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Left-leaning attorney speaks out against DEI after he’s targeted twice by anti-Israel agitators

Jordan Acker said enough is enough and it's time for change with DEI messaging. A prominent Michigan attorney and University of Michigan regent is speaking out after he was targeted twice by anti-Israel agitators. Jordan Acker told Fox News Digital his Michigan law firm was vandalized Monday morning with antisemitic messages spray-painted on the building, including "Free Palestine, divest now," and other vulgar language. " I saw just absolutely horrendous, over-the-top, criminal behavior essentially having been left on our building. And since then, it's just been, you know, we met with our staff to help them try to understand what's going on," Acker, attorney and partner at Goodman Acker Law Firm, told Fox News Digital. This is now the second time Acker has been targeted by what he called hate crimes, as a masked man showed up to his home with a list of demands last month. University of Michigan regent and attorney Jordan Acker details the most recent targeted attacks against his law firm and family. (Fox News) "I have three young kids. It's terrifying. My girls were sleeping upstairs when that happened a couple of weeks ago. This, you could make an argument that that activity is not antisemitic. This however, there is no mistaking this was an antisemitic attack. In the same way that businesses in Germany were targeted for being Jewish businesses. These things happen in Third World countries. And it's unacceptable. It's unacceptable." Acker, who is also a University of Michigan regent, added that the vandalism and the threats are a direct attack on him and his beliefs. "So about two weeks ago, every University of Michigan regent was targeted. Didn't matter Jewish, not Jewish, Democrat, Republican. We were all targeted. Today was a completely different thing. This was just me. No other regent was targeted," Acker explained. Acker continued saying that he also felt like he was specifically targeted for two reasons. "First of all, because I am Jewish. And second of all, because my office here in Southfield, Michigan, is in a neighborhood that's full of Orthodox Jews. And I think it was meant not just to intimidate me, but to also intimidate the community that lives here," Acker said. ANTISEMITISM AT YALE, UNIV. OF MICHIGAN TO FACE CONGRESSIONAL SCRUTINY When asked about the unrest on college campuses, Acker said this is a lesson to Americans that antisemitism in this country can come from both sides. "It comes out of some of our elite institutions. And it's unacceptable and wrong. And it's important for those of us who sit on the center left, like I do, to get up and say, not acceptable. It's un-American in this country," Acker said. Acker said what we see happening on some campuses and the attacks on his firm and family are not an effective or productive way to make your voice heard. "It's very concerning to me as a Democrat, as a liberal, that this is the way things are going. Because, and I've said this before, and I would say it again, if the academy does not fix these problems, especially the problems involving antisemitism, then there will be groups on the far right that would be happy to silence it in a way that our faculty will not like," Acker continued. Acker continued saying that DEI programs are also to blame for the rise in issues at universities and colleges across the country. "I think that part of the reason why universities are having this issue is because, over the last decade, a lot of these schools have used DEI. They've used other things to center student feelings and not actual diversity, equity and inclusion. And what has happened here is that you have a situation where Jews are not desired or Jews desire their feelings to be centered, just like every other group has seemingly over the last decade," Acker said. FORMER 'JEOPARDY!' HOST SAYS IT'S A 'REAL CHALLENGE' TO BE A LIBERAL AND DEFEND ISRAEL Goodman Acker Law Firm said it was vandalized early Monday morning with red paint on their sign and red handprints on the glass door. "Free Palestine" was also spray-painted on the sign near the road and the outside wall of both law offices. (FOX 2 Detroit ) Acker added that in order to change the viewpoints of elected officials, you have to change your strategies and help convince them, but ultimately, if you can't convince them to change, you vote them out. "We don't harass and intimidate. It's un-American, and it's unacceptable from any group – period," Acker continued. Acker believes what we are seeing on college campuses is a complicated situation, as he says the conflict in the Middle East is nothing new and has been going on for well over 75 years. "When you have a conflict that is this old and this complicated, I think it's really easy to see one guy as a good guy, and one guy as a bad guy. And part of the thing about youth and being young and seeing this is this current conflict is enormously complicated," Acker said. "This conflict did not start the morning that Israel was founded. And anyone who simplifies it down to Palestinians good, Israelis bad is not thinking deeply about what a challenge and conflict this is. " JEWISH STUDENTS SLAM ELITE COLLEGES FOR LETTING ANTISEMITISM RUN RAMPANT: 'MORAL CORRUPTION' Goodman Acker was vandalized Monday morning in what the law firm is calling an "antisemitic attack." (FOX 2 Detroit ) Acker added that this is a crucial moment in history for students in higher education to learn and understand what is actually going on. He is hopeful that students, especially those at the University of Michigan, can all grow from this conflict. "For our students, I think this is an important moment, to not just listen to your own echo chamber, to really go out and hear what the other side is thinking. It's what I do. I spent a lot of time today, and in the last few weeks meeting with and understanding, groups from the Arab American community right here in Southeast Michigan. And I find that we don't have that big a difference on so many different things. But when it comes to the things that we do disagree on, we have to do so in a way that's productive, it's respectful, and it's meaningful, and this is not that," Acker said. But when it comes to intellectual students, especially at our elite campuses, Acker says they need to be challenged on their views and that's not what we're seeing right now. In a press conference Monday morning, Acker was joined by other partners and members of his law firm and emphasized that this attack was a malicious and targeted move. NEW YORK MAN ARRESTED AFTER ALLEGEDLY ATTEMPTING TO RUN DOWN STUDENTS, RABBI NEAR BROOKLYN SCHOOL WITH CAR Anti-Israel graffiti spray-painted on the exterior of a Michigan law firm is being investigated as a hate crime, officials said. "This is an enormously difficult moment for me, personally, and this community. Make no mistake, that targeting individual Jewish elected officials is antisemitism. This has nothing to do with Palestine, the war in Gaza, or anything else. This is done as a message to scare Jews," Acker said. The law firm said it is a Muslim and Jewish-owned business that has served the community for 30 years with a long history of supporting civil rights and fighting against discrimination.

usa

Left-leaning attorney speaks out against DEI after he’s targeted twice by anti-Israel agitators. Jordan Acker said enough is enough and it's time for change with DEI messaging. A prominent Michigan attorney and University of Michigan regent is speaking out after he was targeted twice by anti-Israel agitators. Jordan Acker told Fox News Digital his Michigan law firm was vandalized Monday morning with antisemitic messages spray-painted on the building, including "Free Palestine, divest now," and other vulgar language. " I saw just absolutely horrendous, over-the-top, criminal behavior essentially having been left on our building. And since then, it's just been, you know, we met with our staff to help them try to understand what's going on," Acker, attorney and partner at Goodman Acker Law Firm, told Fox News Digital. This is now the second time Acker has been targeted by what he called hate crimes, as a masked man showed up to his home with a list of demands last month. University of Michigan regent and attorney Jordan Acker details the most recent targeted attacks against his law firm and family. (Fox News) "I have three young kids. It's terrifying. My girls were sleeping upstairs when that happened a couple of weeks ago. This, you could make an argument that that activity is not antisemitic. This however, there is no mistaking this was an antisemitic attack. In the same way that businesses in Germany were targeted for being Jewish businesses. These things happen in Third World countries. And it's unacceptable. It's unacceptable." Acker, who is also a University of Michigan regent, added that the vandalism and the threats are a direct attack on him and his beliefs. "So about two weeks ago, every University of Michigan regent was targeted. Didn't matter Jewish, not Jewish, Democrat, Republican. We were all targeted. Today was a completely different thing. This was just me. No other regent was targeted," Acker explained. Acker continued saying that he also felt like he was specifically targeted for two reasons. "First of all, because I am Jewish. And second of all, because my office here in Southfield, Michigan, is in a neighborhood that's full of Orthodox Jews. And I think it was meant not just to intimidate me, but to also intimidate the community that lives here," Acker said. ANTISEMITISM AT YALE, UNIV. OF MICHIGAN TO FACE CONGRESSIONAL SCRUTINY When asked about the unrest on college campuses, Acker said this is a lesson to Americans that antisemitism in this country can come from both sides. "It comes out of some of our elite institutions. And it's unacceptable and wrong. And it's important for those of us who sit on the center left, like I do, to get up and say, not acceptable. It's un-American in this country," Acker said. Acker said what we see happening on some campuses and the attacks on his firm and family are not an effective or productive way to make your voice heard. "It's very concerning to me as a Democrat, as a liberal, that this is the way things are going. Because, and I've said this before, and I would say it again, if the academy does not fix these problems, especially the problems involving antisemitism, then there will be groups on the far right that would be happy to silence it in a way that our faculty will not like," Acker continued. Acker continued saying that DEI programs are also to blame for the rise in issues at universities and colleges across the country. "I think that part of the reason why universities are having this issue is because, over the last decade, a lot of these schools have used DEI. They've used other things to center student feelings and not actual diversity, equity and inclusion. And what has happened here is that you have a situation where Jews are not desired or Jews desire their feelings to be centered, just like every other group has seemingly over the last decade," Acker said. FORMER 'JEOPARDY!' HOST SAYS IT'S A 'REAL CHALLENGE' TO BE A LIBERAL AND DEFEND ISRAEL Goodman Acker Law Firm said it was vandalized early Monday morning with red paint on their sign and red handprints on the glass door. "Free Palestine" was also spray-painted on the sign near the road and the outside wall of both law offices. (FOX 2 Detroit ) Acker added that in order to change the viewpoints of elected officials, you have to change your strategies and help convince them, but ultimately, if you can't convince them to change, you vote them out. "We don't harass and intimidate. It's un-American, and it's unacceptable from any group – period," Acker continued. Acker believes what we are seeing on college campuses is a complicated situation, as he says the conflict in the Middle East is nothing new and has been going on for well over 75 years. "When you have a conflict that is this old and this complicated, I think it's really easy to see one guy as a good guy, and one guy as a bad guy. And part of the thing about youth and being young and seeing this is this current conflict is enormously complicated," Acker said. "This conflict did not start the morning that Israel was founded. And anyone who simplifies it down to Palestinians good, Israelis bad is not thinking deeply about what a challenge and conflict this is. " JEWISH STUDENTS SLAM ELITE COLLEGES FOR LETTING ANTISEMITISM RUN RAMPANT: 'MORAL CORRUPTION' Goodman Acker was vandalized Monday morning in what the law firm is calling an "antisemitic attack." (FOX 2 Detroit ) Acker added that this is a crucial moment in history for students in higher education to learn and understand what is actually going on. He is hopeful that students, especially those at the University of Michigan, can all grow from this conflict. "For our students, I think this is an important moment, to not just listen to your own echo chamber, to really go out and hear what the other side is thinking. It's what I do. I spent a lot of time today, and in the last few weeks meeting with and understanding, groups from the Arab American community right here in Southeast Michigan. And I find that we don't have that big a difference on so many different things. But when it comes to the things that we do disagree on, we have to do so in a way that's productive, it's respectful, and it's meaningful, and this is not that," Acker said. But when it comes to intellectual students, especially at our elite campuses, Acker says they need to be challenged on their views and that's not what we're seeing right now. In a press conference Monday morning, Acker was joined by other partners and members of his law firm and emphasized that this attack was a malicious and targeted move. NEW YORK MAN ARRESTED AFTER ALLEGEDLY ATTEMPTING TO RUN DOWN STUDENTS, RABBI NEAR BROOKLYN SCHOOL WITH CAR Anti-Israel graffiti spray-painted on the exterior of a Michigan law firm is being investigated as a hate crime, officials said. "This is an enormously difficult moment for me, personally, and this community. Make no mistake, that targeting individual Jewish elected officials is antisemitism. This has nothing to do with Palestine, the war in Gaza, or anything else. This is done as a message to scare Jews," Acker said. The law firm said it is a Muslim and Jewish-owned business that has served the community for 30 years with a long history of supporting civil rights and fighting against discrimination.

Who has the 'Keys to the White House'? Historian with ace record calling elections weighs in on Trump verdict

