently different rights." Two Conservative MPs, including Badenoch's closest political aide, also attended a lunch and drinks reception hosted by the smoking lobby group Forest, days before the tobacco bill was in effect shelved. A Sunak 'nanny state' beermat. Illustration: Howard McWilliam Badenoch's parliamentary private secretary, Alexander Stafford, attended alongside fellow Conservative MP Andrew Rosindell. Tobacco lobbyists present included Camacho and Richard Cleary, who left Badenoch's department to join Imperial in January. Stafford has said he does not smoke but opposed the ban as a "lover of freedom, a lover of choice and a lover of information". He and Rosindell did not return a request for comment. The Forest director Simon Clark said the organisation did not seek to persuade MPs who attended to oppose the bill becoming law but did outline the group's position in a speech. The government also came under pressure from rightwing thinktanks funded by the tobacco industry during the consultation process. In total, there were 307 responses in which the respondent disclosed ties to the tobacco industry, including from the Institute of Economic Affairs (IEA) and Adam Smith Institute. Both have received funding from JTI, while the IEA has also received money from Imperial and BAT. BAT, the owner of Lucky Strike and Rothmans, said: "We are clear that combustible cigarettes pose serious health risks, and the only way to avoid these risks is not to start smoking or to quit. "However, we do not believe that a generational sales ban will have the desired impact given the serious unintended consequences that are likely to follow, such as age verification being difficult to manage, and an increase in illicit trading."

Russia suffers setbacks as Ukraine braces for tough month on battlefield

Ukrainian soldiers of 43rd artillery brigade fire by 2s7 self-propelled howitzer towards Russian positions at the frontline in Donetsk region, Ukraine, Monday, June 24, 2024 [Evgeniy Maloletka/ AP Photo] Russia has suffered multiple diplomatic and judicial blows during the past week over its war on Ukraine, despite President Vladimir Putin's high-profile visits to North Korea and Vietnam and Moscow's claims that it is founding a "Eurasian security architecture that will replace the discredited Euro-Atlantic security arrangements". Putin signed a "comprehensive strategic treaty" with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un on June 19, incorporating what he said was a defensive alliance. South Korea's government condemned the agreement. Its national security adviser, Chang Ho-jin, declared that Seoul would reconsider lifting a ban on arms supplies directly to Ukraine. Until now, South Korea has only sold weapons to Ukraine's allies. Keep reading list of 4 items Russia-Ukraine war: List of key events, day 853 Russia-Ukraine war: List of key events, day 852 end of list Chang later added that the type of weapons supplied to Ukraine would depend on Russia's cooperation with North Korea. Putin said it would be a "grave mistake" if South Korea changed its policy of not supplying belligerents. Russia also suffered judicial embarrassments. The International Criminal Court at The Hague issued arrest warrants on Tuesday for former Russian Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu and Chief of Military Staff Valery Gerasimov, saying that they bore responsibility for attacks on Ukrainian electricity infrastructure. The court said, "There are reasonable grounds to believe that the alleged strikes were directed against civilian objects," and that "the expected incidental civilian harm and damage would have been clearly excessive to the anticipated military advantage." On the same day, the European Court of Human Rights declared that Russia was in violation of several fundamental human rights in occupied territories. These include abducting people, illegally detaining or torturing them, forcing them to obtain Russian nationality, and numerous other violations. On the diplomatic front, Russia suffered setbacks in the European Union, which on Tuesday officially opened accession talks with Ukraine and Moldova. A day earlier, the EU announced a 14th package of sanctions against Russia. Among other things, these sanctions forbid any EU organisation that is part of the "public opinion forming process", including political parties, think tanks and media, from accepting Russian money or indirect support. The EU also formally released €1.4bn ($1.5bn) in proceeds from Russian frozen assets to Ukraine. Ninety percent of that money is to be used for military procurements. Russia's war effort stuck Meanwhile, Russia has been unable to make significant headway on the ground in Ukraine, despite opening a new front in the northern Kharkiv region on May 10, designed to pull Ukrainian soldiers away from the eastern front. That incursion brought its own problems, including prompting the US and Germany to follow Britain and France in allowing Ukraine to use their weapons on Russian soil. According to figures sourced from the Kharkiv mayor's office, and quoted in The Washington Post, the partial lifting this month of what used to be a total ban on strikes inside Russia using US equipment has made a difference. Air alerts have so far lasted a total of 62 hours compared with 475 hours in May; there were three strikes on Kharkiv city, compared with 76 in May; and one civilian was killed and seven injured this month compared with 39 killed and 239 injured in May, the Post reported. The new rules of engagement appeared to have stopped attacks using S-300 air defence missiles and Iranian Shahed drones completely, but glide bombs were still getting through to the city, and many more to the front lines in the northern Kharkiv region. In fact, Russia successfully experimented with a three-tonne glide bomb for the first time last week. Drone video showed that the blast heavily damaged the Lyptsi medical building on the Kharkiv front, where Russia said fighting was taking place. Until now it has used varying sizes of up to 1.5 tonnes. Ukraine has been frustrated at being unable to strike the air bases from which Russian bombers carrying glide bombs take off. Two Ukrainian officials told the Post that the US has placed a 100km (62-mile) range limit on the depth to which they may strike targets on Russian soil. Responding, Pentagon spokesman Major Charlie Dietz, told the Post that, "If Russia is attacking or about to attack from its territory into Ukraine, Ukraine has the ability to hit back against the forces that are hitting it from across the border." National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan offered an almost identical formulaic response to PBS, saying, "If Russia is attacking or about to attack from its territory into Ukraine, it only makes sense to allow Ukraine to hit back against the forces that are hitting it from across the border." Ukraine has used US-provided 300km-range Army Tactical Missiles (ATACMs) since April. The Institute for the Study of War, a Washington-based think tank, summarised US policy thus: "Ukrainian forces may use [High Mobility Army Rocket Systems-HIIMARS] armed with [Guided Multiple Launch Rocket Systems-GMLRS] to strike Russian forces preparing to or actively attacking Ukraine, but likely may not strike all legitimate Russian military targets in range of Ukrainian HIMARS using GMLRS in Belgorod, Kursk, and Bryansk oblasts." Partly because of restrictions on Western weapons and partly because of their high cost, Ukraine embarked this year on a new policy of developing and building as many of its own weapons as possible. During the past week, it used these to strike Russian military and oil facilities with devastating effect. Ukraine's Security Service (SBU) said it successfully struck the Tambovnefteprodukt fuel and lubricants warehouse in the Tambov region and the Lukoil-Yugnefteprodukt Enemska oil depot in the Adygea Republic on June 20. That night, Ukraine launched a massive aerial drone attack on Russian fuel and military facilities, successfully striking a number in occupied Crimea and southern Russia. Ukraine's general staff said their forces and Ukraine's security service (SBU) had struck oil refineries in Afipsky, Ilysky, Krasnodar and Astrakhan. That same night, Ukraine said, its drones struck radio intelligence centres in Zagarbnikiv in Russia's Bryansk region and occupied Crimea. And Ukrainian drones also struck Shahed-2 and Geran drone storage and training facilities in the Krasnodar region, the staff said. Further footage emerged on Saturday (June 22), showing secondary explosions coming from what Ukraine said was an air defence training centre in Yeysk, in Krasnodar Krai. And on Sunday the general staff said its air force had struck a motorised rifle regiment command post in Nekhoteevka, in Russia's Belgorod region, also causing secondary explosions. On Sunday footage showed smoke and fire coming from an ammunition depot on Olkovatka, in Russia's Voronezh region. Residents said two drones had struck the facility, and secondary explosions were reported. Also on Sunday, Ukraine's national guard confirmed the destruction of two Pantsir-1 air defence systems, south and west of Belgorod city, which also killed their crews. Ukraine's military intelligence chief told The Philadelphia Inquirer's Trudy Rubin that the Russian people would suffer no psychological consequences from waging a war on Ukrainian soil unless they felt the danger of a strike on their own. "I have been advocating this since the very first days of the war, saying openly that so long as the war is contained on our territory, it will not affect Russia," Kiril Budanov said. "Russia has started to feel it." Budanov estimated that "no Armageddon will emerge" on the eastern front, where Russia almost daily manages to creep forward a few yards, though he admitted the situation there was difficult and would likely remain so for the foreseeable future. Budanov was noncommittal, however, when asked whether Ukrainian troops would succeed in holding a key town on the eastern front where Russia has concentrated much of its war effort. Chasiv Yar sits on high ground, protecting a plain to its west that leads to the main industrial cities of Donetsk. Asked if Ukraine would continue to hold the town, Budanov said, "I will refrain from response." Ukraine's allies moved to shore up its air defences in the past week. Romania and the Netherlands each said they were providing a Patriot air defence system, and the US said it would send all newly produced ammunition for Patriot systems to Ukraine, forcing other recipients to wait. "We're going to reprioritise the deliveries of these exports so that those missiles rolling off the production line will now be provided to Ukraine," the White House's Kirby said.