Dr. Allan Lichtman, a distinguished professor of history at American University, discusses his "Keys to the White House" and whether President Biden is in position to win re-election this November. 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 Notice of Financial Incentive. President Trump's criminal conviction in his historic New York trial may have thrown the 2024 presidential election into unprecedented upheaval – or it may not have, according to Dr. Allan Lichtman. The American University historian, who has correctly predicted the outcome of nine of the last 10 U.S. presidential elections, told Fox News Digital that instant analysis of Trump's conviction is meaningless as the country looks forward to Election Day. "We're not going to know much until the sentencing hearing on July 11, right before the Republican convention," Lichtman said in an interview. Allowing himself to speculate, the proven prognosticator said Trump's conviction on 34 felony counts of falsifying business records does not appear to have fundamentally cracked his base, which Trump will need united to defeat President Biden in November. But no one knows, neither Lichtman nor the pundits he perennially outperforms, how Americans outside Trump's base will react to a convicted criminal on the presidential ballot. "We don't know how this might affect moderate and swing independent voters. So really, we have got to look over time and not rely on instant, unreliable punditry," said Lichtman. TRUMP GETS WARM RECEPTION AND PILES OF CAMPAIGN CASH DURING SUNNY BLUE STATE SWING Lichtman does not believe that former President Trump's guilty verdict has tarnished the overall support of his base. (Eric Thayer for The Washington Post via Getty Images) Lichtman is a historian, not a psychic. The formula he's used to correctly predict nearly every presidential race since 1984, his "Keys to the White House," was developed in 1981 with mathematician Vladimir Keilis-Borok and is based on their analysis of presidential elections dating back to 1860. The secret to his success, Lichtman says, is to keep his own personal preferences out of his predictions. "We reconceptualize presidential elections not as Carter versus Reagan, Republican versus Democrat, liberal versus conservative, but in geophysical terms," he explained. "Stability: The White House party keeps power. Earthquake: The White House party is turned out." The "keys" consist of 13 true or false questions, parameters that, if true, favor stability. When eight or more of the keys are false, the incumbent White House party is the predicted loser. This formula helped Lichtman correctly predict that Trump would prevail in 2016, when the polls, debate performances and political commentators all favored Democrat Hillary Clinton. Previously, he said President Barack Obama would win re-election when Republican Mitt Romney was favored. And he correctly called the 2020 election for Biden. "The keys are an alternative to the polls, which are not predictors. They're snapshots, they're abused, not used as predictors. And the pundits, you know, who are a lot of fun, but they're sports talk radio. They have no scientific basis for any of their predictions," Lichtman argued. TRUMP RILES UP FIERY SWING STATE CROWD IN FIRST RALLY SINCE NEW YORK CONVICTION Lichtman believes he has the secret to predicting who will win the vote in any U.S. presidential election, and he has the record since 1984 to prove it. (Nicholas Kamm/AFP via Getty Images) The 2024 election is still in flux, and so Lichtman has not made a final projection for this year. But a lot would have to go wrong for Biden to lose to Trump, he claims. Lichtman's keys are as follows: party mandate, contest, incumbency, third party, short-term economy, long-term economy, policy change, social unrest, scandal, foreign/military failure, foreign/military success, incumbent charisma and challenger charisma. As things stand, Biden has definitively lost two of Lichtman's keys. "He's lost what I call the mandate key based on midterm elections, because the Democrats lost seats in 2022, they needed to win seats to win that key. And he loses the charisma key because he's no Franklin Roosevelt or John F. Kennedy," Lichtman said. If six keys turn against Biden, he is likely to lose. The four keys to watch are whether Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., or another third-party candidate wins at least 10% support in national polls; social unrest linked to widespread anti-Israel protests on college campuses, and success or failure for Biden's foreign policy endeavors amid the wars in Ukraine and Gaza. POLLING GURU FLOATS THE IDEA OF BIDEN DROPPING OUT: AT SOME POINT 'CONTINUING TO RUN IS A BIGGER RISK' Lichtman says that Biden currently holds two of the "keys" – but notes that the rest appear to be in flux. (Hannah Beier/Bloomberg via Getty Images) Several Democratic strategists and a number of pundits are losing confidence in Biden's campaign as polls show Trump ahead in several key swing states. Election data guru and FiveThirtyEight founder Nate Silver suggested Monday that the president's "all-time low" in approval ratings might be enough justification for him to drop out or for the party to nominate someone else at the Democratic convention in August. Lichtman warns that replacing Biden would be a massive unforced error for Democrats. "With Biden running, he wins my incumbency key: sitting president. He wins the party contest: uncontested. Essentially, that means he wins two keys off the top," Lichtman explained. Without Biden on the ticket, the Democrats would automatically lose two more keys, meaning just four more would have to fall to predict their defeat. JAMES CARVILLE REGRETS THAT BIDEN IS RUNNING, WORRIES YOUNGER GENERATION UNINTERESTED IN POLITICS Without Biden on the Democratic ticket, the party would automatically lose two more keys. (AP Photo/Julia Nikhinson and Evan Vucci) "This nonsense about Biden stepping down points to the dangers of off-the-top-of-the-head punditry and commentary that is not based on any scientific understanding of how elections work," Lichtman said. Doom and gloom punditry is part of what Lichtman calls the "political industrial complex" – an iron triangle of pollsters and political consultants who profit from campaigns, news reporters eager to cover negative soundbites and politicians who are afraid to challenge the other two points of the triangle. The horse race theory of elections creates drama and makes money for those involved, Lichtman claims, but it's not very helpful to inform Americans about the direction of the country. "The keys provide a way of breaking the iron triangle," said Lichtman. "The candidates themselves have to run different kinds of campaigns," he added. "Campaign by the keys, which is, you campaign on your vision. If you're an incumbent, what it is you have done and what you expect to do. If you're a challenger, what's your clear vision for America?" CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP

politics

Who has the 'Keys to the White House'? Historian with ace record calling elections weighs in on Trump verdict. Dr. Allan Lichtman, a distinguished professor of history at American University, discusses his "Keys to the White House" and whether President Biden is in position to win re-election this November. 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 Notice of Financial Incentive. President Trump's criminal conviction in his historic New York trial may have thrown the 2024 presidential election into unprecedented upheaval – or it may not have, according to Dr. Allan Lichtman. The American University historian, who has correctly predicted the outcome of nine of the last 10 U.S. presidential elections, told Fox News Digital that instant analysis of Trump's conviction is meaningless as the country looks forward to Election Day. "We're not going to know much until the sentencing hearing on July 11, right before the Republican convention," Lichtman said in an interview. Allowing himself to speculate, the proven prognosticator said Trump's conviction on 34 felony counts of falsifying business records does not appear to have fundamentally cracked his base, which Trump will need united to defeat President Biden in November. But no one knows, neither Lichtman nor the pundits he perennially outperforms, how Americans outside Trump's base will react to a convicted criminal on the presidential ballot. "We don't know how this might affect moderate and swing independent voters. So really, we have got to look over time and not rely on instant, unreliable punditry," said Lichtman. TRUMP GETS WARM RECEPTION AND PILES OF CAMPAIGN CASH DURING SUNNY BLUE STATE SWING Lichtman does not believe that former President Trump's guilty verdict has tarnished the overall support of his base. (Eric Thayer for The Washington Post via Getty Images) Lichtman is a historian, not a psychic. The formula he's used to correctly predict nearly every presidential race since 1984, his "Keys to the White House," was developed in 1981 with mathematician Vladimir Keilis-Borok and is based on their analysis of presidential elections dating back to 1860. The secret to his success, Lichtman says, is to keep his own personal preferences out of his predictions. "We reconceptualize presidential elections not as Carter versus Reagan, Republican versus Democrat, liberal versus conservative, but in geophysical terms," he explained. "Stability: The White House party keeps power. Earthquake: The White House party is turned out." The "keys" consist of 13 true or false questions, parameters that, if true, favor stability. When eight or more of the keys are false, the incumbent White House party is the predicted loser. This formula helped Lichtman correctly predict that Trump would prevail in 2016, when the polls, debate performances and political commentators all favored Democrat Hillary Clinton. Previously, he said President Barack Obama would win re-election when Republican Mitt Romney was favored. And he correctly called the 2020 election for Biden. "The keys are an alternative to the polls, which are not predictors. They're snapshots, they're abused, not used as predictors. And the pundits, you know, who are a lot of fun, but they're sports talk radio. They have no scientific basis for any of their predictions," Lichtman argued. TRUMP RILES UP FIERY SWING STATE CROWD IN FIRST RALLY SINCE NEW YORK CONVICTION Lichtman believes he has the secret to predicting who will win the vote in any U.S. presidential election, and he has the record since 1984 to prove it. (Nicholas Kamm/AFP via Getty Images) The 2024 election is still in flux, and so Lichtman has not made a final projection for this year. But a lot would have to go wrong for Biden to lose to Trump, he claims. Lichtman's keys are as follows: party mandate, contest, incumbency, third party, short-term economy, long-term economy, policy change, social unrest, scandal, foreign/military failure, foreign/military success, incumbent charisma and challenger charisma. As things stand, Biden has definitively lost two of Lichtman's keys. "He's lost what I call the mandate key based on midterm elections, because the Democrats lost seats in 2022, they needed to win seats to win that key. And he loses the charisma key because he's no Franklin Roosevelt or John F. Kennedy," Lichtman said. If six keys turn against Biden, he is likely to lose. The four keys to watch are whether Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., or another third-party candidate wins at least 10% support in national polls; social unrest linked to widespread anti-Israel protests on college campuses, and success or failure for Biden's foreign policy endeavors amid the wars in Ukraine and Gaza. POLLING GURU FLOATS THE IDEA OF BIDEN DROPPING OUT: AT SOME POINT 'CONTINUING TO RUN IS A BIGGER RISK' Lichtman says that Biden currently holds two of the "keys" – but notes that the rest appear to be in flux. (Hannah Beier/Bloomberg via Getty Images) Several Democratic strategists and a number of pundits are losing confidence in Biden's campaign as polls show Trump ahead in several key swing states. Election data guru and FiveThirtyEight founder Nate Silver suggested Monday that the president's "all-time low" in approval ratings might be enough justification for him to drop out or for the party to nominate someone else at the Democratic convention in August. Lichtman warns that replacing Biden would be a massive unforced error for Democrats. "With Biden running, he wins my incumbency key: sitting president. He wins the party contest: uncontested. Essentially, that means he wins two keys off the top," Lichtman explained. Without Biden on the ticket, the Democrats would automatically lose two more keys, meaning just four more would have to fall to predict their defeat. JAMES CARVILLE REGRETS THAT BIDEN IS RUNNING, WORRIES YOUNGER GENERATION UNINTERESTED IN POLITICS Without Biden on the Democratic ticket, the party would automatically lose two more keys. (AP Photo/Julia Nikhinson and Evan Vucci) "This nonsense about Biden stepping down points to the dangers of off-the-top-of-the-head punditry and commentary that is not based on any scientific understanding of how elections work," Lichtman said. Doom and gloom punditry is part of what Lichtman calls the "political industrial complex" – an iron triangle of pollsters and political consultants who profit from campaigns, news reporters eager to cover negative soundbites and politicians who are afraid to challenge the other two points of the triangle. The horse race theory of elections creates drama and makes money for those involved, Lichtman claims, but it's not very helpful to inform Americans about the direction of the country. "The keys provide a way of breaking the iron triangle," said Lichtman. "The candidates themselves have to run different kinds of campaigns," he added. "Campaign by the keys, which is, you campaign on your vision. If you're an incumbent, what it is you have done and what you expect to do. If you're a challenger, what's your clear vision for America?" CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP

Flex and Yardi Unveil Seamless Rent Payment Integration in RentCafe

Flex, a leader in financial wellness solutions, is proud to announce a new strategic partnership with Yardi®, a leading property management software provider. This collaboration provides residents with unprecedented payment flexibility and simplicity, embedded in the RentCafe resident portal. "At Flex, we are committed to simplifying the rent payment process for residents and property managers alike," said Shragie Lichtenstein, CEO and Co-founder at Flex. "Our partnership with Yardi allows us to deliver a seamless, integrated experience that not only enhances resident satisfaction but also improves operational efficiency for property managers." The integration allows residents to split their monthly rent into smaller, more manageable payments, ensuring property managers receive the full amount, when it's due. Residents can discover and sign up for the payment option directly within their RentCafe portal. Once registered, the Flex service is immediately available to residents, with no additional work or cost for onsite teams. "Integrating Flex's innovative payment solutions within RentCafe helps our clientsmeet the expectations of today's renters," added Patrick Hennessey, Vice President and General Manager at Yardi. "Personalizing the rent payment process is a crucial step towards enhancing our overall customer experience." "Flex is the only company to work directly with both property management companies and their underlying management software to offer the best possible flexible rent payment experience," continued Lichtenstein. "Now, by embedding Flex directly into RentCafe, we are setting a new standard for accessibility and convenience." Flex has facilitated over $8 billion in on-time rent payments for thousands of property management companies across the U.S. By implementing Flex's solutions, property managers can increase resident retention and boost NOI, while residents benefit from improved cash flow. This dual advantage strengthens the financial stability of both property management companies and the communities they serve. About Flex Flex is a leading financial services company that allows residents to split their rent and build their credit. Trusted by over 1,600 property management companies and offered in more than 6 million units nationwide, Flex has paid more than $8 billion in on-time rent. By integrating seamlessly with major property management systems, Flex offers a simple solution that supports operational efficiency and creates a superior resident experience. Learn more about Flex at

business

Flex and Yardi Unveil Seamless Rent Payment Integration in RentCafe. Flex, a leader in financial wellness solutions, is proud to announce a new strategic partnership with Yardi®, a leading property management software provider. This collaboration provides residents with unprecedented payment flexibility and simplicity, embedded in the RentCafe resident portal. "At Flex, we are committed to simplifying the rent payment process for residents and property managers alike," said Shragie Lichtenstein, CEO and Co-founder at Flex. "Our partnership with Yardi allows us to deliver a seamless, integrated experience that not only enhances resident satisfaction but also improves operational efficiency for property managers." The integration allows residents to split their monthly rent into smaller, more manageable payments, ensuring property managers receive the full amount, when it's due. Residents can discover and sign up for the payment option directly within their RentCafe portal. Once registered, the Flex service is immediately available to residents, with no additional work or cost for onsite teams. "Integrating Flex's innovative payment solutions within RentCafe helps our clientsmeet the expectations of today's renters," added Patrick Hennessey, Vice President and General Manager at Yardi. "Personalizing the rent payment process is a crucial step towards enhancing our overall customer experience." "Flex is the only company to work directly with both property management companies and their underlying management software to offer the best possible flexible rent payment experience," continued Lichtenstein. "Now, by embedding Flex directly into RentCafe, we are setting a new standard for accessibility and convenience." Flex has facilitated over $8 billion in on-time rent payments for thousands of property management companies across the U.S. By implementing Flex's solutions, property managers can increase resident retention and boost NOI, while residents benefit from improved cash flow. This dual advantage strengthens the financial stability of both property management companies and the communities they serve. About Flex Flex is a leading financial services company that allows residents to split their rent and build their credit. Trusted by over 1,600 property management companies and offered in more than 6 million units nationwide, Flex has paid more than $8 billion in on-time rent. By integrating seamlessly with major property management systems, Flex offers a simple solution that supports operational efficiency and creates a superior resident experience. Learn more about Flex at

Child under 5 dies of measles in Ontario: PHO

A young child has died of measles in Ontario, marking the first death in the province from the highly contagious virus in more than 10 years, a Public Health Ontario report confirms. The child, who was under the age of five, was not immunized against the virus, according to the report, which was published on Thursday. The report also confirms this is the first measles death in the province in more than a decade. The report states that there have been 22 confirmed cases of measles reported in Ontario in 2024. Of those individuals, 13 were children and nine were adults. Four of the adults, the report says, were previously immunized, two were unimmunized, and two had an unknown immunization status. Five cases required hospitalization and all of those cases were among children under the age of nine who were not vaccinated. One of the children hospitalized for the virus, who was under the age of five, died, Public Health Ontario confirmed. The cases spanned across nine different public health units and the source of transmission in 15 or the 22 cases is believed to be travel, the report notes. Officials warn that the highly contagious respiratory virus spreads easily to those who are not immunized or have not previously had measles. Infants, unimmunized pregnant individuals, and people with weakened immune systems are especially at risk. Symptoms of the virus include fever, a red blotchy rash, red watery eyes and cough. "In Ontario, measles has been rare, owing to the successful elimination of measles in Canada and high immunization coverage. As a result, measles cases are predominantly associated with travel," the Public Health Ontario report read. "Due to an increase in measles activity globally, Ontario has begun to see more cases of measles." Think twice before sharing 'heartbreaking' social media posts, RCMP warn Mounties in B.C. are urging people to think twice before sharing "heartbreaking posts" on social media. 'Ugly produce': One way Canadians are shrinking rising grocery bills As the cost of food in Canada has risen, grocery shoppers are looking at ways to reduce their grocery bill, and more are choosing price over beauty, turning to companies that deliver so-called 'misfit' produce at a fraction of the cost. Vatican revamps norms to evaluate visions of Mary as it adapts to Internet age and combats hoaxers Wildfires burning across Canada: Communities threatened as flames creep closer Thousands of residents fled Fort McMurray this week, fearing a repeat of the 2016 wildfire that forced out the entire community and torched more than 2,400 homes. 5 secrets to moving better and preventing avoidable injury Countless people seek emergency care for back pain, muscle strains and similar injuries resulting from "moving wrong" during mundane, everyday tasks such as bending over to tie shoes, lifting objects or doing household chores. Trudeau calls New Brunswick's Conservative government a 'disgrace' on women's rights Prime Minister Justin Trudeau assailed New Brunswick's premier and other conservative leaders on Thursday, calling out the provincial government's position on abortion, LGBTQ youth and climate change. French police fatally shoot a man suspected of setting fire to a synagogue Miller scores late, Canucks edge Oilers to regain series lead

health

Child under 5 dies of measles in Ontario: PHO. A young child has died of measles in Ontario, marking the first death in the province from the highly contagious virus in more than 10 years, a Public Health Ontario report confirms. The child, who was under the age of five, was not immunized against the virus, according to the report, which was published on Thursday. The report also confirms this is the first measles death in the province in more than a decade. The report states that there have been 22 confirmed cases of measles reported in Ontario in 2024. Of those individuals, 13 were children and nine were adults. Four of the adults, the report says, were previously immunized, two were unimmunized, and two had an unknown immunization status. Five cases required hospitalization and all of those cases were among children under the age of nine who were not vaccinated. One of the children hospitalized for the virus, who was under the age of five, died, Public Health Ontario confirmed. The cases spanned across nine different public health units and the source of transmission in 15 or the 22 cases is believed to be travel, the report notes. Officials warn that the highly contagious respiratory virus spreads easily to those who are not immunized or have not previously had measles. Infants, unimmunized pregnant individuals, and people with weakened immune systems are especially at risk. Symptoms of the virus include fever, a red blotchy rash, red watery eyes and cough. "In Ontario, measles has been rare, owing to the successful elimination of measles in Canada and high immunization coverage. As a result, measles cases are predominantly associated with travel," the Public Health Ontario report read. "Due to an increase in measles activity globally, Ontario has begun to see more cases of measles." Think twice before sharing 'heartbreaking' social media posts, RCMP warn Mounties in B.C. are urging people to think twice before sharing "heartbreaking posts" on social media. 'Ugly produce': One way Canadians are shrinking rising grocery bills As the cost of food in Canada has risen, grocery shoppers are looking at ways to reduce their grocery bill, and more are choosing price over beauty, turning to companies that deliver so-called 'misfit' produce at a fraction of the cost. Vatican revamps norms to evaluate visions of Mary as it adapts to Internet age and combats hoaxers Wildfires burning across Canada: Communities threatened as flames creep closer Thousands of residents fled Fort McMurray this week, fearing a repeat of the 2016 wildfire that forced out the entire community and torched more than 2,400 homes. 5 secrets to moving better and preventing avoidable injury Countless people seek emergency care for back pain, muscle strains and similar injuries resulting from "moving wrong" during mundane, everyday tasks such as bending over to tie shoes, lifting objects or doing household chores. Trudeau calls New Brunswick's Conservative government a 'disgrace' on women's rights Prime Minister Justin Trudeau assailed New Brunswick's premier and other conservative leaders on Thursday, calling out the provincial government's position on abortion, LGBTQ youth and climate change. French police fatally shoot a man suspected of setting fire to a synagogue Miller scores late, Canucks edge Oilers to regain series lead

Wall Street kicks off the second half of 2024 with key jobs report in the week ahead

Stocks have a lot to live up to in the second half of the year. At the halfway point of 2024, the major benchmarks have surged to impressive heights. The S & P 500 and Nasdaq Composite are hovering around all-time highs, having rallied roughly 15% and 18%, respectively. The Dow Jones Industrial Average, which has less exposure to tech stocks, has risen nearly 4% year to date. Much of the gains for the broad market index and the tech-heavy Nasdaq can be attributed to Nvidia, which has now grown so large it has the heft to move the entire market. Since the artificial intelligence chipmaker started taking off in January 2023, the stock has soared nearly 800%. Just this month, it has made even more progress: Nvidia briefly topped Microsoft to become the most valuable public company. And, it's one of just three mega caps to have crossed the $3 trillion threshold. Deutsche Bank Research pointed out that Nvidia achieved this milestone in just 30 days, having made short work of adding a cool $1 trillion to its market cap. NVDA 1Y mountain Nvidia That exuberance has many investors concerned that the AI trade — and by extension, the markets — has exhausted itself, and they're deliberating how to position their portfolios for the balance of the year. If the choppy moves of the last week are any indication, the path forward promises to be volatile. "Equity market warning lights are starting to flash, but most investors can't hear or see them as the F.O.M.O in the markets is cranked up, and investors are just enjoying the ride," Craig Johnson, chief market technician at Piper Sandler, wrote this week. "However, the longer these warning lights flash, the more painful the repair bill (market correction) will be." On Friday, the Nasdaq Composite closed out a winning week, gaining 0.2%. The 30-stock Dow and S & P 500 each posted losses, down by 0.1%, each. Limited gains from here Stocks appear to be at a critical juncture at the midpoint of the year. In recent days, a number of Wall Street firms have hiked their year-end S & P 500 targets to catch up with this year's surprisingly strong rally. Goldman Sachs, for example, raised its year-end target to 5,600 from 5,200. Citi now anticipates the broader index can end the year at 5,600, upping its previous forecast of 5,100. Elsewhere, Evercore ISI hiked its target to 6,000, implying stocks can climb 9% in the next six months. However, few investors are as hopeful. On a median basis, strategists expect the S & P 500 will end the year at 5,500, a CNBC Pro survey shows. That level is not even 1% higher than where the broader index closed Thursday at 5,482.87. The benchmark has already topped that milestone just last week for the first time ever. Instead, more investors are fearful stocks could take an ugly turn in the summer months — a weak period for markets historically. Some worry the tech rally has overextended itself. Others are concerned the second-quarter earnings season, set to ramp up in a matter of weeks, may not live up to high expectations. "What you've done is begun to set a very, very high bar for what companies need to deliver beginning with the Q2 reporting period," Scott Chronert, U.S. equity strategist at Citi, told CNBC's "Squawk on the Street" this week. "So, essentially, what all this sets up for from our perspective is that we have to be prepared for a pullback as we go through the summer months into the fall," Chronert added. "And then set up, we think, for a better opportunity into the end of the year." Elsewhere, Piper Sandler's Johnson expects the S & P 500 will tumble 10% this summer, saying investors are failing to heed red flags including poor market breadth and waning momentum. In his model portfolio, he's reducing equity exposure to 80% from 90%, and allocating the balance to cash. He is overweight on industrials. Still, others remain relatively optimistic on the path forward for equities. Bill Merz, head of capital markets research at U.S. Bank Wealth Management, noted that a "reasonably benign" growth environment, easing inflation, and the start of rate cuts across the globe, are reasons to be constructive on the stock outlook. "You put all those things together, we think it's an environment that's conducive to leaning into risk, to do it in a modest fashion," Merz said. He's expecting the rally could broaden out to large-cap stocks outside the mega caps. Jamie Meyers at Laffer Tengler said he's still bullish on technology, seeing those companies as the "new defensive names." However, he's avoiding stocks tied to the consumer, wary there could be a pullback amid signs of weakness. "The consumer seems to be running out of money," Meyers said. "With the exception, of course, being the baby boomers who are still spending like crazy." June jobs report Markets will be closed Thursday for the Fourth of July holiday. However, investors will get their next big insight into the labor market on Friday with the June jobs report. The U.S. economy is anticipated to have added 190,000 jobs in June, down from 272,000 in the prior month, according to FactSet consensus estimates. The unemployment rate is expected to hold at 4%. The monthly jobs report is only increasing in significance as investors search for insight into the consumer, U.S. Bank's Merz said. While consumers have thus far kept the economy afloat, they have now exhausted their pandemic stimulus, and are starting to show signs of weakness. That means they're increasingly relying on jobs and higher wages to contend with higher pricing pressures, according to Merz. "It comes down to jobs and income right now, for consumers," he said. On Wednesday, investors will also get the latest Federal Open Market Committee meeting minutes. Week ahead calendar All times Eastern Monday, July 1 9:45 a.m. S & P PMI Manufacturing final (June) 10 a.m. Construction Spending (May) 10 a.m. ISM Manufacturing (June) Tuesday, July 2 10 a.m. JOLTS Job Openings (May) Wednesday, July 3 8:15 a.m. ADP Employment Survey (June) 8:30 a.m. Continuing Jobless Claims (6/22) 8:30 a.m. Initial Claims (6/29) 8:30 a.m. Trade Balance (May) 9:45 a.m. PMI Composite final (June) 9:45 a.m. S & P PMI Services final (June) 10 a.m. Durable Orders (May) 10 a.m. Factory Orders (May) 10 a.m. ISM Services PMI (June) 2 p.m. FOMC Minutes Earnings: Constellation Brands Thursday, July 4 Independence Day Holiday Friday, July 5 8:30 a.m. June Jobs Report Sign up for free newsletters and get more CNBC delivered to your inbox Get this delivered to your inbox, and more info about our products and services. Terms of Service © 2024 CNBC LLC. All Rights Reserved. A Division of NBCUniversal Data is a real-time snapshot *Data is delayed at least 15 minutes. Global Business and Financial News, Stock Quotes, and Market Data and Analysis. Market Data Terms of Use and Disclaimers Data also provided by

usa

Wall Street kicks off the second half of 2024 with key jobs report in the week ahead. Stocks have a lot to live up to in the second half of the year. At the halfway point of 2024, the major benchmarks have surged to impressive heights. The S & P 500 and Nasdaq Composite are hovering around all-time highs, having rallied roughly 15% and 18%, respectively. The Dow Jones Industrial Average, which has less exposure to tech stocks, has risen nearly 4% year to date. Much of the gains for the broad market index and the tech-heavy Nasdaq can be attributed to Nvidia, which has now grown so large it has the heft to move the entire market. Since the artificial intelligence chipmaker started taking off in January 2023, the stock has soared nearly 800%. Just this month, it has made even more progress: Nvidia briefly topped Microsoft to become the most valuable public company. And, it's one of just three mega caps to have crossed the $3 trillion threshold. Deutsche Bank Research pointed out that Nvidia achieved this milestone in just 30 days, having made short work of adding a cool $1 trillion to its market cap. NVDA 1Y mountain Nvidia That exuberance has many investors concerned that the AI trade — and by extension, the markets — has exhausted itself, and they're deliberating how to position their portfolios for the balance of the year. If the choppy moves of the last week are any indication, the path forward promises to be volatile. "Equity market warning lights are starting to flash, but most investors can't hear or see them as the F.O.M.O in the markets is cranked up, and investors are just enjoying the ride," Craig Johnson, chief market technician at Piper Sandler, wrote this week. "However, the longer these warning lights flash, the more painful the repair bill (market correction) will be." On Friday, the Nasdaq Composite closed out a winning week, gaining 0.2%. The 30-stock Dow and S & P 500 each posted losses, down by 0.1%, each. Limited gains from here Stocks appear to be at a critical juncture at the midpoint of the year. In recent days, a number of Wall Street firms have hiked their year-end S & P 500 targets to catch up with this year's surprisingly strong rally. Goldman Sachs, for example, raised its year-end target to 5,600 from 5,200. Citi now anticipates the broader index can end the year at 5,600, upping its previous forecast of 5,100. Elsewhere, Evercore ISI hiked its target to 6,000, implying stocks can climb 9% in the next six months. However, few investors are as hopeful. On a median basis, strategists expect the S & P 500 will end the year at 5,500, a CNBC Pro survey shows. That level is not even 1% higher than where the broader index closed Thursday at 5,482.87. The benchmark has already topped that milestone just last week for the first time ever. Instead, more investors are fearful stocks could take an ugly turn in the summer months — a weak period for markets historically. Some worry the tech rally has overextended itself. Others are concerned the second-quarter earnings season, set to ramp up in a matter of weeks, may not live up to high expectations. "What you've done is begun to set a very, very high bar for what companies need to deliver beginning with the Q2 reporting period," Scott Chronert, U.S. equity strategist at Citi, told CNBC's "Squawk on the Street" this week. "So, essentially, what all this sets up for from our perspective is that we have to be prepared for a pullback as we go through the summer months into the fall," Chronert added. "And then set up, we think, for a better opportunity into the end of the year." Elsewhere, Piper Sandler's Johnson expects the S & P 500 will tumble 10% this summer, saying investors are failing to heed red flags including poor market breadth and waning momentum. In his model portfolio, he's reducing equity exposure to 80% from 90%, and allocating the balance to cash. He is overweight on industrials. Still, others remain relatively optimistic on the path forward for equities. Bill Merz, head of capital markets research at U.S. Bank Wealth Management, noted that a "reasonably benign" growth environment, easing inflation, and the start of rate cuts across the globe, are reasons to be constructive on the stock outlook. "You put all those things together, we think it's an environment that's conducive to leaning into risk, to do it in a modest fashion," Merz said. He's expecting the rally could broaden out to large-cap stocks outside the mega caps. Jamie Meyers at Laffer Tengler said he's still bullish on technology, seeing those companies as the "new defensive names." However, he's avoiding stocks tied to the consumer, wary there could be a pullback amid signs of weakness. "The consumer seems to be running out of money," Meyers said. "With the exception, of course, being the baby boomers who are still spending like crazy." June jobs report Markets will be closed Thursday for the Fourth of July holiday. However, investors will get their next big insight into the labor market on Friday with the June jobs report. The U.S. economy is anticipated to have added 190,000 jobs in June, down from 272,000 in the prior month, according to FactSet consensus estimates. The unemployment rate is expected to hold at 4%. The monthly jobs report is only increasing in significance as investors search for insight into the consumer, U.S. Bank's Merz said. While consumers have thus far kept the economy afloat, they have now exhausted their pandemic stimulus, and are starting to show signs of weakness. That means they're increasingly relying on jobs and higher wages to contend with higher pricing pressures, according to Merz. "It comes down to jobs and income right now, for consumers," he said. On Wednesday, investors will also get the latest Federal Open Market Committee meeting minutes. Week ahead calendar All times Eastern Monday, July 1 9:45 a.m. S & P PMI Manufacturing final (June) 10 a.m. Construction Spending (May) 10 a.m. ISM Manufacturing (June) Tuesday, July 2 10 a.m. JOLTS Job Openings (May) Wednesday, July 3 8:15 a.m. ADP Employment Survey (June) 8:30 a.m. Continuing Jobless Claims (6/22) 8:30 a.m. Initial Claims (6/29) 8:30 a.m. Trade Balance (May) 9:45 a.m. PMI Composite final (June) 9:45 a.m. S & P PMI Services final (June) 10 a.m. Durable Orders (May) 10 a.m. Factory Orders (May) 10 a.m. ISM Services PMI (June) 2 p.m. FOMC Minutes Earnings: Constellation Brands Thursday, July 4 Independence Day Holiday Friday, July 5 8:30 a.m. June Jobs Report Sign up for free newsletters and get more CNBC delivered to your inbox Get this delivered to your inbox, and more info about our products and services. Terms of Service © 2024 CNBC LLC. All Rights Reserved. A Division of NBCUniversal Data is a real-time snapshot *Data is delayed at least 15 minutes. Global Business and Financial News, Stock Quotes, and Market Data and Analysis. Market Data Terms of Use and Disclaimers Data also provided by