world

Russia suffers setbacks as Ukraine braces for tough month on battlefield. Ukrainian soldiers of 43rd artillery brigade fire by 2s7 self-propelled howitzer towards Russian positions at the frontline in Donetsk region, Ukraine, Monday, June 24, 2024 [Evgeniy Maloletka/ AP Photo] Russia has suffered multiple diplomatic and judicial blows during the past week over its war on Ukraine, despite President Vladimir Putin's high-profile visits to North Korea and Vietnam and Moscow's claims that it is founding a "Eurasian security architecture that will replace the discredited Euro-Atlantic security arrangements". Putin signed a "comprehensive strategic treaty" with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un on June 19, incorporating what he said was a defensive alliance. South Korea's government condemned the agreement. Its national security adviser, Chang Ho-jin, declared that Seoul would reconsider lifting a ban on arms supplies directly to Ukraine. Until now, South Korea has only sold weapons to Ukraine's allies. Keep reading list of 4 items Russia-Ukraine war: List of key events, day 853 Russia-Ukraine war: List of key events, day 852 end of list Chang later added that the type of weapons supplied to Ukraine would depend on Russia's cooperation with North Korea. Putin said it would be a "grave mistake" if South Korea changed its policy of not supplying belligerents. Russia also suffered judicial embarrassments. The International Criminal Court at The Hague issued arrest warrants on Tuesday for former Russian Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu and Chief of Military Staff Valery Gerasimov, saying that they bore responsibility for attacks on Ukrainian electricity infrastructure. The court said, "There are reasonable grounds to believe that the alleged strikes were directed against civilian objects," and that "the expected incidental civilian harm and damage would have been clearly excessive to the anticipated military advantage." On the same day, the European Court of Human Rights declared that Russia was in violation of several fundamental human rights in occupied territories. These include abducting people, illegally detaining or torturing them, forcing them to obtain Russian nationality, and numerous other violations. On the diplomatic front, Russia suffered setbacks in the European Union, which on Tuesday officially opened accession talks with Ukraine and Moldova. A day earlier, the EU announced a 14th package of sanctions against Russia. Among other things, these sanctions forbid any EU organisation that is part of the "public opinion forming process", including political parties, think tanks and media, from accepting Russian money or indirect support. The EU also formally released €1.4bn ($1.5bn) in proceeds from Russian frozen assets to Ukraine. Ninety percent of that money is to be used for military procurements. Russia's war effort stuck Meanwhile, Russia has been unable to make significant headway on the ground in Ukraine, despite opening a new front in the northern Kharkiv region on May 10, designed to pull Ukrainian soldiers away from the eastern front. That incursion brought its own problems, including prompting the US and Germany to follow Britain and France in allowing Ukraine to use their weapons on Russian soil. According to figures sourced from the Kharkiv mayor's office, and quoted in The Washington Post, the partial lifting this month of what used to be a total ban on strikes inside Russia using US equipment has made a difference. Air alerts have so far lasted a total of 62 hours compared with 475 hours in May; there were three strikes on Kharkiv city, compared with 76 in May; and one civilian was killed and seven injured this month compared with 39 killed and 239 injured in May, the Post reported. The new rules of engagement appeared to have stopped attacks using S-300 air defence missiles and Iranian Shahed drones completely, but glide bombs were still getting through to the city, and many more to the front lines in the northern Kharkiv region. In fact, Russia successfully experimented with a three-tonne glide bomb for the first time last week. Drone video showed that the blast heavily damaged the Lyptsi medical building on the Kharkiv front, where Russia said fighting was taking place. Until now it has used varying sizes of up to 1.5 tonnes. Ukraine has been frustrated at being unable to strike the air bases from which Russian bombers carrying glide bombs take off. Two Ukrainian officials told the Post that the US has placed a 100km (62-mile) range limit on the depth to which they may strike targets on Russian soil. Responding, Pentagon spokesman Major Charlie Dietz, told the Post that, "If Russia is attacking or about to attack from its territory into Ukraine, Ukraine has the ability to hit back against the forces that are hitting it from across the border." National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan offered an almost identical formulaic response to PBS, saying, "If Russia is attacking or about to attack from its territory into Ukraine, it only makes sense to allow Ukraine to hit back against the forces that are hitting it from across the border." Ukraine has used US-provided 300km-range Army Tactical Missiles (ATACMs) since April. The Institute for the Study of War, a Washington-based think tank, summarised US policy thus: "Ukrainian forces may use [High Mobility Army Rocket Systems-HIIMARS] armed with [Guided Multiple Launch Rocket Systems-GMLRS] to strike Russian forces preparing to or actively attacking Ukraine, but likely may not strike all legitimate Russian military targets in range of Ukrainian HIMARS using GMLRS in Belgorod, Kursk, and Bryansk oblasts." Partly because of restrictions on Western weapons and partly because of their high cost, Ukraine embarked this year on a new policy of developing and building as many of its own weapons as possible. During the past week, it used these to strike Russian military and oil facilities with devastating effect. Ukraine's Security Service (SBU) said it successfully struck the Tambovnefteprodukt fuel and lubricants warehouse in the Tambov region and the Lukoil-Yugnefteprodukt Enemska oil depot in the Adygea Republic on June 20. That night, Ukraine launched a massive aerial drone attack on Russian fuel and military facilities, successfully striking a number in occupied Crimea and southern Russia. Ukraine's general staff said their forces and Ukraine's security service (SBU) had struck oil refineries in Afipsky, Ilysky, Krasnodar and Astrakhan. That same night, Ukraine said, its drones struck radio intelligence centres in Zagarbnikiv in Russia's Bryansk region and occupied Crimea. And Ukrainian drones also struck Shahed-2 and Geran drone storage and training facilities in the Krasnodar region, the staff said. Further footage emerged on Saturday (June 22), showing secondary explosions coming from what Ukraine said was an air defence training centre in Yeysk, in Krasnodar Krai. And on Sunday the general staff said its air force had struck a motorised rifle regiment command post in Nekhoteevka, in Russia's Belgorod region, also causing secondary explosions. On Sunday footage showed smoke and fire coming from an ammunition depot on Olkovatka, in Russia's Voronezh region. Residents said two drones had struck the facility, and secondary explosions were reported. Also on Sunday, Ukraine's national guard confirmed the destruction of two Pantsir-1 air defence systems, south and west of Belgorod city, which also killed their crews. Ukraine's military intelligence chief told The Philadelphia Inquirer's Trudy Rubin that the Russian people would suffer no psychological consequences from waging a war on Ukrainian soil unless they felt the danger of a strike on their own. "I have been advocating this since the very first days of the war, saying openly that so long as the war is contained on our territory, it will not affect Russia," Kiril Budanov said. "Russia has started to feel it." Budanov estimated that "no Armageddon will emerge" on the eastern front, where Russia almost daily manages to creep forward a few yards, though he admitted the situation there was difficult and would likely remain so for the foreseeable future. Budanov was noncommittal, however, when asked whether Ukrainian troops would succeed in holding a key town on the eastern front where Russia has concentrated much of its war effort. Chasiv Yar sits on high ground, protecting a plain to its west that leads to the main industrial cities of Donetsk. Asked if Ukraine would continue to hold the town, Budanov said, "I will refrain from response." Ukraine's allies moved to shore up its air defences in the past week. Romania and the Netherlands each said they were providing a Patriot air defence system, and the US said it would send all newly produced ammunition for Patriot systems to Ukraine, forcing other recipients to wait. "We're going to reprioritise the deliveries of these exports so that those missiles rolling off the production line will now be provided to Ukraine," the White House's Kirby said.

Adults doubted us. We found a way to shrink emissions at our middle school anyway

When temperatures creep past 90 F in Oakland, California, the mini air-conditioning units in the classrooms at Melrose Leadership Academy can't keep pace. So the middle schoolers in MLA's chapter of the climate justice group Youth vs Apocalypse started doing some extra homework: they researched, planned and proposed installing a Heating buildings accounts for 10% of CO 2 emissions globally, according to the International Energy Agency. Heat pumps have become an increasingly popular clean-energy technology because they can both heat and cool using electricity, reducing greenhouse gas emissions. The students proposed using a portion of a $735m school-district bond to invest in a long-term solution that would also shrink their carbon footprint. After a campaign marked by persistence, the teens, first profiled by the local news outlet the Oaklandside, succeeded. Now, their efforts have become a blueprint for what the district wants to implement at other schools. Left: The Melrose Leadership Academy boiler room in Oakland, California. Right: Augie Balquist, Yuji Hong and Jayden Tern. Photograph: Carolyn Fong/The Guardian I went about researching and then made a presentation about heat pumps. We started off with talking about the Oakland Unified school district's action resolution they made in 2020 that says we need to achieve 100% clean electricity and phase out the use of fossil fuels. We thought that the district should honor the action resolutions they had made. Next was our estimate of just how much gas our boiler was burning: 32 metric tons of CO 2 every year. We also explained how heat pumps work. Our estimated cost was $5m out of the school's bond money of $32m. It was going to be more expensive than just putting in a new AC. And our boiler was just put in recently, so they didn't want to pull it out because it was so new. How the US lets hot school days sabotage learning Read more Jayden Tern, 14: We went to all the classrooms and presented, and we got 250 signatures. It was basically the entire middle school, and we got a bunch of elementary schoolers. Yuji Hong, 14: We spoke at community meetings that were held in our cafeteria, where parents, staff, students and school board members could discuss the bond money and how to use it for the school. Lyra Modersbach, 13: After that, we went to school board meetings. There was a lot more pushback there than at the community meetings. One of the board members told us to go back and learn more and stop trying to talk about things we didn't know, which was completely untrue, because we had done a lot of research to present to them. From left to right, Lyra Modersbach, Lucy Downed, Juliette Sanchez, Augie Balquist, Jayden Tern and Yuji Hong. Photograph: Carolyn Fong Juliette Sanchez, 13: We persisted and made sure we showed up to pretty much every meeting, talked about it and showed that we put research into what we were saying. Augie: We went to probably 10 meetings. Then the school board invited us to visit the office of the architects designing the upgrade for the school building. They showed us the cost of different heat pump options and their efficiency relative to gas boilers. One really important thing they told us is our school's exact carbon output for the past couple years, which was way more than we estimated. It was the equivalent of somewhere around 250 transatlantic flights of carbon every year. We also learned that the heat pump really didn't cost that much more than keeping our gas boiler, which requires a lot of upkeep. A lot of the pushback had been people saying there was not enough money. But the architects told us that there was enough funding. The students outside Melrose Leadership Academy. Photograph: Courtesy Melrose Leadership Academy Lyra: There was a final Zoom meeting with the project advisory committee, and Augie and I were there to inform the district about what we'd learned in the meeting with the architects. When we learned the campaign had succeeded and we would get the heat pump, it was exciting. Juliette: I learned that no matter our age, we can make a difference through what we do, and we can use our voice to impact the world in a positive way. Augie: Sometimes it's difficult, but you've just got to keep persisting and eventually you can do whatever you put your heart to. Lucy Downed, 13: That's why I was interested in Youth vs Apocalypse, because we care about the climate and how our actions affect others. Lyra: Something I hope politicians do is really look at what they're doing to the world and start doing what they need to do as fast as they can, because we don't have much time and we need to do everything we can at this point. Augie: They should listen to the young people's voices, because we're the people who are going to be growing up with these problems. If you listen to young people, we can provide solutions that are going to help everyone in the long term. My DIY climate hack is a series about everyday people across the US using their own ingenuity to tackle the climate crisis in their neighborhoods, homes and backyards. If you would like to share your story, email us at

environment

Adults doubted us. We found a way to shrink emissions at our middle school anyway. When temperatures creep past 90 F in Oakland, California, the mini air-conditioning units in the classrooms at Melrose Leadership Academy can't keep pace. So the middle schoolers in MLA's chapter of the climate justice group Youth vs Apocalypse started doing some extra homework: they researched, planned and proposed installing a Heating buildings accounts for 10% of CO 2 emissions globally, according to the International Energy Agency. Heat pumps have become an increasingly popular clean-energy technology because they can both heat and cool using electricity, reducing greenhouse gas emissions. The students proposed using a portion of a $735m school-district bond to invest in a long-term solution that would also shrink their carbon footprint. After a campaign marked by persistence, the teens, first profiled by the local news outlet the Oaklandside, succeeded. Now, their efforts have become a blueprint for what the district wants to implement at other schools. Left: The Melrose Leadership Academy boiler room in Oakland, California. Right: Augie Balquist, Yuji Hong and Jayden Tern. Photograph: Carolyn Fong/The Guardian I went about researching and then made a presentation about heat pumps. We started off with talking about the Oakland Unified school district's action resolution they made in 2020 that says we need to achieve 100% clean electricity and phase out the use of fossil fuels. We thought that the district should honor the action resolutions they had made. Next was our estimate of just how much gas our boiler was burning: 32 metric tons of CO 2 every year. We also explained how heat pumps work. Our estimated cost was $5m out of the school's bond money of $32m. It was going to be more expensive than just putting in a new AC. And our boiler was just put in recently, so they didn't want to pull it out because it was so new. How the US lets hot school days sabotage learning Read more Jayden Tern, 14: We went to all the classrooms and presented, and we got 250 signatures. It was basically the entire middle school, and we got a bunch of elementary schoolers. Yuji Hong, 14: We spoke at community meetings that were held in our cafeteria, where parents, staff, students and school board members could discuss the bond money and how to use it for the school. Lyra Modersbach, 13: After that, we went to school board meetings. There was a lot more pushback there than at the community meetings. One of the board members told us to go back and learn more and stop trying to talk about things we didn't know, which was completely untrue, because we had done a lot of research to present to them. From left to right, Lyra Modersbach, Lucy Downed, Juliette Sanchez, Augie Balquist, Jayden Tern and Yuji Hong. Photograph: Carolyn Fong Juliette Sanchez, 13: We persisted and made sure we showed up to pretty much every meeting, talked about it and showed that we put research into what we were saying. Augie: We went to probably 10 meetings. Then the school board invited us to visit the office of the architects designing the upgrade for the school building. They showed us the cost of different heat pump options and their efficiency relative to gas boilers. One really important thing they told us is our school's exact carbon output for the past couple years, which was way more than we estimated. It was the equivalent of somewhere around 250 transatlantic flights of carbon every year. We also learned that the heat pump really didn't cost that much more than keeping our gas boiler, which requires a lot of upkeep. A lot of the pushback had been people saying there was not enough money. But the architects told us that there was enough funding. The students outside Melrose Leadership Academy. Photograph: Courtesy Melrose Leadership Academy Lyra: There was a final Zoom meeting with the project advisory committee, and Augie and I were there to inform the district about what we'd learned in the meeting with the architects. When we learned the campaign had succeeded and we would get the heat pump, it was exciting. Juliette: I learned that no matter our age, we can make a difference through what we do, and we can use our voice to impact the world in a positive way. Augie: Sometimes it's difficult, but you've just got to keep persisting and eventually you can do whatever you put your heart to. Lucy Downed, 13: That's why I was interested in Youth vs Apocalypse, because we care about the climate and how our actions affect others. Lyra: Something I hope politicians do is really look at what they're doing to the world and start doing what they need to do as fast as they can, because we don't have much time and we need to do everything we can at this point. Augie: They should listen to the young people's voices, because we're the people who are going to be growing up with these problems. If you listen to young people, we can provide solutions that are going to help everyone in the long term. My DIY climate hack is a series about everyday people across the US using their own ingenuity to tackle the climate crisis in their neighborhoods, homes and backyards. If you would like to share your story, email us at