Closing prices for crude oil, gold and other commodities

Benchmark U.S. crude oil for August delivery rose $1.07 to $83.88 per barrel Wednesday. Brent crude for September delivery rose $1.10 to $87.34 per barrel. Wholesale gasoline for August delivery rose 3 cents to $2.60 a gallon. August heating oil was unchanged at $2.63 a gallon. August natural gas fell 2 cents to $2.42 per 1,000 cubic feet. Gold for August delivery rose $36 to $2,369.40 per ounce. Silver for September delivery rose $1.18 to $30.84 per ounce, and September copper rose 11 cents $4.53 per pound. The dollar rose to 161.68 yen from 161.50 Japanese yen. The euro rose to $1.0780 from $1.0742.

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Closing prices for crude oil, gold and other commodities. Benchmark U.S. crude oil for August delivery rose $1.07 to $83.88 per barrel Wednesday. Brent crude for September delivery rose $1.10 to $87.34 per barrel. Wholesale gasoline for August delivery rose 3 cents to $2.60 a gallon. August heating oil was unchanged at $2.63 a gallon. August natural gas fell 2 cents to $2.42 per 1,000 cubic feet. Gold for August delivery rose $36 to $2,369.40 per ounce. Silver for September delivery rose $1.18 to $30.84 per ounce, and September copper rose 11 cents $4.53 per pound. The dollar rose to 161.68 yen from 161.50 Japanese yen. The euro rose to $1.0780 from $1.0742.

A pacemaker for the brain helped a woman with crippling depression. It may soon be available widely

This brain scan image provided by Mount Sinai in 2024 shows the targeted sites for electrodes implanted in patient Emily Hollenbeck for use with deep brain stimulation therapy. (Mount Sinai via AP) NEW YORK - Emily Hollenbeck lived with a deep, recurring depression she likened to a black hole, where gravity felt so strong and her limbs so heavy she could barely move. She knew the illness could kill her. Both of her parents had taken their lives. The information you need to know, sent directly to you: Download the CTV News App Researchers say the treatment —- called deep brain stimulation, or DBS — could eventually help many of the nearly 3 million Americans like her with depression that resists other treatments. It's approved for conditions such as Parkinson's disease and epilepsy, and many doctors and patients hope it will become more widely available for depression soon. The treatment gives patients targeted electrical impulses, much like a pacemaker for the brain. A growing body of recent research is promising, with more underway — although two large studies that showed no advantage to using DBS for depression temporarily halted progress, and some scientists continue to raise concerns. Meanwhile, the Food and Drug Administration has agreed to speed up its review of Abbott Laboratories' request to use its DBS devices for treatment-resistant depression. "At first I was blown away because the concept of it seems so intense. Like, it's brain surgery. You have wires embedded in your brain," said Hollenbeck, who is part of ongoing research at Mount Sinai West. "But I also felt like at that point I tried everything, and I was desperate for an answer." "Nothing else was working" Hollenbeck suffered from depression symptoms as a child growing up in poverty and occasional homelessness. But her first major bout happened in college, after her father's suicide in 2009. Another hit during a Teach for America stint, leaving her almost immobilized and worried she'd lose her classroom job and sink into poverty again. She landed in the hospital. "I ended up having sort of an on-and-off pattern," she said. After responding to medication for a while, she'd relapse. She managed to earn a doctorate in psychology, even after losing her mom in her last year of grad school. But the black hole always returned to pull her in. At times, she said, she thought about ending her life. She said she'd exhausted all options, including electroconvulsive therapy, when a doctor told her about DBS three years ago. "Nothing else was working," she said. She became one of only a few hundred treated with DBS for depression. Top health headlines, all in one place Hollenbeck had the brain surgery while sedated but awake. Dr. Brian Kopell, who directs Mount Sinai's Center for Neuromodulation, placed thin metal electrodes in a region of her brain called the subcallosal cingulate cortex, which regulates emotional behaviour and is involved in feelings of sadness. The electrodes are connected by an internal wire to a device placed under the skin in her chest, which controls the amount of electrical stimulation and delivers constant low-voltage pulses. Hollenbeck calls it "continuous Prozac." Doctors say the stimulation helps because electricity speaks the brain's language. Neurons communicate using electrical and chemical signals. In normal brains, Kopell said, electrical activity reverberates unimpeded in all areas, in a sort of dance. In depression, the dancers get stuck within the brain's emotional circuitry. DBS seems to "unstick the circuit," he said, allowing the brain to do what it normally would. Hollenbeck said the effect was almost immediate. "The first day after surgery, she started feeling a lifting of that negative mood, of the heaviness," said her psychiatrist, Dr. Martijn Figee. "I remember her telling me that she was able to enjoy Vietnamese takeout for the first time in years and really taste the food. She started to decorate her home, which had been completely empty since she moved to New York." For Hollenbeck, the most profound change was finding pleasure in music again. "When I was depressed, I couldn't listen to music. It sounded and felt like I was listening to radio static," she said. "Then on a sunny day in the summer, I was walking down the street listening to a song. I just felt this buoyancy, this, 'Oh, I want to walk more, I want to go and do things!' And I realized I'm getting better." She only wishes the therapy had been there for her parents. The treatment's history The road to this treatment stretches back two decades, when neurologist Dr. Helen Mayberg led promising early research. But setbacks followed. Large studies launched more than a dozen years ago showed no significant difference in response rates for treated and untreated groups. Dr. Katherine Scangos, a psychiatrist at the University of California, San Francisco, also researching DBS and depression, cited a couple of reasons: The treatment wasn't personalized, and researchers looked at outcomes over a matter of weeks. Some later research showed depression patients had stable, long-term relief from DBS when observed over years. Overall, across different brain targets, DBS for depression is associated with average response rates of 60%, one 2022 study said. Treatments being tested by various teams are much more tailored to individuals today. Mount Sinai's team is one of the most prominent researching DBS for depression in the U.S. There, a neuroimaging expert uses brain images to locate the exact spot for Kopell to place electrodes. "We have a template, a blueprint of exactly where we're going to go," said Mayberg, a pioneer in DBS research and founding director of The Nash Family Center for Advanced Circuit Therapeutics at Mount Sinai. "Everybody's brain is a little different, just like people's eyes are a little further apart or a nose is a little bigger or smaller." Follow the CTV News channel on WhatsApp Other research teams also tailor treatment to patients, although their methods are slightly different. Scangos and her colleagues are studying various targets in the brain and delivering stimulation only when needed for severe symptoms. She said the best therapy may end up being a combination of approaches. As teams keep working, Abbott is launching a big clinical trial this year, ahead of a potential FDA decision. "The field is advancing quite quickly," Scangos said. "I'm hoping we will have approval within a short time." But some doctors are skeptical, pointing to potential complications such as bleeding, stroke or infection after surgery. Dr. Stanley Caroff, an emeritus professor of psychiatry at the University of Pennsylvania, said scientists still don't know the exact pathways or mechanisms in the brain that produce depression, which is why it's hard to pick a site to stimulate. It's also tough to select the right patients for DBS, he said, and approved, successful treatments for depression are available. "I believe from a psychiatric point of view, the science is not there," he said of DBS for depression. Moving forward Hollenbeck acknowledges DBS hasn't been a cure-all; she still takes medicines for depression and needs ongoing care. She recently visited Mayberg in her office and discussed recovery. "It's not about being happy all the time," the doctor told her. "It's about making progress." That's what researchers are studying now — how to track progress. Recent research by Mayberg and others in the journal Nature showed it's possible to provide a "readout" of how someone is doing at any given time. Analyzing the brain activity of DBS patients, researchers found a unique pattern that reflects the recovery process. This gives them an objective way to observe how people get better and distinguish between impending depression and typical mood fluctuations. Scientists are confirming those findings using newer DBS devices in a group of patients that includes Hollenbeck. She and other participants do their part largely at home. She gives researchers regular brain recordings by logging onto a tablet, putting a remote above the pacemaker-like device in her chest and sending the data. She answers questions that pop up about how she feels. Then she records a video that will be analyzed for things such as facial expression and speech. Occasionally, she goes into Mount Sinai's "Q-Lab," an immersive environment where scientists do quantitative research collecting all sorts of data, including how she moves in a virtual forest or makes circles in the air with her arms. Like many other patients, she moves her arms faster now that she's doing better. Data from recordings and visits are combined with other information, such as life events, to chart how she's doing. This helps guide doctors' decisions, such as whether to increase her dose of electricity – which they did once. On a recent morning, Hollenbeck moved her collar and brushed her hair aside to reveal scars on her chest and head from her DBS surgery. To her, they're signs of how far she's come. She makes her way around the city, taking walks in the park and going to libraries, which were a refuge in childhood. She no longer worries that normal life challenges will trigger a crushing depression. "The stress is pretty extreme at times, but I'm able to see and remember, even on a bodily level, that I'm going to be OK," she said. B.C. woman wins $15K in damages for 'serious pain and suffering' caused by dentist 2 men are charged with murder in the deadly shooting at Kansas City's Super Bowl celebration Donald Trump again compares his criminal indictments to imprisonment and death of Putin's top rival Donald Trump doubled down Tuesday on comparing his criminal indictments to the circumstances of Russian dissident Alexei Navalny, the top political opponent of Russia's autocratic leader Vladimir Putin who died in a remote arctic prison after being jailed by the Kremlin leader. Food deliveries into northern Gaza are halted because of the war's chaos, increasing famine risk Loblaw spending more than $2B to build more than 40 new stores, renovate hundreds