Stock Images Market size is set to grow by USD 1.71 billion from 2024-2028, Increased popularity of stock images for digital and social media marketing to boost the market growth, Technavio

June 7, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- The global stock images market size is estimated to grow by USD 1.71 billion from 2024-2028, according to Technavio. The market is estimated to grow at a CAGR of 6.56% during the forecast period. Increased popularity of stock images for digital and social media marketing is driving market growth, with a trend towards rising investments in related business portfolios. However, declining profit margins poses a challenge. Key market players include Adobe Inc., Alamy Ltd., Arcangel Images Inc., Can Stock Photo Inc., Canva Pty Ltd., Cimpress Plc, Depositphotos Inc., Design Pics Inc., Dissolve Inc., Dreamstime, Eezy Inc., Envato Pty Ltd., Getty Images Holdings Inc., IMAGE SOURCE LTD., Inmagine Lab Pte. Ltd., Pixabay GmbH, PIXTA Inc., Robert Harding Picture Library Ltd., Shutterstock Inc., and Vexels Inc. S.A. Continue Reading Technavio has announced its latest market research report titled Global stock images market 2024-2028 Key companies profiled Adobe Inc., Alamy Ltd., Arcangel Images Inc., Can Stock Photo Inc., Canva Pty Ltd., Cimpress Plc, Depositphotos Inc., Design Pics Inc., Dissolve Inc., Dreamstime, Eezy Inc., Envato Pty Ltd., Getty Images Holdings Inc., IMAGE SOURCE LTD., Inmagine Lab Pte. Ltd., Pixabay GmbH, PIXTA Inc., Robert Harding Picture Library Ltd., Shutterstock Inc., and Vexels Inc. S.A. Key Market Trends Fueling Growth The global stock images market is witnessing an upward trend as vendors invest in related business portfolios to enhance customer experiences. This strategy supports business expansion, larger customer bases, and expanded product offerings. Strategic partnerships and alliances enable market share gains, product improvement, and geographic reach expansion. Vendors are also collaborating with sports companies to broaden their product lines and distribute them globally. These investments and expanded portfolios will fuel market growth during the forecast period. The digital marketing industry is seeing a significant increase in the use of stock images for various business needs. Marketers are turning to stock image markets to find high-quality visuals that can help enhance their online presence. According to recent trends, there is a growing demand for images that represent diversity and inclusion. Brands are looking for authentic and relatable images that resonate with their audience. Additionally, there is a rise in the use of stock images for social media marketing and content creation. Producers are focusing on creating modern and contemporary images that can be used across various platforms. The use of stock images is also becoming more cost-effective as many platforms offer affordable pricing and subscription plans. Overall, the stock images market is an essential tool for businesses looking to create engaging and effective marketing campaigns. Research report provides comprehensive data on impact of trend. For more details- Download a Sample Report Market Challenges • The global stock images market has experienced a decline in average image prices due to changes in consumption and technology patterns. The rise of Internet penetration and advanced software have reduced the need for physical product delivery. • Supply exceeds demand due to increased image availability from digital cameras and photo-sharing platforms. This oversupply has led to intense competition and price wars, resulting in lower profit margins for service providers. Business customers prefer affordable, royalty-free images, limiting market growth. • In the world of business, sourcing high-quality stock images is essential for marketing campaigns and presentations. However, finding the right images that align with your brand and message can be a challenge. With an abundance of options available online, it's crucial to consider factors such as licensing, cost, and image quality. Brands must also ensure they don't infringe on intellectual property rights. • Additionally, keeping up with trends and staying ahead of competitors requires a constant influx of fresh, relevant images. The market for stock images offers solutions, but navigating it can be complex. Brands must carefully evaluate their needs and budgets to make informed decisions. For more insights on driver and challenges - Download a Sample Report South America 1.1 Editorial- The editorial segment is the largest application area in the global stock images market. These images are primarily used to enhance stories in the publishing industry, including magazines, newspapers, and books. Marked for editorial use, these images cannot be utilized for commercial purposes. The publishing sector's reliance on editorial images to boost content retention fuels demand. Categories include celebrity images, descriptive scenarios, and content-rich images. Two types exist: documentary and illustrative editorial images. The expanding number of publishing houses, news outlets, bloggers, and blog readership are key growth drivers. Despite a decline in newspaper and magazine subscriptions, the editorial segment is expected to continue growing, albeit at a slower pace compared to the commercial segment. 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 stock images market refers to the industry where photographers sell their original works as digital files for various commercial uses. This market encompasses a wide range of photographic styles, including macrostock photography and midstock photography. Image creators can sell their copies of images on stock media websites, reaching a vast audience in industries such as digital marketing, e-learning, and more. The growth potential in this sector is significant, as businesses continually seek visually engaging content to enhance their online presence. Stock photo rates vary, with some photographers offering exclusive rights to their images at higher prices, while others provide more affordable mid-tier options. Regardless of the pricing structure, the stock photo industry remains an essential resource for professionals in need of high-quality photographs. Market Research Overview The Stock Images Market refers to the industry where businesses and individuals purchase imagery for various uses, including websites, advertising, and marketing materials. These images come in various formats, such as photographs, illustrations, and vectors. The market caters to diverse industries, from technology and healthcare to education and finance. The demand for high-quality, authentic, and culturally relevant images is on the rise, driving the growth of this market. The use of digital platforms and social media has further fueled the demand for stock images. The market offers flexible licensing options, including royalty-free and rights-managed, catering to different budgets and usage requirements. The market is characterized by constant innovation, with advancements in technology enabling the creation and distribution of increasingly realistic and high-definition images. Table of Contents: 1 Executive Summary 2 Market Landscape 3 Market Sizing 4 Historic Market Size 5 Five Forces Analysis 6 Market Segmentation Application Editorial Commercial Product Still Images Footage 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.