health

A pacemaker for the brain helped a woman with crippling depression. It may soon be available widely. This brain scan image provided by Mount Sinai in 2024 shows the targeted sites for electrodes implanted in patient Emily Hollenbeck for use with deep brain stimulation therapy. (Mount Sinai via AP) NEW YORK - Emily Hollenbeck lived with a deep, recurring depression she likened to a black hole, where gravity felt so strong and her limbs so heavy she could barely move. She knew the illness could kill her. Both of her parents had taken their lives. The information you need to know, sent directly to you: Download the CTV News App Researchers say the treatment —- called deep brain stimulation, or DBS — could eventually help many of the nearly 3 million Americans like her with depression that resists other treatments. It's approved for conditions such as Parkinson's disease and epilepsy, and many doctors and patients hope it will become more widely available for depression soon. The treatment gives patients targeted electrical impulses, much like a pacemaker for the brain. A growing body of recent research is promising, with more underway — although two large studies that showed no advantage to using DBS for depression temporarily halted progress, and some scientists continue to raise concerns. Meanwhile, the Food and Drug Administration has agreed to speed up its review of Abbott Laboratories' request to use its DBS devices for treatment-resistant depression. "At first I was blown away because the concept of it seems so intense. Like, it's brain surgery. You have wires embedded in your brain," said Hollenbeck, who is part of ongoing research at Mount Sinai West. "But I also felt like at that point I tried everything, and I was desperate for an answer." "Nothing else was working" Hollenbeck suffered from depression symptoms as a child growing up in poverty and occasional homelessness. But her first major bout happened in college, after her father's suicide in 2009. Another hit during a Teach for America stint, leaving her almost immobilized and worried she'd lose her classroom job and sink into poverty again. She landed in the hospital. "I ended up having sort of an on-and-off pattern," she said. After responding to medication for a while, she'd relapse. She managed to earn a doctorate in psychology, even after losing her mom in her last year of grad school. But the black hole always returned to pull her in. At times, she said, she thought about ending her life. She said she'd exhausted all options, including electroconvulsive therapy, when a doctor told her about DBS three years ago. "Nothing else was working," she said. She became one of only a few hundred treated with DBS for depression. Top health headlines, all in one place Hollenbeck had the brain surgery while sedated but awake. Dr. Brian Kopell, who directs Mount Sinai's Center for Neuromodulation, placed thin metal electrodes in a region of her brain called the subcallosal cingulate cortex, which regulates emotional behaviour and is involved in feelings of sadness. The electrodes are connected by an internal wire to a device placed under the skin in her chest, which controls the amount of electrical stimulation and delivers constant low-voltage pulses. Hollenbeck calls it "continuous Prozac." Doctors say the stimulation helps because electricity speaks the brain's language. Neurons communicate using electrical and chemical signals. In normal brains, Kopell said, electrical activity reverberates unimpeded in all areas, in a sort of dance. In depression, the dancers get stuck within the brain's emotional circuitry. DBS seems to "unstick the circuit," he said, allowing the brain to do what it normally would. Hollenbeck said the effect was almost immediate. "The first day after surgery, she started feeling a lifting of that negative mood, of the heaviness," said her psychiatrist, Dr. Martijn Figee. "I remember her telling me that she was able to enjoy Vietnamese takeout for the first time in years and really taste the food. She started to decorate her home, which had been completely empty since she moved to New York." For Hollenbeck, the most profound change was finding pleasure in music again. "When I was depressed, I couldn't listen to music. It sounded and felt like I was listening to radio static," she said. "Then on a sunny day in the summer, I was walking down the street listening to a song. I just felt this buoyancy, this, 'Oh, I want to walk more, I want to go and do things!' And I realized I'm getting better." She only wishes the therapy had been there for her parents. The treatment's history The road to this treatment stretches back two decades, when neurologist Dr. Helen Mayberg led promising early research. But setbacks followed. Large studies launched more than a dozen years ago showed no significant difference in response rates for treated and untreated groups. Dr. Katherine Scangos, a psychiatrist at the University of California, San Francisco, also researching DBS and depression, cited a couple of reasons: The treatment wasn't personalized, and researchers looked at outcomes over a matter of weeks. Some later research showed depression patients had stable, long-term relief from DBS when observed over years. Overall, across different brain targets, DBS for depression is associated with average response rates of 60%, one 2022 study said. Treatments being tested by various teams are much more tailored to individuals today. Mount Sinai's team is one of the most prominent researching DBS for depression in the U.S. There, a neuroimaging expert uses brain images to locate the exact spot for Kopell to place electrodes. "We have a template, a blueprint of exactly where we're going to go," said Mayberg, a pioneer in DBS research and founding director of The Nash Family Center for Advanced Circuit Therapeutics at Mount Sinai. "Everybody's brain is a little different, just like people's eyes are a little further apart or a nose is a little bigger or smaller." Follow the CTV News channel on WhatsApp Other research teams also tailor treatment to patients, although their methods are slightly different. Scangos and her colleagues are studying various targets in the brain and delivering stimulation only when needed for severe symptoms. She said the best therapy may end up being a combination of approaches. As teams keep working, Abbott is launching a big clinical trial this year, ahead of a potential FDA decision. "The field is advancing quite quickly," Scangos said. "I'm hoping we will have approval within a short time." But some doctors are skeptical, pointing to potential complications such as bleeding, stroke or infection after surgery. Dr. Stanley Caroff, an emeritus professor of psychiatry at the University of Pennsylvania, said scientists still don't know the exact pathways or mechanisms in the brain that produce depression, which is why it's hard to pick a site to stimulate. It's also tough to select the right patients for DBS, he said, and approved, successful treatments for depression are available. "I believe from a psychiatric point of view, the science is not there," he said of DBS for depression. Moving forward Hollenbeck acknowledges DBS hasn't been a cure-all; she still takes medicines for depression and needs ongoing care. She recently visited Mayberg in her office and discussed recovery. "It's not about being happy all the time," the doctor told her. "It's about making progress." That's what researchers are studying now — how to track progress. Recent research by Mayberg and others in the journal Nature showed it's possible to provide a "readout" of how someone is doing at any given time. Analyzing the brain activity of DBS patients, researchers found a unique pattern that reflects the recovery process. This gives them an objective way to observe how people get better and distinguish between impending depression and typical mood fluctuations. Scientists are confirming those findings using newer DBS devices in a group of patients that includes Hollenbeck. She and other participants do their part largely at home. She gives researchers regular brain recordings by logging onto a tablet, putting a remote above the pacemaker-like device in her chest and sending the data. She answers questions that pop up about how she feels. Then she records a video that will be analyzed for things such as facial expression and speech. Occasionally, she goes into Mount Sinai's "Q-Lab," an immersive environment where scientists do quantitative research collecting all sorts of data, including how she moves in a virtual forest or makes circles in the air with her arms. Like many other patients, she moves her arms faster now that she's doing better. Data from recordings and visits are combined with other information, such as life events, to chart how she's doing. This helps guide doctors' decisions, such as whether to increase her dose of electricity – which they did once. On a recent morning, Hollenbeck moved her collar and brushed her hair aside to reveal scars on her chest and head from her DBS surgery. To her, they're signs of how far she's come. She makes her way around the city, taking walks in the park and going to libraries, which were a refuge in childhood. She no longer worries that normal life challenges will trigger a crushing depression. "The stress is pretty extreme at times, but I'm able to see and remember, even on a bodily level, that I'm going to be OK," she said. B.C. woman wins $15K in damages for 'serious pain and suffering' caused by dentist 2 men are charged with murder in the deadly shooting at Kansas City's Super Bowl celebration Donald Trump again compares his criminal indictments to imprisonment and death of Putin's top rival Donald Trump doubled down Tuesday on comparing his criminal indictments to the circumstances of Russian dissident Alexei Navalny, the top political opponent of Russia's autocratic leader Vladimir Putin who died in a remote arctic prison after being jailed by the Kremlin leader. Food deliveries into northern Gaza are halted because of the war's chaos, increasing famine risk Loblaw spending more than $2B to build more than 40 new stores, renovate hundreds

REI Co-op Cycles CTY e2.1 Review: Affordable and Dependable

Built for urban environments. Comfortable commute essentials—a low-step frame, upright positioning, front suspension fork, removable battery, front headlight, and sharp, tingly bell. REI will assemble for you and offers free adjustments. Only 60 Newton meters of torque on a 250-watt hub motor. Not a lot of oomph, even in Turbo mode. No fenders, which is a major no-no for a commuter bike. Screen is frustratingly hard to read. I fell in love with the REI CTY e2.1 the minute I saw its hot lava frame come out of the box in my garage. The racy red color and an easy-to-step-through frame screamed, "Ride me now!" There were no barriers to entry, like an app that I had to download. All I needed to do was turn the bike on and ride. (Note: If you are uncomfortable assembling the bike and live near an REI, the store will build it and also offer one year of free adjustments.) So I did. I pedaled across the city on a scenic drive, through busy intersections, down a few steep residential streets to a cycling path that led to a rocky beach on the shoreline of Lake Superior. The bike's upright geometry, which had me less hunched over than other e-bikes I've tested, made the world pop. I noticed the smell of lilacs on the breeze and the brilliant hues of green after a soggy spring, details I don't always catch when I'm crouched over handlebars. At the beach, I met my partner who was nice and brought a picnic. We ate cheese and crackers and sipped rosé until the sun dipped low over the hills of the city. I purposely stayed out until the mosquitoes started buzzing so I could race the sun and my boyfriend in his car back to our house. It may have partially been the glass of rosé, or the beauty of an early summer evening, but the 22-mile round trip ride on the CTY e2.1 made a Friday night especially fun. About Town The CTY e2.1 is the upgrade to the entry-level CTY e1.1 ($1,299). I think it's worth the extra money, especially considering that it's still well below $2,000 and also goes on sale quite often. The battery capacity of the CTY e2.1 is more than adequate. On that day, after a mile-long, 1,000-foot climb back up the steep hill to my house, I had 39 percent of battery power left to spare, after toggling through all four levels of assistance throughout an ambling, four-hour tour of the city. As an urban commuter, the CTY e2.1 is a nicely packaged machine for the price. It is Photograph: Stephanie Pearson A front fork dampens the road chatter and hydraulic disc brakes make stopping more precise. The Schwalbe Big Ben 2-inch-wide tires have a hefty tread pattern for an urban bike, offering nice traction. The tire's reinforced sidewalls are also reflective to make you more visible at night. Added amenities include comfy gel grips and a padded foam saddle, a cockpit with riser bars and a bright headlight, and a hefty kickstand for when you eventually need to park. No fenders, though, which is shocking as it got quite sloppy on a ride after a storm. Nevertheless, the bike is no doubt fun and navigates all manner of city streets well—from smooth, paved paths to bumpy, potholed roads. It's not a bike to take on gravel roads or singletrack. Affordable and Adequate Photograph: Stephanie Pearson Also, the 250-watt hub motor is pretty standard-issue on many e-bikes, but this one only has 60 newton meters of torque as opposed to at least 80 on other e-bike motors. The lack of torque, which is the acceleration that keeps your bike moving forward especially up hills, makes the CTY e2.1 a wimpy climber. So, this may not be the best option in a city like San Francisco (or Duluth, where I live). Finally, I love that the bike is minimalist in its e-ness, meaning it doesn't require an accompanying app to ride. But the screen is about the size of a wristwatch face. And while it provides plenty of basic data, like mileage, miles per hour, and power mode, the push buttons are so close together and the screen is so hard to read that it's almost impossible to see while riding—a factor that is not only frustrating, but can also be dangerous. Still, if all you need is an extra push on your multi-mile work commute, the CTY e2.1 is a good option—especially in the red color.

tech

REI Co-op Cycles CTY e2.1 Review: Affordable and Dependable. Built for urban environments. Comfortable commute essentials—a low-step frame, upright positioning, front suspension fork, removable battery, front headlight, and sharp, tingly bell. REI will assemble for you and offers free adjustments. Only 60 Newton meters of torque on a 250-watt hub motor. Not a lot of oomph, even in Turbo mode. No fenders, which is a major no-no for a commuter bike. Screen is frustratingly hard to read. I fell in love with the REI CTY e2.1 the minute I saw its hot lava frame come out of the box in my garage. The racy red color and an easy-to-step-through frame screamed, "Ride me now!" There were no barriers to entry, like an app that I had to download. All I needed to do was turn the bike on and ride. (Note: If you are uncomfortable assembling the bike and live near an REI, the store will build it and also offer one year of free adjustments.) So I did. I pedaled across the city on a scenic drive, through busy intersections, down a few steep residential streets to a cycling path that led to a rocky beach on the shoreline of Lake Superior. The bike's upright geometry, which had me less hunched over than other e-bikes I've tested, made the world pop. I noticed the smell of lilacs on the breeze and the brilliant hues of green after a soggy spring, details I don't always catch when I'm crouched over handlebars. At the beach, I met my partner who was nice and brought a picnic. We ate cheese and crackers and sipped rosé until the sun dipped low over the hills of the city. I purposely stayed out until the mosquitoes started buzzing so I could race the sun and my boyfriend in his car back to our house. It may have partially been the glass of rosé, or the beauty of an early summer evening, but the 22-mile round trip ride on the CTY e2.1 made a Friday night especially fun. About Town The CTY e2.1 is the upgrade to the entry-level CTY e1.1 ($1,299). I think it's worth the extra money, especially considering that it's still well below $2,000 and also goes on sale quite often. The battery capacity of the CTY e2.1 is more than adequate. On that day, after a mile-long, 1,000-foot climb back up the steep hill to my house, I had 39 percent of battery power left to spare, after toggling through all four levels of assistance throughout an ambling, four-hour tour of the city. As an urban commuter, the CTY e2.1 is a nicely packaged machine for the price. It is Photograph: Stephanie Pearson A front fork dampens the road chatter and hydraulic disc brakes make stopping more precise. The Schwalbe Big Ben 2-inch-wide tires have a hefty tread pattern for an urban bike, offering nice traction. The tire's reinforced sidewalls are also reflective to make you more visible at night. Added amenities include comfy gel grips and a padded foam saddle, a cockpit with riser bars and a bright headlight, and a hefty kickstand for when you eventually need to park. No fenders, though, which is shocking as it got quite sloppy on a ride after a storm. Nevertheless, the bike is no doubt fun and navigates all manner of city streets well—from smooth, paved paths to bumpy, potholed roads. It's not a bike to take on gravel roads or singletrack. Affordable and Adequate Photograph: Stephanie Pearson Also, the 250-watt hub motor is pretty standard-issue on many e-bikes, but this one only has 60 newton meters of torque as opposed to at least 80 on other e-bike motors. The lack of torque, which is the acceleration that keeps your bike moving forward especially up hills, makes the CTY e2.1 a wimpy climber. So, this may not be the best option in a city like San Francisco (or Duluth, where I live). Finally, I love that the bike is minimalist in its e-ness, meaning it doesn't require an accompanying app to ride. But the screen is about the size of a wristwatch face. And while it provides plenty of basic data, like mileage, miles per hour, and power mode, the push buttons are so close together and the screen is so hard to read that it's almost impossible to see while riding—a factor that is not only frustrating, but can also be dangerous. Still, if all you need is an extra push on your multi-mile work commute, the CTY e2.1 is a good option—especially in the red color.

Leonardo Lays Out Formula For Growth.

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Leonardo Lays Out Formula For Growth..

How to make the most of under- or overripe strawberries – recipe | Waste not

R oasting strawberries intensifies their flavour and sweetness, saving you from an unappetising bowl of over- or underripe fruit. When roasted very simply and without any additional ingredients, the strawberry flavour alone is quite remarkable. However, you can include a sweetener and some aromatics, such as cinnamon, citrus zest and vanilla, to create a more nuanced depth of flavour. Serve warm or cold with ice-cream, porridge or pancakes, or get inventive and serve the fruit in a savoury dish, tossed with balsamic, basil, burrata and black pepper – a wicked flavour combination. To save energy, consider roasting the strawberries when the oven is already hot, or alongside other ingredients that won't impart an undesirable flavour, such as a dessert or vegetables (other than alliums, of course). Roast strawberries Simply roasting them well spaced on a baking tray for 20-30 minutes creates a magical transformation, intensifying their flavour to new heights. Serve hot or cold with your favourite dessert, on top of bircher muesli, or use to adorn an incredible pavlova (one of my go-to dinner party desserts). Alternatively, for one of my favourite savoury dishes, toss them with burrata, basil, balsamic and black pepper to taste (as in the image here). 300g or more strawberries Optional other ingredients per punnet of strawberries: 2 tbsp sweetener ( such as maple syrup, honey or unrefined sugar) ¼ tsp warm spices ( cinnamon, allspice or vanilla) 3 pieces of citrus zest (lemon, lime or orange), peeled from the fruit without the bitter white pith 3 sprigs herbs ( basil, thyme or sage) 3cm piece vanilla pod, scored open with the beans scraped from the pod (include both the beans and empty pod), or 1/2 tsp vanilla extract Give the strawberries a rinse under the tap and leave them to dry. Carefully remove the green stalks without discarding the hard top (this will sweeten through the roasting process), then cut the strawberries in half lengthwise and put them on a baking tray. Add any optional ingredients. Turn everything together, then spread out the strawberries so they have a little space around them to roast evenly.

lifestyle

How to make the most of under- or overripe strawberries – recipe | Waste not. R oasting strawberries intensifies their flavour and sweetness, saving you from an unappetising bowl of over- or underripe fruit. When roasted very simply and without any additional ingredients, the strawberry flavour alone is quite remarkable. However, you can include a sweetener and some aromatics, such as cinnamon, citrus zest and vanilla, to create a more nuanced depth of flavour. Serve warm or cold with ice-cream, porridge or pancakes, or get inventive and serve the fruit in a savoury dish, tossed with balsamic, basil, burrata and black pepper – a wicked flavour combination. To save energy, consider roasting the strawberries when the oven is already hot, or alongside other ingredients that won't impart an undesirable flavour, such as a dessert or vegetables (other than alliums, of course). Roast strawberries Simply roasting them well spaced on a baking tray for 20-30 minutes creates a magical transformation, intensifying their flavour to new heights. Serve hot or cold with your favourite dessert, on top of bircher muesli, or use to adorn an incredible pavlova (one of my go-to dinner party desserts). Alternatively, for one of my favourite savoury dishes, toss them with burrata, basil, balsamic and black pepper to taste (as in the image here). 300g or more strawberries Optional other ingredients per punnet of strawberries: 2 tbsp sweetener ( such as maple syrup, honey or unrefined sugar) ¼ tsp warm spices ( cinnamon, allspice or vanilla) 3 pieces of citrus zest (lemon, lime or orange), peeled from the fruit without the bitter white pith 3 sprigs herbs ( basil, thyme or sage) 3cm piece vanilla pod, scored open with the beans scraped from the pod (include both the beans and empty pod), or 1/2 tsp vanilla extract Give the strawberries a rinse under the tap and leave them to dry. Carefully remove the green stalks without discarding the hard top (this will sweeten through the roasting process), then cut the strawberries in half lengthwise and put them on a baking tray. Add any optional ingredients. Turn everything together, then spread out the strawberries so they have a little space around them to roast evenly.