business,tech

Stock Images Market size is set to grow by USD 1.71 billion from 2024-2028, Increased popularity of stock images for digital and social media marketing to boost the market growth, Technavio. June 7, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- The global stock images market size is estimated to grow by USD 1.71 billion from 2024-2028, according to Technavio. The market is estimated to grow at a CAGR of 6.56% during the forecast period. Increased popularity of stock images for digital and social media marketing is driving market growth, with a trend towards rising investments in related business portfolios. However, declining profit margins poses a challenge. Key market players include Adobe Inc., Alamy Ltd., Arcangel Images Inc., Can Stock Photo Inc., Canva Pty Ltd., Cimpress Plc, Depositphotos Inc., Design Pics Inc., Dissolve Inc., Dreamstime, Eezy Inc., Envato Pty Ltd., Getty Images Holdings Inc., IMAGE SOURCE LTD., Inmagine Lab Pte. Ltd., Pixabay GmbH, PIXTA Inc., Robert Harding Picture Library Ltd., Shutterstock Inc., and Vexels Inc. S.A. Continue Reading Technavio has announced its latest market research report titled Global stock images market 2024-2028 Key companies profiled Adobe Inc., Alamy Ltd., Arcangel Images Inc., Can Stock Photo Inc., Canva Pty Ltd., Cimpress Plc, Depositphotos Inc., Design Pics Inc., Dissolve Inc., Dreamstime, Eezy Inc., Envato Pty Ltd., Getty Images Holdings Inc., IMAGE SOURCE LTD., Inmagine Lab Pte. Ltd., Pixabay GmbH, PIXTA Inc., Robert Harding Picture Library Ltd., Shutterstock Inc., and Vexels Inc. S.A. Key Market Trends Fueling Growth The global stock images market is witnessing an upward trend as vendors invest in related business portfolios to enhance customer experiences. This strategy supports business expansion, larger customer bases, and expanded product offerings. Strategic partnerships and alliances enable market share gains, product improvement, and geographic reach expansion. Vendors are also collaborating with sports companies to broaden their product lines and distribute them globally. These investments and expanded portfolios will fuel market growth during the forecast period. The digital marketing industry is seeing a significant increase in the use of stock images for various business needs. Marketers are turning to stock image markets to find high-quality visuals that can help enhance their online presence. According to recent trends, there is a growing demand for images that represent diversity and inclusion. Brands are looking for authentic and relatable images that resonate with their audience. Additionally, there is a rise in the use of stock images for social media marketing and content creation. Producers are focusing on creating modern and contemporary images that can be used across various platforms. The use of stock images is also becoming more cost-effective as many platforms offer affordable pricing and subscription plans. Overall, the stock images market is an essential tool for businesses looking to create engaging and effective marketing campaigns. Research report provides comprehensive data on impact of trend. For more details- Download a Sample Report Market Challenges • The global stock images market has experienced a decline in average image prices due to changes in consumption and technology patterns. The rise of Internet penetration and advanced software have reduced the need for physical product delivery. • Supply exceeds demand due to increased image availability from digital cameras and photo-sharing platforms. This oversupply has led to intense competition and price wars, resulting in lower profit margins for service providers. Business customers prefer affordable, royalty-free images, limiting market growth. • In the world of business, sourcing high-quality stock images is essential for marketing campaigns and presentations. However, finding the right images that align with your brand and message can be a challenge. With an abundance of options available online, it's crucial to consider factors such as licensing, cost, and image quality. Brands must also ensure they don't infringe on intellectual property rights. • Additionally, keeping up with trends and staying ahead of competitors requires a constant influx of fresh, relevant images. The market for stock images offers solutions, but navigating it can be complex. Brands must carefully evaluate their needs and budgets to make informed decisions. For more insights on driver and challenges - Download a Sample Report South America 1.1 Editorial- The editorial segment is the largest application area in the global stock images market. These images are primarily used to enhance stories in the publishing industry, including magazines, newspapers, and books. Marked for editorial use, these images cannot be utilized for commercial purposes. The publishing sector's reliance on editorial images to boost content retention fuels demand. Categories include celebrity images, descriptive scenarios, and content-rich images. Two types exist: documentary and illustrative editorial images. The expanding number of publishing houses, news outlets, bloggers, and blog readership are key growth drivers. Despite a decline in newspaper and magazine subscriptions, the editorial segment is expected to continue growing, albeit at a slower pace compared to the commercial segment. 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 stock images market refers to the industry where photographers sell their original works as digital files for various commercial uses. This market encompasses a wide range of photographic styles, including macrostock photography and midstock photography. Image creators can sell their copies of images on stock media websites, reaching a vast audience in industries such as digital marketing, e-learning, and more. The growth potential in this sector is significant, as businesses continually seek visually engaging content to enhance their online presence. Stock photo rates vary, with some photographers offering exclusive rights to their images at higher prices, while others provide more affordable mid-tier options. Regardless of the pricing structure, the stock photo industry remains an essential resource for professionals in need of high-quality photographs. Market Research Overview The Stock Images Market refers to the industry where businesses and individuals purchase imagery for various uses, including websites, advertising, and marketing materials. These images come in various formats, such as photographs, illustrations, and vectors. The market caters to diverse industries, from technology and healthcare to education and finance. The demand for high-quality, authentic, and culturally relevant images is on the rise, driving the growth of this market. The use of digital platforms and social media has further fueled the demand for stock images. The market offers flexible licensing options, including royalty-free and rights-managed, catering to different budgets and usage requirements. The market is characterized by constant innovation, with advancements in technology enabling the creation and distribution of increasingly realistic and high-definition images. Table of Contents: 1 Executive Summary 2 Market Landscape 3 Market Sizing 4 Historic Market Size 5 Five Forces Analysis 6 Market Segmentation Application Editorial Commercial Product Still Images Footage 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.

Sweaty cattle may boost food security in a warming world

Sweaty cows may not sound like the most exciting company, but in a warming world, researchers can't get enough of them. When cattle are too hot, they tend to stop eating, said Raluca Mateescu, University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) professor in the department of animal science. This affects the cattle's health and growth and threatens the longevity of the food supply coming from that herd. Climate change is making it more difficult to raise cattle -- growth and reproduction are affected by heat -- so it's critical to breed cattle better adapted to a hotter and longer summer. Cows eliminate about 85% of their body heat via sweat, she said. Heat stress in subtropical regions, which are the areas just north and south of the topics and generally considered the hottest in the world, is such a significant limiting factor that about $369 million of beef production is lost annually due to reduced performance nationally, she said. "Heat stress is the main threat of food security. Under heat stress, the growth, production and reproduction of cattle are affected," Mateescu said. A new study from Mateescu and her colleagues published in the Journal of Animal Science and Biotechnology shows it's possible to identify the genes within breeds of cattle that would lead to the sweatiest, heat-tolerant offspring. She said the study found there is a lot of variation between cows of the same breed, in this case, Brangus -- which are a cross between Brahman and Angus. Being able to select cattle to breed based on sweating ability could lead to herds that can tolerate hotter climates and still grow and reproduce. "Unless we're doing something to affect the ability of our cattle to thrive in heat stress conditions, they are not going to reproduce, so there's a food security concern there," she said. The study looked at 2,401 Brangus cattle from two commercial ranches in Florida. Skin biopsies helped the researchers determine the phenotypes that contributed to the animals' ability to manage heat stress, such as sweat-gland area, depth and length. Scientists genotyped all animals and used software to estimate genetic parameters. The study found that a moderate amount of variation in sweating ability is genetic, so farmers could select sweatier cattle based on genetic markers. It found that genetics from both the Brahman and Angus genes positively contribute to sweating ability in Brangus cattle. 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.

environment

Sweaty cattle may boost food security in a warming world. Sweaty cows may not sound like the most exciting company, but in a warming world, researchers can't get enough of them. When cattle are too hot, they tend to stop eating, said Raluca Mateescu, University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) professor in the department of animal science. This affects the cattle's health and growth and threatens the longevity of the food supply coming from that herd. Climate change is making it more difficult to raise cattle -- growth and reproduction are affected by heat -- so it's critical to breed cattle better adapted to a hotter and longer summer. Cows eliminate about 85% of their body heat via sweat, she said. Heat stress in subtropical regions, which are the areas just north and south of the topics and generally considered the hottest in the world, is such a significant limiting factor that about $369 million of beef production is lost annually due to reduced performance nationally, she said. "Heat stress is the main threat of food security. Under heat stress, the growth, production and reproduction of cattle are affected," Mateescu said. A new study from Mateescu and her colleagues published in the Journal of Animal Science and Biotechnology shows it's possible to identify the genes within breeds of cattle that would lead to the sweatiest, heat-tolerant offspring. She said the study found there is a lot of variation between cows of the same breed, in this case, Brangus -- which are a cross between Brahman and Angus. Being able to select cattle to breed based on sweating ability could lead to herds that can tolerate hotter climates and still grow and reproduce. "Unless we're doing something to affect the ability of our cattle to thrive in heat stress conditions, they are not going to reproduce, so there's a food security concern there," she said. The study looked at 2,401 Brangus cattle from two commercial ranches in Florida. Skin biopsies helped the researchers determine the phenotypes that contributed to the animals' ability to manage heat stress, such as sweat-gland area, depth and length. Scientists genotyped all animals and used software to estimate genetic parameters. The study found that a moderate amount of variation in sweating ability is genetic, so farmers could select sweatier cattle based on genetic markers. It found that genetics from both the Brahman and Angus genes positively contribute to sweating ability in Brangus cattle. 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.