Let Slip the Robot Dogs of War

Photograph: Tech. Sgt. Cory D. Payne/U.S. Air Force/DVIDS In video distributed by the state-run news agency CCTV, People's Liberation Army personnel are shown operating on a testing range alongside a four-legged robot with what appears to be a variant of the standard-issue 5.8 x 42-mm QBZ-95 assault rifle mounted on it as part of China's recent Golden Dragon 24 joint military exercises with Cambodia in the Gulf of Thailand. In one scenario, Chinese soldiers stand on either side of a doorway while the robot dog enters the building ahead of them; in another, the robot fires off a burst of bullets as it advances on a target. "It can serve as a new member in our urban combat operations, replacing our members to conduct reconnaissance and identify enemy [sic] and strike the target during our training," one Chinese soldier shown operating the robot told CCTV. This isn't the first time the Chinese military-industrial complex has shown off an armed robot dog. In October 2022, Chinese defense company Kestrel Defense published a video showing an unmanned aerial vehicle air-dropping a quadrupedal ground vehicle affixed with a 5.8 x 42-mm QBB-97 light machine gun on a roof during an urban warfare experiment. The company had previously released footage of robot dogs outfitted with combat systems that included everything from smoke grenades to loitering munitions. And as recently as this March, Chinese researchers claimed that tests involving robot dogs outfitted with an unidentified 7.62-mm rifle (likely a variant of the Type 56 assault rifle that's based on the ubiquitous Soviet-made AK-47) yielded marksmanship that rivaled trained Chinese sharpshooters, according to the South China Morning Post. China's demonstration clearly rankled international observers, prompting at least one American lawmaker to call on the US Defense Department for a report on "rifle-toting robot dogs" and their potential national security implications. But if the Chinese military is pioneering the weaponization of robot dogs, then the United States military isn't far behind. In the past year, the Pentagon has experimented with outfitting quadrupedal ground robots with its standard-issue 5.56 x 45-mm M4A1 carbine, the 6.8-mm XM7 rifle that the US Army is in the process of adopting under its Next Generation Squad Weapon program, and even the M72 Light Anti-Tank Weapon that's been in service with American troops since the Vietnam War. Just weeks before CCTV published its footage of armed robot dogs in action, Marine Corps Special Operations Command (MARSOC) revealed that it was experimenting with adding mounted gun systems based on defense contractor Onyx's artificial intelligence-enabled SENTRY remote weapons system to its own mechanized canines. American defense officials have been quick to emphasize that the development of weaponized robot dogs is, at this stage, purely experimental, intended to help military planners " "Why are we acting surprised by this? It was so obviously coming," A human-machine integration test using the Ghost Robotic Dog and the US Army Small Multipurpose Equipment Transport at Fort Irwin, California, March 15, 2024. Photograph: Spc. Samarion Hicks/U.S. Army/DVIDS Man's Best Friend Quadrupedal robots aren't a new development in the annals of military technology. In 2005, robotics leader Boston Dynamics unveiled BigDog, a four-legged mechanical "pack mule" that was intended to haul weapons and supplies for US troops over terrain considered unwelcoming to traditional wheeled or tracked ground vehicles. Funded by the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency and adopted as the Legged Squad Support System by the Marine Corps Warfighting Laboratory, BigDog was eventually deemed too loud for practical use and discontinued after a decade and more than $40 million invested in the much-hyped project. Despite BigDog's shortcomings, the underlying research behind the system eventually gave rise to Spot, a smaller and quieter "robot dog" that Boston Dynamics debuted in 2015. While too small to lug around gear and weapons, the system immediately had clear military applications for everything from base perimeter security to remote site inspection. In the years since its introduction, Spot has proven the platform-defining vision of quadrupedal ground robots, inspiring both Defense Visual Information Distribution Service (DVIDS), the Pentagon's media distribution hub, the adoption of robot dogs across the US military didn't "These dogs will be an extra set of eyes and ears while computing large amounts of data at strategic locations throughout Tyndall Air Force Base," Major Jordan Criss, 325th Security Forces Squadron commander, said of the systems during initial testing in late 2020. "They will be a huge enhancement for our defenders and allow flexibility in the posting and response of our personnel." In the intervening years, robot dogs have become an increasingly common fixture across the US military, beyond patrolling sensitive installations. In July 2023, Minot Air Force Base in North Dakota introduced robot dogs to enable airmen to respond to chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear threats "without risking the safety of themselves or others." In August, Patrick Space Force Base in Florida added robot dogs to its perimeter security rotation for an "additional detection and alert capability." That same month, the Naval Surface Warfare Center, Philadelphia Division, announced the employment of robot dogs to "build 3-D ship models aboard the 'mothballed' fleet of decommissioned ships at the Philadelphia Navy Yard," while the Coast Guard unveiled four-legged "droid" dogs in Hawaii to "combat weapons of mass destruction." Finally, in November, airmen at Barksdale Air Force Base in Louisiana debuted robot dogs for explosive ordnance disposal. Despite these practical noncombat applications, some robotics companies have had an eye on weaponization. In October 2021, Ghost Robotics showed off a so-called "Special Purpose Unmanned Rifle," or SPUR, quadrupedal robot with an 6.5-mm Creedmoor assault rifle developed by SWORD International mounted on its back during an annual Army weapons expo in Washington, DC, in the first public example of a robot dog armed with a firearm. The following year, a video of a robot dog outfitted with a PP-19 Vityaz submachine gun by Russian entrepreneur Alexander Atamov quickly went viral on YouTube and Twitter. By 2023, an American company had debuted a robot dog with a flamethrower strapped to its back, albeit not explicitly for military use (no longer fielded to US soldiers, using flamethrowers against enemy combatants Such anxiety over armed robot dogs even prompted six leading robotics companies—led by Spot pioneer Boston Dynamics—to release a letter in October 2022 promising to prohibit military customers from weaponizing their robots for combat purposes. (SPUR creator SWORD International was not a signatory.) "We believe that adding weapons to robots that are remotely or autonomously operated, widely available to the public, and capable of navigating to previously inaccessible locations where people live and work, raises new risks of harm and serious ethical issues," the companies wrote. "Weaponized applications of these newly-capable robots will also harm public trust in the technology in ways that damage the tremendous benefits they will bring to society." To be fair, both the US military and American robotics companies have urged caution when it comes to developing autonomous weapons systems. Upon unveiling the SPUR, late Ghost Robotics CEO Jiren Parikh emphasized that the armed robot always has an operator in the loop, with no AI or autonomy-related systems that could potentially falter under extreme circumstances. And while the SENTRY turret that MARSOC is reportedly testing affixed to a pair of robot dogs does use AI to scan for and identify targets, the company also emphasized that the decision to engage with the weapon system is completely reliant on a human operator. While the idea of armed robot dogs with minds of their own running amok may be a recent addition to Americans' dystopian imagination, the US military-industrial complex Ghost Robotics Quadruped Unmanned Ground Vehicles (Q-UGV) pose for a photo at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, Florida, in July 2022. Photograph: Senior Airman Samuel Becker/U.S. Space Force/DVIDS Despite understandable concerns over their growing role in military affairs, anxiety over packs of armed robot dogs operating on a future battlefield may be premature, according to "I had a chance to operate [a robot dog] at an AI conference in the Netherlands last year, and it doesn't have the same dexterity you would expect from a quadruped," Bendett tells WIRED. "It's not quite as dexterous, as flexible, or as fast in how it operates. Apart from videos of them doing push-ups and shit like that, it doesn't run, it can maybe jog, but it can't even make a turn quite as fast as a tracked or wheeled unmanned ground vehicle." "The battlefield is full of man-made and natural countermeasures," he adds. "That doesn't mean the US and China won't try it out, but it'll just be in a more limited capacity." The Chinese military exercise spotlighted on CCTV may appear concerning, but it's still a controlled exercise in a managed, relatively stable environment, Bendett says. Until robot dogs demonstrate that they can navigate "the debris of the battlefield" under less-than-ideal conditions, they'll remain something of a mechanical novelty for military planners. "Yes, they're neat, they're cool," Bendett says. "But show me a video of a pack of these moving on their own through a forest, not just walking by tapping their feet at every step but actually jogging between trees the way I would with a dog. Then we'll get to the point where these are actual combat dogs." It's unclear what the future of robot dogs might look like in the ranks of the US military, or even the Chinese military. While they've certainly proved useful in augmenting base security and conducting hazardous operations like explosive ordnance disposal, their potential combat applications remain understandably ambiguous. But given American and Chinese military planners' ongoing experiments with armed robot dogs, the future of warfare may involve not just the grind of tank treads and the roar of helicopter rotors, but the metallic patter of four-legged death across distant battlefields. Corrected: 6/16/2024, 7:24 EST: SPUR creator SWORD International is not a signatory to an open letter.

tech

Let Slip the Robot Dogs of War. Photograph: Tech. Sgt. Cory D. Payne/U.S. Air Force/DVIDS In video distributed by the state-run news agency CCTV, People's Liberation Army personnel are shown operating on a testing range alongside a four-legged robot with what appears to be a variant of the standard-issue 5.8 x 42-mm QBZ-95 assault rifle mounted on it as part of China's recent Golden Dragon 24 joint military exercises with Cambodia in the Gulf of Thailand. In one scenario, Chinese soldiers stand on either side of a doorway while the robot dog enters the building ahead of them; in another, the robot fires off a burst of bullets as it advances on a target. "It can serve as a new member in our urban combat operations, replacing our members to conduct reconnaissance and identify enemy [sic] and strike the target during our training," one Chinese soldier shown operating the robot told CCTV. This isn't the first time the Chinese military-industrial complex has shown off an armed robot dog. In October 2022, Chinese defense company Kestrel Defense published a video showing an unmanned aerial vehicle air-dropping a quadrupedal ground vehicle affixed with a 5.8 x 42-mm QBB-97 light machine gun on a roof during an urban warfare experiment. The company had previously released footage of robot dogs outfitted with combat systems that included everything from smoke grenades to loitering munitions. And as recently as this March, Chinese researchers claimed that tests involving robot dogs outfitted with an unidentified 7.62-mm rifle (likely a variant of the Type 56 assault rifle that's based on the ubiquitous Soviet-made AK-47) yielded marksmanship that rivaled trained Chinese sharpshooters, according to the South China Morning Post. China's demonstration clearly rankled international observers, prompting at least one American lawmaker to call on the US Defense Department for a report on "rifle-toting robot dogs" and their potential national security implications. But if the Chinese military is pioneering the weaponization of robot dogs, then the United States military isn't far behind. In the past year, the Pentagon has experimented with outfitting quadrupedal ground robots with its standard-issue 5.56 x 45-mm M4A1 carbine, the 6.8-mm XM7 rifle that the US Army is in the process of adopting under its Next Generation Squad Weapon program, and even the M72 Light Anti-Tank Weapon that's been in service with American troops since the Vietnam War. Just weeks before CCTV published its footage of armed robot dogs in action, Marine Corps Special Operations Command (MARSOC) revealed that it was experimenting with adding mounted gun systems based on defense contractor Onyx's artificial intelligence-enabled SENTRY remote weapons system to its own mechanized canines. American defense officials have been quick to emphasize that the development of weaponized robot dogs is, at this stage, purely experimental, intended to help military planners " "Why are we acting surprised by this? It was so obviously coming," A human-machine integration test using the Ghost Robotic Dog and the US Army Small Multipurpose Equipment Transport at Fort Irwin, California, March 15, 2024. Photograph: Spc. Samarion Hicks/U.S. Army/DVIDS Man's Best Friend Quadrupedal robots aren't a new development in the annals of military technology. In 2005, robotics leader Boston Dynamics unveiled BigDog, a four-legged mechanical "pack mule" that was intended to haul weapons and supplies for US troops over terrain considered unwelcoming to traditional wheeled or tracked ground vehicles. Funded by the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency and adopted as the Legged Squad Support System by the Marine Corps Warfighting Laboratory, BigDog was eventually deemed too loud for practical use and discontinued after a decade and more than $40 million invested in the much-hyped project. Despite BigDog's shortcomings, the underlying research behind the system eventually gave rise to Spot, a smaller and quieter "robot dog" that Boston Dynamics debuted in 2015. While too small to lug around gear and weapons, the system immediately had clear military applications for everything from base perimeter security to remote site inspection. In the years since its introduction, Spot has proven the platform-defining vision of quadrupedal ground robots, inspiring both Defense Visual Information Distribution Service (DVIDS), the Pentagon's media distribution hub, the adoption of robot dogs across the US military didn't "These dogs will be an extra set of eyes and ears while computing large amounts of data at strategic locations throughout Tyndall Air Force Base," Major Jordan Criss, 325th Security Forces Squadron commander, said of the systems during initial testing in late 2020. "They will be a huge enhancement for our defenders and allow flexibility in the posting and response of our personnel." In the intervening years, robot dogs have become an increasingly common fixture across the US military, beyond patrolling sensitive installations. In July 2023, Minot Air Force Base in North Dakota introduced robot dogs to enable airmen to respond to chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear threats "without risking the safety of themselves or others." In August, Patrick Space Force Base in Florida added robot dogs to its perimeter security rotation for an "additional detection and alert capability." That same month, the Naval Surface Warfare Center, Philadelphia Division, announced the employment of robot dogs to "build 3-D ship models aboard the 'mothballed' fleet of decommissioned ships at the Philadelphia Navy Yard," while the Coast Guard unveiled four-legged "droid" dogs in Hawaii to "combat weapons of mass destruction." Finally, in November, airmen at Barksdale Air Force Base in Louisiana debuted robot dogs for explosive ordnance disposal. Despite these practical noncombat applications, some robotics companies have had an eye on weaponization. In October 2021, Ghost Robotics showed off a so-called "Special Purpose Unmanned Rifle," or SPUR, quadrupedal robot with an 6.5-mm Creedmoor assault rifle developed by SWORD International mounted on its back during an annual Army weapons expo in Washington, DC, in the first public example of a robot dog armed with a firearm. The following year, a video of a robot dog outfitted with a PP-19 Vityaz submachine gun by Russian entrepreneur Alexander Atamov quickly went viral on YouTube and Twitter. By 2023, an American company had debuted a robot dog with a flamethrower strapped to its back, albeit not explicitly for military use (no longer fielded to US soldiers, using flamethrowers against enemy combatants Such anxiety over armed robot dogs even prompted six leading robotics companies—led by Spot pioneer Boston Dynamics—to release a letter in October 2022 promising to prohibit military customers from weaponizing their robots for combat purposes. (SPUR creator SWORD International was not a signatory.) "We believe that adding weapons to robots that are remotely or autonomously operated, widely available to the public, and capable of navigating to previously inaccessible locations where people live and work, raises new risks of harm and serious ethical issues," the companies wrote. "Weaponized applications of these newly-capable robots will also harm public trust in the technology in ways that damage the tremendous benefits they will bring to society." To be fair, both the US military and American robotics companies have urged caution when it comes to developing autonomous weapons systems. Upon unveiling the SPUR, late Ghost Robotics CEO Jiren Parikh emphasized that the armed robot always has an operator in the loop, with no AI or autonomy-related systems that could potentially falter under extreme circumstances. And while the SENTRY turret that MARSOC is reportedly testing affixed to a pair of robot dogs does use AI to scan for and identify targets, the company also emphasized that the decision to engage with the weapon system is completely reliant on a human operator. While the idea of armed robot dogs with minds of their own running amok may be a recent addition to Americans' dystopian imagination, the US military-industrial complex Ghost Robotics Quadruped Unmanned Ground Vehicles (Q-UGV) pose for a photo at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, Florida, in July 2022. Photograph: Senior Airman Samuel Becker/U.S. Space Force/DVIDS Despite understandable concerns over their growing role in military affairs, anxiety over packs of armed robot dogs operating on a future battlefield may be premature, according to "I had a chance to operate [a robot dog] at an AI conference in the Netherlands last year, and it doesn't have the same dexterity you would expect from a quadruped," Bendett tells WIRED. "It's not quite as dexterous, as flexible, or as fast in how it operates. Apart from videos of them doing push-ups and shit like that, it doesn't run, it can maybe jog, but it can't even make a turn quite as fast as a tracked or wheeled unmanned ground vehicle." "The battlefield is full of man-made and natural countermeasures," he adds. "That doesn't mean the US and China won't try it out, but it'll just be in a more limited capacity." The Chinese military exercise spotlighted on CCTV may appear concerning, but it's still a controlled exercise in a managed, relatively stable environment, Bendett says. Until robot dogs demonstrate that they can navigate "the debris of the battlefield" under less-than-ideal conditions, they'll remain something of a mechanical novelty for military planners. "Yes, they're neat, they're cool," Bendett says. "But show me a video of a pack of these moving on their own through a forest, not just walking by tapping their feet at every step but actually jogging between trees the way I would with a dog. Then we'll get to the point where these are actual combat dogs." It's unclear what the future of robot dogs might look like in the ranks of the US military, or even the Chinese military. While they've certainly proved useful in augmenting base security and conducting hazardous operations like explosive ordnance disposal, their potential combat applications remain understandably ambiguous. But given American and Chinese military planners' ongoing experiments with armed robot dogs, the future of warfare may involve not just the grind of tank treads and the roar of helicopter rotors, but the metallic patter of four-legged death across distant battlefields. Corrected: 6/16/2024, 7:24 EST: SPUR creator SWORD International is not a signatory to an open letter.

How digital health companies are capitalizing on the GLP-1 boom

For Gray Beard, a kindergarten teacher in Charlotte, North Carolina, losing weight had become a grueling task. She'd tried five different programs in her life and never found lasting results. Her luck started to change last year, when she saw a promotion on Instagram for the Ro Body Program, a new offering from online health startup Ro. The ad said eligible patients could get prescribed GLP-1s, the buzzy class of obesity treatments that's turned into a booming business in recent years. "I'm fine if I have to stay on it forever," Beard told CNBC. Ro, founded as Roman in 2017, is part of a growing crop of digital health companies aiming to capitalize on the soaring demand for GLP-1s by building programs and services for users on top of the medications. The opportunity could be massive. Supply shortages are one of the big hurdles for companies in the market, as spiking demand has made it difficult for many patients to access the treatments. There's also been a rise of counterfeit products, according to the World Health Organization, which said in January that the combination of shortages and the "increased circulation of falsified versions" is particularly problematic for patients with Type 2 diabetes who count on the medication for disease management. That's not slowing down industry executives like Ro founder Zachariah Reitano. Ro didn't start out as a company focused on weight loss. Reitano launched it to sell treatments online for erectile dysfunction before moving on to hair loss and other pathologies. In 2020, Ro switched to obesity management and, after Wegovy was approved by the Food and Drug Adminstration the following year, Reitano said patient inquiries started pouring in by the "tens of thousands." Now, Ro is shoveling marketing dollars into its GLP-1 program — from digital ads, TV commercials and posters lining subway stations, to influencer campaigns featuring patients such as Beard. Reitano told CNBC that GLP-1s are like a "jetpack for positive behavior change." Patients tend to exercise more, eat healthier and see around a 30% reduction in calorie intake, he said. "Once you get a little bit of momentum, once you lose a little bit of weight, you're sleeping better, you have more energy, you can go to the gym, you can eat better and then that's that positive flywheel," Reitano said. Ro has raised around $1 billion in funding to date, according to PitchBook. The company was valued at about $7 billion as of early 2022, though that was before a steep drop in tech stocks and collapse in the initial public offering market forced many startups to dramatically lower their valuations. has been in business for over 60 years and is the name in the U.S. perhaps most synonymous with weight loss programs. In December, the company entered the GLP-1 market, with a behavioral-support program that's available through its general membership subscription, starting at $23 per month. Members can participate whether they get a GLP-1 prescription through their primary care physician or through the new WeightWatchers Clinic, introduced alongside the behavioral program. Because GLP-1s suppress appetites, WeightWatchers quickly learned that it needed an entirely new program for people taking the meds, said Gary Foster, the company's chief scientific officer. "They don't need help with what to do for dessert or how to deal with the bread on the table at a restaurant," Foster said in an interview. "That's like 50-60% of what we would do for people without meds." Clinic members who participate in the GLP-1 program have to pay an additional fee — starting at $99 a month — for exclusive access to registered dieticians, fitness professionals and care team coordinators. WeightWatchers said in its first-quarter results earlier this month that 87,000 people had subscribed to the clinic, although not all of them are taking GLP-1s. The company expects to have between 140,000 and 160,000 clinic subscribers by year-end, the report said. It hasn't been enough to change WeightWatchers' trajectory. The stock has plummeted 83% this year on concerns about the company's debt load, its core weight loss business and Oprah Winfrey's announced departure from the board in February. With respect to GLP-1s and their impact on weight loss, "the landscape is quite exciting," Foster said. "I think we should all celebrate and really be delighted by the fact that there are more tools in the toolbox to help people trying to manage their weight." Kim Gradwell with an Ozempic injection needle at her home in Dudley, North Tyneside, Britain, October 31, 2023. Jennifer VanGilder, a 51-year-old economics professor at Ursinus College in Collegeville, Pennsylvania, said she'd tried countless methods to lose weight, from strict diets to services like the defunct Jenny Craig. She was considering bariatric surgery before she came across a program from digital health startup Calibrate. Calibrate, founded in 2019, was one of the first companies to treat obesity by combining GLP-1s with one-on-one coaching. The program costs $199 a month, which doesn't include the medication, and requires an initial three-month-long commitment. VanGilder signed up nearly four years ago and started taking the weekly diabetes injection Ozempic specifically for weight loss. She later switched to Wegovy. VanGilder said GLP-1s aren't a miracle drug, but by taking them and putting in the work, she said she lost around 100 pounds of her 242-pound weight. The big difference between Calibrate and prior weight loss efforts, VanGilder said, is that she doesn't feel like she's dieting. "That's why I've been able to stay on it for as long as I have," VanGilder said. Calibrate is one of the only companies to regularly release reports detailing the results of its weight loss program. The company's 2024 report examined data from roughly 16,000 members who completed at least one year of the program as of October, along with a smaller group of patients who continued for longer. Average weight loss among patients was 16.2% at 12 months in the program, 17.3% at 18 months and 17.9% at 24 months, according to the report. "Our data of proven outcomes shows that we can deliver faster, better results than some of the leading GLP-1 clinical trials," said Dr. Kristin Baier, Calibrate's vice president of clinical development, in an interview. But Calibrate has hit some major speed bumps in the past couple years. raising $100 million in venture funding during the peak of the tech market in 2021, the combination of supply shortages, insurance challenges and the broader market swoon forced the startup to lay off hundreds of employees between 2022 and 2023. The company was acquired in October at a discount by private equity firm Madryn Asset Management. Calibrate CEO Rob MacNaughton said the sector was "ill equipped" to manage the "dramatic demand that led to, at some point, severely, severely constrained supply" of GLP-1s last year. Under new ownership, the company continues to promote its GLP-1 service, which its said is important because the drugs themselves aren't sufficient. "GLP-1 medications, while they are safe and effective, they are a tool," said Baier. "They are not the entire treatment." Options for patients Ro's Reitano said shortages of Wegovy and other GLP-1s last year prompted his company to temporarily pause advertising. Ro also dolled out refunds and credits to patients in its program who weren't able to pick up their medication within 30 days of receiving a prescription, he said. Reitano said Ro has built up "both technical tools and operations" to help patients navigate supply issues. That includes transferring prescriptions to different pharmacies based on their GLP-1 supply and proximity to a patient. From July to August, the company made 50,000 phone calls to pharmacies across the U.S. to coordinate those transfers, Reitano said. Ro has also expanded its medication offerings, adding Zepbound following its U.S. approval in November. Insurance problems persist, though. Some employers have dropped weight loss drugs from their plans due to the costs associated with covering the treatments for thousands of patients. The federal Medicare program by law can't cover weight loss drugs unless the prescription is for another approved health benefit, such as diabetes or cardiovascular health. offer commercial savings card programs that aim to expand access to their GLP-1s. Eli Lilly allows people with insurance coverage for Zepbound to pay as low as $25 for a monthly prescription. And users who can't get insurance coverage, may be able to get the drug for as low as $550 a month. The high costs and difficult access led Hims & Hers to initially stay out of the GLP-1 market even after launching its new weight loss program in December Dr. Craig Primack, senior vice president of weight management at Hims, said the company decided to offer treatment regimens based on drugs that had been studied and prescribed for decades. "We're going to have people, for one reason or another, who either don't want an injection at this point, or are just looking for a different alternative," Primack told CNBC in an interview in March. "These are tools we've been using in our field for a long, long time." Last week, Hims said customers can now access compounded GLP-1 medications via a prescription from a licensed health-care provider on the platform. Hims said it plans to make branded GLP-1 medications available to its customers once supply is consistently available. The company's oral medication kits start at $79 a month, and its compounded GLP-1 injections will start at $199 a month. Dudum said the company has partnered with one of the largest generic manufacturers in the U.S. and has a certain degree of exclusivity with the facility. The manufacturer has FDA oversight, he said. Even before Hims introduced compounded GLP-1 injections to its weight loss offering, the company said it expects the program will generate more than $100 million in revenue by the end of 2025. Beard, the Ro customer, has had to make some changes since starting the Body Program. She initially took Wegovy with no out-of-pocket costs, thanks to her insurance coverage and a savings card program from Novo Nordisk. But she hit a plateau on the drug, so she switched to Zepbound. While there have been some hiccups along the way, Beard says the program has largely been a "seamless" addition to her day-to-day life, and that she no longer thinks about food all the time. She even got a family member to enroll. "We're not having any bad side effects, so why go off of it?" she said, adding "it's helped both of us get to the weight we want."