Worsening floods and deterioration pose threats to US dam safety

ST. LOUIS (AP) — Early last week, floodwater in rural Minnesota pushed debris against a more than century-old dam and then carved a path around it , eroding so much of the riverbank that most of a house fell into the river. Several days later, intense rain damaged a dam that holds drinking water for Houston, forcing officials to issue a potential failure warning. “Something like this could happen, and it has happened, all over the country,” said Del Shannon, former president of the U.S. Society on Dams. There are roughly 90,000 significant dams in the U.S. At least 4,000 are in poor or unsatisfactory condition and could kill people or only harm the environment if they failed, according to data from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. They need inspections, upgrades and even emergency repairs. It's a difficult problem in part because dams in the U.S. are roughly 60 years old, on average. It requires costly maintenance to keep decades of wear and tear from degrading dams, and resources to fix problems are often scarce, Shannon said. Blue Earth County owns the Rapidan dam, a 1910 hydroelectric dam in Minnesota that is still standing but was badly damaged last week by the second-worst flood in its history. The dam hasn't been producing power, as previous floods knocked out that small source of revenue. The county of roughly 70,000 people had been considering spending $15 million on repairs or removing the dam at a cost of $82 million. “The dollar amounts we’re talking about … are big amounts for a county our size," said County Administrator Bob Meyer. A federal inspection in May didn’t find major problems at the Rapidan dam, which isn't considered to pose a major threat to people if it fully fails. A federal investigation is now expected. Debris clogged the dam during flooding , forcing the river to divert around it — the damage likely wasn’t related to the dam's repair needs, Meyer said. Dams are designed to withstand a lot of stress, but sometimes a flood will be too much and cause damage, according to Martin McCann Jr., director of the National Performance of Dams Program at Stanford University. Climate change may be making the problem worse in some parts of the country. A warming atmosphere holds more moisture, so bad rainstorms can release more water . In Texas, officials said flooding damaged the Lake Livingston Dam’s spillway about 65 miles (105 kilometers) northeast of Houston. They reassured the public that the dam is not in any immediate danger of failing. The vast majority of dams are safe, and even when one does fail, deaths are rare. But large dams hold back tremendous amounts of water and energy, so they carry enormous potential for downstream destruction. That’s why even rare problems are such a concern for state and federal regulators. In 2017, for example, heavy rain damaged the spillway at the Oroville Dam in California, forcing nearly 190,000 downstream residents to evacuate. And after storms in 2020, the Edenville Dam in Michigan breached. Water rushed downstream and overwhelmed another dam, causing it to fail, too. John France is an engineering consultant who led teams that investigated both of those incidents. He said that when many dams were built decades ago, engineers knew less about designing them to withstand floods. And although many were constructed far from populated areas, circumstances changed as cities and towns spread. “There’s this gradual building up of the hazard,” France said. After his teams’ investigations, he’s seen some improvements. The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, which licenses hydroelectric dams, added more thorough inspections that review a dam's design and construction to find weaknesses. Some states have looked at incorporating these reviews and France hopes FERC's broader approach will spread to state oversight programs. Most dams are privately owned and there’s a huge need for resources — just fixing many of the country's most important dams could cost $34 billion, according to a report by the Association of State Dam Safety Officials. Minnesota, for example, regulates about 1,000 dams and helps provide some funding, but officials said there's “a difference between demonstrated need and funds available.” The Biden administration’s infrastructure law provided a rare boost for upgrades . Dam owners are responsible for keeping their dams safe and they can be held liable if something goes wrong. “We are one step away from holding bake sales to help the dam owners,” quipped John Roche, a board member with the Association of State Dam Safety Officials. State officials try to help owners find grants so they can afford improvements. There is help, but there is even more need. In southeastern Nebraska, the Nemaha Natural Resources District covers eight counties and raises about $4 million a year from a small property tax. With that money it must maintain about 380 structures — the vast majority of which are dams — including the Wilson Creek Dam 9-C, a roughly 840-foot-long (255-meter-long) earthen structure built in the 1960s for flood control. “Funding is probably our biggest uphill battle,” said the district's general manager, Kyle Hauschild. After a poor inspection result in 2022, the district rushed to fix a rusty spillway at the Wilson Creek dam. The district keeps a maintenance list and prioritizes older structures, but if the public doesn’t see a problem with a dam, it tends to forget about it, Hauschild said. States have limited power to pressure owners to fix problems. Roche said regulators try to work cooperatively, but if that doesn't work, they can pressure owners by starting more confrontational enforcement proceedings. “It takes a lot of diligence to keep enforcement actions moving along, as they can often take many years to resolve,” Roche said. In Colorado, officials consider whether a dam is a threat to humans and the severity of its defects. That helps them prioritize scrutiny and funding. If an owner won't make needed upgrades, officials can wield a “regulatory hammer” and force owners to store less water behind their dams, reducing pressure and ensuring safety. That can kickstart action — less water in a reservoir can hurt the ability of dam owners to supply water to the communities they serve, for example, according to John Hunyadi who oversees dam safety in Colorado. But in many states, officials can't order the worst owners to remove their dams, France said. “All the state agencies ought to have that authority,” he said, adding that if an owner refuses, the state should be able to do it themselves. Hanna reported from Topeka, Kansas. The Associated Press receives support from the Walton Family Foundation for coverage of water and environmental policy. The AP is solely responsible for all content. For all of AP’s environmental coverage, visit https://apnews.com/hub/climate-and-environment

military

Worsening floods and deterioration pose threats to US dam safety. ST. LOUIS (AP) — Early last week, floodwater in rural Minnesota pushed debris against a more than century-old dam and then carved a path around it , eroding so much of the riverbank that most of a house fell into the river. Several days later, intense rain damaged a dam that holds drinking water for Houston, forcing officials to issue a potential failure warning. “Something like this could happen, and it has happened, all over the country,” said Del Shannon, former president of the U.S. Society on Dams. There are roughly 90,000 significant dams in the U.S. At least 4,000 are in poor or unsatisfactory condition and could kill people or only harm the environment if they failed, according to data from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. They need inspections, upgrades and even emergency repairs. It's a difficult problem in part because dams in the U.S. are roughly 60 years old, on average. It requires costly maintenance to keep decades of wear and tear from degrading dams, and resources to fix problems are often scarce, Shannon said. Blue Earth County owns the Rapidan dam, a 1910 hydroelectric dam in Minnesota that is still standing but was badly damaged last week by the second-worst flood in its history. The dam hasn't been producing power, as previous floods knocked out that small source of revenue. The county of roughly 70,000 people had been considering spending $15 million on repairs or removing the dam at a cost of $82 million. “The dollar amounts we’re talking about … are big amounts for a county our size," said County Administrator Bob Meyer. A federal inspection in May didn’t find major problems at the Rapidan dam, which isn't considered to pose a major threat to people if it fully fails. A federal investigation is now expected. Debris clogged the dam during flooding , forcing the river to divert around it — the damage likely wasn’t related to the dam's repair needs, Meyer said. Dams are designed to withstand a lot of stress, but sometimes a flood will be too much and cause damage, according to Martin McCann Jr., director of the National Performance of Dams Program at Stanford University. Climate change may be making the problem worse in some parts of the country. A warming atmosphere holds more moisture, so bad rainstorms can release more water . In Texas, officials said flooding damaged the Lake Livingston Dam’s spillway about 65 miles (105 kilometers) northeast of Houston. They reassured the public that the dam is not in any immediate danger of failing. The vast majority of dams are safe, and even when one does fail, deaths are rare. But large dams hold back tremendous amounts of water and energy, so they carry enormous potential for downstream destruction. That’s why even rare problems are such a concern for state and federal regulators. In 2017, for example, heavy rain damaged the spillway at the Oroville Dam in California, forcing nearly 190,000 downstream residents to evacuate. And after storms in 2020, the Edenville Dam in Michigan breached. Water rushed downstream and overwhelmed another dam, causing it to fail, too. John France is an engineering consultant who led teams that investigated both of those incidents. He said that when many dams were built decades ago, engineers knew less about designing them to withstand floods. And although many were constructed far from populated areas, circumstances changed as cities and towns spread. “There’s this gradual building up of the hazard,” France said. After his teams’ investigations, he’s seen some improvements. The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, which licenses hydroelectric dams, added more thorough inspections that review a dam's design and construction to find weaknesses. Some states have looked at incorporating these reviews and France hopes FERC's broader approach will spread to state oversight programs. Most dams are privately owned and there’s a huge need for resources — just fixing many of the country's most important dams could cost $34 billion, according to a report by the Association of State Dam Safety Officials. Minnesota, for example, regulates about 1,000 dams and helps provide some funding, but officials said there's “a difference between demonstrated need and funds available.” The Biden administration’s infrastructure law provided a rare boost for upgrades . Dam owners are responsible for keeping their dams safe and they can be held liable if something goes wrong. “We are one step away from holding bake sales to help the dam owners,” quipped John Roche, a board member with the Association of State Dam Safety Officials. State officials try to help owners find grants so they can afford improvements. There is help, but there is even more need. In southeastern Nebraska, the Nemaha Natural Resources District covers eight counties and raises about $4 million a year from a small property tax. With that money it must maintain about 380 structures — the vast majority of which are dams — including the Wilson Creek Dam 9-C, a roughly 840-foot-long (255-meter-long) earthen structure built in the 1960s for flood control. “Funding is probably our biggest uphill battle,” said the district's general manager, Kyle Hauschild. After a poor inspection result in 2022, the district rushed to fix a rusty spillway at the Wilson Creek dam. The district keeps a maintenance list and prioritizes older structures, but if the public doesn’t see a problem with a dam, it tends to forget about it, Hauschild said. States have limited power to pressure owners to fix problems. Roche said regulators try to work cooperatively, but if that doesn't work, they can pressure owners by starting more confrontational enforcement proceedings. “It takes a lot of diligence to keep enforcement actions moving along, as they can often take many years to resolve,” Roche said. In Colorado, officials consider whether a dam is a threat to humans and the severity of its defects. That helps them prioritize scrutiny and funding. If an owner won't make needed upgrades, officials can wield a “regulatory hammer” and force owners to store less water behind their dams, reducing pressure and ensuring safety. That can kickstart action — less water in a reservoir can hurt the ability of dam owners to supply water to the communities they serve, for example, according to John Hunyadi who oversees dam safety in Colorado. But in many states, officials can't order the worst owners to remove their dams, France said. “All the state agencies ought to have that authority,” he said, adding that if an owner refuses, the state should be able to do it themselves. Hanna reported from Topeka, Kansas. The Associated Press receives support from the Walton Family Foundation for coverage of water and environmental policy. The AP is solely responsible for all content. For all of AP’s environmental coverage, visit https://apnews.com/hub/climate-and-environment

OPENLANE Announces Board Appointment with 20+ Years Founding and Leading Tech Innovators

KAR ), a leading operator of digital marketplaces for wholesale used vehicles, announces the appointment of Randy Altschuler to its board of directors. A seasoned entrepreneur and executive, Altschuler brings more than 20 years of experience leveraging technology, digital marketplaces and artificial intelligence (AI) to transform the manufacturing landscape. "We are delighted to welcome Randy to our Board," said Michael Kestner, Chair of OPENLANE. "His expertise developing AI and digital marketplaces to disrupt the manufacturing industry will provide valuable perspective and insight as we continue executing our digital transformation." Altschuler has co-founded and led multiple companies, including OfficeTiger (acquired by RR Donnelley), CloudBlue (acquired by Ingram Micro) and, most recently, Xometry, the global AI-powered digital marketplace for manufacturing where he currently serves as CEO. He has a proven track record shepherding companies from start-up and scaling to growth, building industry-disrupting technology solutions while generating meaningful value for shareholders. "As the original pioneer in digital remarketing, OPENLANE's vision is to build the world's greatest digital marketplace for used vehicles," said Peter Kelly, CEO of OPENLANE. "We are thrilled to welcome Randy to our Board, and looking forward to drawing on his acumen as we channel our robust innovation pipeline to make wholesale easy so our customers can be more successful." Altschuler is a graduate of Princeton University, studied as a Fulbright Scholar at the University of

business

OPENLANE Announces Board Appointment with 20+ Years Founding and Leading Tech Innovators. KAR ), a leading operator of digital marketplaces for wholesale used vehicles, announces the appointment of Randy Altschuler to its board of directors. A seasoned entrepreneur and executive, Altschuler brings more than 20 years of experience leveraging technology, digital marketplaces and artificial intelligence (AI) to transform the manufacturing landscape. "We are delighted to welcome Randy to our Board," said Michael Kestner, Chair of OPENLANE. "His expertise developing AI and digital marketplaces to disrupt the manufacturing industry will provide valuable perspective and insight as we continue executing our digital transformation." Altschuler has co-founded and led multiple companies, including OfficeTiger (acquired by RR Donnelley), CloudBlue (acquired by Ingram Micro) and, most recently, Xometry, the global AI-powered digital marketplace for manufacturing where he currently serves as CEO. He has a proven track record shepherding companies from start-up and scaling to growth, building industry-disrupting technology solutions while generating meaningful value for shareholders. "As the original pioneer in digital remarketing, OPENLANE's vision is to build the world's greatest digital marketplace for used vehicles," said Peter Kelly, CEO of OPENLANE. "We are thrilled to welcome Randy to our Board, and looking forward to drawing on his acumen as we channel our robust innovation pipeline to make wholesale easy so our customers can be more successful." Altschuler is a graduate of Princeton University, studied as a Fulbright Scholar at the University of

Ariane 6 inaugural launch planned for first half of July

A booster with an Avio-produced P120C motor is moved into position to be mated to the core stage of an Ariane 6 ahead of that rocket's first flight, scheduled for the summer. Credit: ESA/ArianeGroup/Arianespace/CNES WASHINGTON — The first launch of the Ariane 6 is expected in the first half of July as the vehicle takes shape at its French Guiana launch site. The European Space Agency announced May 21 that the joint team working on the Ariane 6, including ESA, prime contractor ArianeGroup, launch services provider Arianespace and the French space agency CNES, expect the Ariane 6 inaugural launch to take place in the first two weeks of July. That is in the middle of a time frame previously announced by ESA of somewhere between the middle of June and end of July. ESA said a specific, albeit tentative, date for the launch will be announced at the ILA air show in Berlin, scheduled for June 5 to 9. The update was the first refinement of the launch date since November 2023, when ESA announced the window of the middle of June to the end of July. Officials previously said that they would provide an update on the launch after the completion of a qualification review slated to end in late April. In the latest update, ESA said it completed that qualification review April 29. Workers have also started to stack the rocket itself, attaching its two solid rocket boosters to the core stage. The upper stage and payloads will be installed in June ahead of a fueling test and practice countdown called a wet dress rehearsal scheduled for June 18. While ESA had not provided an update until now on the Ariane 6 launch dates, executives with two major suppliers said they believed the launch was on schedule. "It seems to me we're going in the right direction for a flight in July," Giulio Ranzo, chief executive of Avio, said of Ariane 6 in a May 9 earnings call. Avio produces the solid rocket motors used in the Ariane 6 strap-on boosters. "We are very confident that Ariane 6 will launch within the known launch period from mid-June through the end of July," Marco Fuchs, chief executive of OHB, said in his company's May 8 earnings call. "I think preparations are going very well." Josef Aschbacher, director general of ESA, called the first launch of Ariane 6 the "big event of the year" for Europe in space during a session of the 39 th Space Symposium in April. A successful flight of the long-delayed Ariane 6 would help alleviate the "launcher crisis" that has forced ESA and the European Commission to purchase several Falcon 9 launches from SpaceX. That includes the scheduled May 28 launch of EarthCARE, a joint Earth science mission of ESA and the Japanese space agency JAXA, on a Falcon 9 from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California. At Space Symposium, though, Aschbacher worked to set expectations about that first flight. "Statistically, there's a 47% chance the first flight may not succeed or happen exactly as planned," he said, citing the track record of first launches of new large launch vehicles. "We'll do everything we can to make it a successful flight but I think it's something that we have to keep in mind."

aerospace

Ariane 6 inaugural launch planned for first half of July. A booster with an Avio-produced P120C motor is moved into position to be mated to the core stage of an Ariane 6 ahead of that rocket's first flight, scheduled for the summer. Credit: ESA/ArianeGroup/Arianespace/CNES WASHINGTON — The first launch of the Ariane 6 is expected in the first half of July as the vehicle takes shape at its French Guiana launch site. The European Space Agency announced May 21 that the joint team working on the Ariane 6, including ESA, prime contractor ArianeGroup, launch services provider Arianespace and the French space agency CNES, expect the Ariane 6 inaugural launch to take place in the first two weeks of July. That is in the middle of a time frame previously announced by ESA of somewhere between the middle of June and end of July. ESA said a specific, albeit tentative, date for the launch will be announced at the ILA air show in Berlin, scheduled for June 5 to 9. The update was the first refinement of the launch date since November 2023, when ESA announced the window of the middle of June to the end of July. Officials previously said that they would provide an update on the launch after the completion of a qualification review slated to end in late April. In the latest update, ESA said it completed that qualification review April 29. Workers have also started to stack the rocket itself, attaching its two solid rocket boosters to the core stage. The upper stage and payloads will be installed in June ahead of a fueling test and practice countdown called a wet dress rehearsal scheduled for June 18. While ESA had not provided an update until now on the Ariane 6 launch dates, executives with two major suppliers said they believed the launch was on schedule. "It seems to me we're going in the right direction for a flight in July," Giulio Ranzo, chief executive of Avio, said of Ariane 6 in a May 9 earnings call. Avio produces the solid rocket motors used in the Ariane 6 strap-on boosters. "We are very confident that Ariane 6 will launch within the known launch period from mid-June through the end of July," Marco Fuchs, chief executive of OHB, said in his company's May 8 earnings call. "I think preparations are going very well." Josef Aschbacher, director general of ESA, called the first launch of Ariane 6 the "big event of the year" for Europe in space during a session of the 39 th Space Symposium in April. A successful flight of the long-delayed Ariane 6 would help alleviate the "launcher crisis" that has forced ESA and the European Commission to purchase several Falcon 9 launches from SpaceX. That includes the scheduled May 28 launch of EarthCARE, a joint Earth science mission of ESA and the Japanese space agency JAXA, on a Falcon 9 from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California. At Space Symposium, though, Aschbacher worked to set expectations about that first flight. "Statistically, there's a 47% chance the first flight may not succeed or happen exactly as planned," he said, citing the track record of first launches of new large launch vehicles. "We'll do everything we can to make it a successful flight but I think it's something that we have to keep in mind."

After Biden's disastrous debate, campaign emails supporters on how to defend him: 'Bedwetting brigade'

Political panelists Al Mottur and Matt Gorman discuss concerns over President Biden's candidacy and weigh former President Trump's VP options. Join Fox News for access to this content Plus special access to select articles and other premium content with your account - free of charge. By entering your email and pushing continue, you are agreeing to Fox News' Privacy Policy, which includes our The Biden campaign sent out an email to supporters detailing how they can respond to their friends who are critical of President Biden's debate performance. "If you're like me, you're getting lots of texts or calls from folks about the state of the race after Thursday," reads the email. "Maybe it was your panicked aunt, your MAGA uncle, or some self-important podcasters. It's a tough position to be in, so I thought it might be helpful to send you a few responses." The email comes after last week's first presidential debate between Biden and former President Trump, which resulted in widespread criticism of the president's performance. BIDEN DEBATE DEBACLE: 10 EYE-OPENING MEDIA RESPONSES, FROM MSNBC PANIC TO 'THE VIEW' CALLING FOR REPLACEMENT President Biden stands at his podium during his debate with former President Trump in Atlanta on Thursday, June 27, 2024. (Kevin D. Liles for The Washington Post via Getty Images) "This was a game-changing debate in the sense that right now, as we speak, there is a deep, a wide and a very aggressive panic in the Democratic Party. It started minutes into the debate and it continues right now," CNN's John King said shortly after the debate was over. "It involves party strategists, it involves elected officials, it involves fundraisers. And they're having conversations about the president's performance, which they think was dismal, which they think will hurt other people down the party in the ticket, and they're having conversations about what they should do about it." In the aftermath of Biden's performance, calls for the president to step aside and allow for a different nominee have continued to intensify, including from within his own party. While the campaign email acknowledges that "the debate started rough," it argued that the real takeaway was that "voters saw what a threat Donald Trump is to the country." President Biden walks off with first lady Jill Biden following the CNN Presidential Debate on June 27, 2024, in Atlanta. The email encourages supporters to forcefully push back against those calling on the president to drop out of the race, accusing such critics of being part of the "bedwetting brigade." This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. ©2024 FOX News Network, LLC. All rights reserved. Quotes displayed in real-time or delayed by at least 15 minutes. Market data provided by

politics

After Biden's disastrous debate, campaign emails supporters on how to defend him: 'Bedwetting brigade'. Political panelists Al Mottur and Matt Gorman discuss concerns over President Biden's candidacy and weigh former President Trump's VP options. Join Fox News for access to this content Plus special access to select articles and other premium content with your account - free of charge. By entering your email and pushing continue, you are agreeing to Fox News' Privacy Policy, which includes our The Biden campaign sent out an email to supporters detailing how they can respond to their friends who are critical of President Biden's debate performance. "If you're like me, you're getting lots of texts or calls from folks about the state of the race after Thursday," reads the email. "Maybe it was your panicked aunt, your MAGA uncle, or some self-important podcasters. It's a tough position to be in, so I thought it might be helpful to send you a few responses." The email comes after last week's first presidential debate between Biden and former President Trump, which resulted in widespread criticism of the president's performance. BIDEN DEBATE DEBACLE: 10 EYE-OPENING MEDIA RESPONSES, FROM MSNBC PANIC TO 'THE VIEW' CALLING FOR REPLACEMENT President Biden stands at his podium during his debate with former President Trump in Atlanta on Thursday, June 27, 2024. (Kevin D. Liles for The Washington Post via Getty Images) "This was a game-changing debate in the sense that right now, as we speak, there is a deep, a wide and a very aggressive panic in the Democratic Party. It started minutes into the debate and it continues right now," CNN's John King said shortly after the debate was over. "It involves party strategists, it involves elected officials, it involves fundraisers. And they're having conversations about the president's performance, which they think was dismal, which they think will hurt other people down the party in the ticket, and they're having conversations about what they should do about it." In the aftermath of Biden's performance, calls for the president to step aside and allow for a different nominee have continued to intensify, including from within his own party. While the campaign email acknowledges that "the debate started rough," it argued that the real takeaway was that "voters saw what a threat Donald Trump is to the country." President Biden walks off with first lady Jill Biden following the CNN Presidential Debate on June 27, 2024, in Atlanta. The email encourages supporters to forcefully push back against those calling on the president to drop out of the race, accusing such critics of being part of the "bedwetting brigade." This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. ©2024 FOX News Network, LLC. All rights reserved. Quotes displayed in real-time or delayed by at least 15 minutes. Market data provided by