health

How digital health companies are capitalizing on the GLP-1 boom. For Gray Beard, a kindergarten teacher in Charlotte, North Carolina, losing weight had become a grueling task. She'd tried five different programs in her life and never found lasting results. Her luck started to change last year, when she saw a promotion on Instagram for the Ro Body Program, a new offering from online health startup Ro. The ad said eligible patients could get prescribed GLP-1s, the buzzy class of obesity treatments that's turned into a booming business in recent years. "I'm fine if I have to stay on it forever," Beard told CNBC. Ro, founded as Roman in 2017, is part of a growing crop of digital health companies aiming to capitalize on the soaring demand for GLP-1s by building programs and services for users on top of the medications. The opportunity could be massive. Supply shortages are one of the big hurdles for companies in the market, as spiking demand has made it difficult for many patients to access the treatments. There's also been a rise of counterfeit products, according to the World Health Organization, which said in January that the combination of shortages and the "increased circulation of falsified versions" is particularly problematic for patients with Type 2 diabetes who count on the medication for disease management. That's not slowing down industry executives like Ro founder Zachariah Reitano. Ro didn't start out as a company focused on weight loss. Reitano launched it to sell treatments online for erectile dysfunction before moving on to hair loss and other pathologies. In 2020, Ro switched to obesity management and, after Wegovy was approved by the Food and Drug Adminstration the following year, Reitano said patient inquiries started pouring in by the "tens of thousands." Now, Ro is shoveling marketing dollars into its GLP-1 program — from digital ads, TV commercials and posters lining subway stations, to influencer campaigns featuring patients such as Beard. Reitano told CNBC that GLP-1s are like a "jetpack for positive behavior change." Patients tend to exercise more, eat healthier and see around a 30% reduction in calorie intake, he said. "Once you get a little bit of momentum, once you lose a little bit of weight, you're sleeping better, you have more energy, you can go to the gym, you can eat better and then that's that positive flywheel," Reitano said. Ro has raised around $1 billion in funding to date, according to PitchBook. The company was valued at about $7 billion as of early 2022, though that was before a steep drop in tech stocks and collapse in the initial public offering market forced many startups to dramatically lower their valuations. has been in business for over 60 years and is the name in the U.S. perhaps most synonymous with weight loss programs. In December, the company entered the GLP-1 market, with a behavioral-support program that's available through its general membership subscription, starting at $23 per month. Members can participate whether they get a GLP-1 prescription through their primary care physician or through the new WeightWatchers Clinic, introduced alongside the behavioral program. Because GLP-1s suppress appetites, WeightWatchers quickly learned that it needed an entirely new program for people taking the meds, said Gary Foster, the company's chief scientific officer. "They don't need help with what to do for dessert or how to deal with the bread on the table at a restaurant," Foster said in an interview. "That's like 50-60% of what we would do for people without meds." Clinic members who participate in the GLP-1 program have to pay an additional fee — starting at $99 a month — for exclusive access to registered dieticians, fitness professionals and care team coordinators. WeightWatchers said in its first-quarter results earlier this month that 87,000 people had subscribed to the clinic, although not all of them are taking GLP-1s. The company expects to have between 140,000 and 160,000 clinic subscribers by year-end, the report said. It hasn't been enough to change WeightWatchers' trajectory. The stock has plummeted 83% this year on concerns about the company's debt load, its core weight loss business and Oprah Winfrey's announced departure from the board in February. With respect to GLP-1s and their impact on weight loss, "the landscape is quite exciting," Foster said. "I think we should all celebrate and really be delighted by the fact that there are more tools in the toolbox to help people trying to manage their weight." Kim Gradwell with an Ozempic injection needle at her home in Dudley, North Tyneside, Britain, October 31, 2023. Jennifer VanGilder, a 51-year-old economics professor at Ursinus College in Collegeville, Pennsylvania, said she'd tried countless methods to lose weight, from strict diets to services like the defunct Jenny Craig. She was considering bariatric surgery before she came across a program from digital health startup Calibrate. Calibrate, founded in 2019, was one of the first companies to treat obesity by combining GLP-1s with one-on-one coaching. The program costs $199 a month, which doesn't include the medication, and requires an initial three-month-long commitment. VanGilder signed up nearly four years ago and started taking the weekly diabetes injection Ozempic specifically for weight loss. She later switched to Wegovy. VanGilder said GLP-1s aren't a miracle drug, but by taking them and putting in the work, she said she lost around 100 pounds of her 242-pound weight. The big difference between Calibrate and prior weight loss efforts, VanGilder said, is that she doesn't feel like she's dieting. "That's why I've been able to stay on it for as long as I have," VanGilder said. Calibrate is one of the only companies to regularly release reports detailing the results of its weight loss program. The company's 2024 report examined data from roughly 16,000 members who completed at least one year of the program as of October, along with a smaller group of patients who continued for longer. Average weight loss among patients was 16.2% at 12 months in the program, 17.3% at 18 months and 17.9% at 24 months, according to the report. "Our data of proven outcomes shows that we can deliver faster, better results than some of the leading GLP-1 clinical trials," said Dr. Kristin Baier, Calibrate's vice president of clinical development, in an interview. But Calibrate has hit some major speed bumps in the past couple years. raising $100 million in venture funding during the peak of the tech market in 2021, the combination of supply shortages, insurance challenges and the broader market swoon forced the startup to lay off hundreds of employees between 2022 and 2023. The company was acquired in October at a discount by private equity firm Madryn Asset Management. Calibrate CEO Rob MacNaughton said the sector was "ill equipped" to manage the "dramatic demand that led to, at some point, severely, severely constrained supply" of GLP-1s last year. Under new ownership, the company continues to promote its GLP-1 service, which its said is important because the drugs themselves aren't sufficient. "GLP-1 medications, while they are safe and effective, they are a tool," said Baier. "They are not the entire treatment." Options for patients Ro's Reitano said shortages of Wegovy and other GLP-1s last year prompted his company to temporarily pause advertising. Ro also dolled out refunds and credits to patients in its program who weren't able to pick up their medication within 30 days of receiving a prescription, he said. Reitano said Ro has built up "both technical tools and operations" to help patients navigate supply issues. That includes transferring prescriptions to different pharmacies based on their GLP-1 supply and proximity to a patient. From July to August, the company made 50,000 phone calls to pharmacies across the U.S. to coordinate those transfers, Reitano said. Ro has also expanded its medication offerings, adding Zepbound following its U.S. approval in November. Insurance problems persist, though. Some employers have dropped weight loss drugs from their plans due to the costs associated with covering the treatments for thousands of patients. The federal Medicare program by law can't cover weight loss drugs unless the prescription is for another approved health benefit, such as diabetes or cardiovascular health. offer commercial savings card programs that aim to expand access to their GLP-1s. Eli Lilly allows people with insurance coverage for Zepbound to pay as low as $25 for a monthly prescription. And users who can't get insurance coverage, may be able to get the drug for as low as $550 a month. The high costs and difficult access led Hims & Hers to initially stay out of the GLP-1 market even after launching its new weight loss program in December Dr. Craig Primack, senior vice president of weight management at Hims, said the company decided to offer treatment regimens based on drugs that had been studied and prescribed for decades. "We're going to have people, for one reason or another, who either don't want an injection at this point, or are just looking for a different alternative," Primack told CNBC in an interview in March. "These are tools we've been using in our field for a long, long time." Last week, Hims said customers can now access compounded GLP-1 medications via a prescription from a licensed health-care provider on the platform. Hims said it plans to make branded GLP-1 medications available to its customers once supply is consistently available. The company's oral medication kits start at $79 a month, and its compounded GLP-1 injections will start at $199 a month. Dudum said the company has partnered with one of the largest generic manufacturers in the U.S. and has a certain degree of exclusivity with the facility. The manufacturer has FDA oversight, he said. Even before Hims introduced compounded GLP-1 injections to its weight loss offering, the company said it expects the program will generate more than $100 million in revenue by the end of 2025. Beard, the Ro customer, has had to make some changes since starting the Body Program. She initially took Wegovy with no out-of-pocket costs, thanks to her insurance coverage and a savings card program from Novo Nordisk. But she hit a plateau on the drug, so she switched to Zepbound. While there have been some hiccups along the way, Beard says the program has largely been a "seamless" addition to her day-to-day life, and that she no longer thinks about food all the time. She even got a family member to enroll. "We're not having any bad side effects, so why go off of it?" she said, adding "it's helped both of us get to the weight we want."

NHL free agency shows teams in states with no income tax have an advantage

The Florida Panthers team poses with the Stanley Cup trophy after defeating the Edmonton Oilers in Game 7 of the NHL hockey Stanley Cup Final, Monday, June 24, 2024, in Sunrise, Fla. The Panthers defeated the Oilers 2-1. (AP Photo/Wilfredo Lee) When the Tampa Bay Lightning made moves at the NHL draft to clear salary cap space, general manager Julien BriseBois hoped a variety of factors would entice players to sign as free agents. One, of course, was the organization's penchant for winning and the talent already on the roster. Another, he pointed out, was the "favorable taxation situation." It has become difficult to deny the impact of favorable tax situations around the league in recent years. Four of the past five Stanley Cup champions are based in places with no state income tax, and that benefit continues to draw free agents who know they will take home more money there than elsewhere around North America. "There is a distinct advantage for those teams that are in states with no tax — always," said Alan Pogroszewski, who has studied and worked with players on tax matters for more than a decade. "There will always be an advantage." It is not necessarily the deciding factor for a player, but it certainly doesn't hurt. The $69 million contract Sam Reinhart got to re-sign with the reigning champion Florida Panthers is worth more there than it would have been had he signed for the same terms in many other markets. Averaging out Reinhart's salary to $8.625 million annually, he owes $3.15 million in taxes in Florida. He would pay $1.1 million more in California, $1.5 million more in New York and $1.4 million more in Toronto, according to a calculator provided publicly by Cardinal Point Athlete Advisors. Over the length of the contract that could save him up to $12 million. "That's part of the reality," San Jose Sharks general manager Mike Grier said. "I think it is an advantage for those teams: They can obviously pay guys a little bit less, and guys are happy to go there. So not to their fault or anything, those teams take advantage of the situation as they should." And they do. Nashville, Florida, Tampa Bay, Dallas, Vegas and Seattle — the six teams in the 32-team NHL in states with no income tax — combined to spend nearly a quarter of the $1 billion-plus in salaries committed Monday when free agency opened. Winger Jake Guentzel, who played his first seven-plus seasons with Pittsburgh before being traded to Carolina in March, just signed a seven-year deal worth $63 million with the Lightning. Their winning culture was part of the draw, along with the lack of winter weather, but tax experts will point out that he's coming out ahead financially, too. "I guess that's always a good thing if you can make more money," Guentzel said. "There's just the positives about Tampa, and there just seems to be so many of them: living the lifestyle, the atmosphere in the rink is unbelievable and if that's part of it, too, that's great. There's just a lot of things behind the scenes that you're really excited for." Pogroszewski, the founder, president and CEO of AFP Consulting LLC, which specializes in the tax preparation and consulting for pro athletes, said he and his colleagues have debated for years how much of a factor financial matters such as these should play in free agent decisions. He points out there are things players can do to even the playing field — retirement compensation arrangements in Canada being one of them and establishing residency in a no- or low-tax state is another. Grier said players and agents are all aware of tax differences by state, acknowledging "that definitely figures into everything." Veteran defenseman Chris Tanev's situation featured a different variable. After finishing last season with the Dallas Stars, moving there and becoming a U.S. resident would have triggered Canada's departure tax on capital gains, while remaining a resident of Ontario would have mitigated the tax advantage of working in Texas. "That plays a role into it," said Tanev, who played his first 14 years in Canada with Vancouver and Calgary and is now heading to Toronto after half a season with Dallas. "And family reasons. Just coming to a good team is obviously a big part of that. I didn't want to leave Dallas and go to a team that wasn't trying to win, and that was a huge reason why this happened." Some good teams do not have big-time tax benefits, such as the Oilers who went to the Cup final and pushed the Panthers to a Game 7. The Canadian dollar also plays a major role in league finances, with player salaries paid in U.S currency. Teams north of the border have said they can some $400,000 each time the Canadian dollar drops a penny in value, putting a strain on their ability to compete for or retain high-priced talent. The vast majority of the league simply has to deal with paying players while considering state or provincial tax implications. "If you can get New York state to go tax-free, I'm in," Buffalo's Kevyn Adams joked, before explaining his philosophy. "You try to focus your attention on building an organization the right way, where people recognize that and say, 'That's the culture, that's the place that I want to play.'. If there's players that flat out just don't want to be in cold weather or don't want to be in a state that has higher taxes, then they are probably not for us anyway."

sports

NHL free agency shows teams in states with no income tax have an advantage. The Florida Panthers team poses with the Stanley Cup trophy after defeating the Edmonton Oilers in Game 7 of the NHL hockey Stanley Cup Final, Monday, June 24, 2024, in Sunrise, Fla. The Panthers defeated the Oilers 2-1. (AP Photo/Wilfredo Lee) When the Tampa Bay Lightning made moves at the NHL draft to clear salary cap space, general manager Julien BriseBois hoped a variety of factors would entice players to sign as free agents. One, of course, was the organization's penchant for winning and the talent already on the roster. Another, he pointed out, was the "favorable taxation situation." It has become difficult to deny the impact of favorable tax situations around the league in recent years. Four of the past five Stanley Cup champions are based in places with no state income tax, and that benefit continues to draw free agents who know they will take home more money there than elsewhere around North America. "There is a distinct advantage for those teams that are in states with no tax — always," said Alan Pogroszewski, who has studied and worked with players on tax matters for more than a decade. "There will always be an advantage." It is not necessarily the deciding factor for a player, but it certainly doesn't hurt. The $69 million contract Sam Reinhart got to re-sign with the reigning champion Florida Panthers is worth more there than it would have been had he signed for the same terms in many other markets. Averaging out Reinhart's salary to $8.625 million annually, he owes $3.15 million in taxes in Florida. He would pay $1.1 million more in California, $1.5 million more in New York and $1.4 million more in Toronto, according to a calculator provided publicly by Cardinal Point Athlete Advisors. Over the length of the contract that could save him up to $12 million. "That's part of the reality," San Jose Sharks general manager Mike Grier said. "I think it is an advantage for those teams: They can obviously pay guys a little bit less, and guys are happy to go there. So not to their fault or anything, those teams take advantage of the situation as they should." And they do. Nashville, Florida, Tampa Bay, Dallas, Vegas and Seattle — the six teams in the 32-team NHL in states with no income tax — combined to spend nearly a quarter of the $1 billion-plus in salaries committed Monday when free agency opened. Winger Jake Guentzel, who played his first seven-plus seasons with Pittsburgh before being traded to Carolina in March, just signed a seven-year deal worth $63 million with the Lightning. Their winning culture was part of the draw, along with the lack of winter weather, but tax experts will point out that he's coming out ahead financially, too. "I guess that's always a good thing if you can make more money," Guentzel said. "There's just the positives about Tampa, and there just seems to be so many of them: living the lifestyle, the atmosphere in the rink is unbelievable and if that's part of it, too, that's great. There's just a lot of things behind the scenes that you're really excited for." Pogroszewski, the founder, president and CEO of AFP Consulting LLC, which specializes in the tax preparation and consulting for pro athletes, said he and his colleagues have debated for years how much of a factor financial matters such as these should play in free agent decisions. He points out there are things players can do to even the playing field — retirement compensation arrangements in Canada being one of them and establishing residency in a no- or low-tax state is another. Grier said players and agents are all aware of tax differences by state, acknowledging "that definitely figures into everything." Veteran defenseman Chris Tanev's situation featured a different variable. After finishing last season with the Dallas Stars, moving there and becoming a U.S. resident would have triggered Canada's departure tax on capital gains, while remaining a resident of Ontario would have mitigated the tax advantage of working in Texas. "That plays a role into it," said Tanev, who played his first 14 years in Canada with Vancouver and Calgary and is now heading to Toronto after half a season with Dallas. "And family reasons. Just coming to a good team is obviously a big part of that. I didn't want to leave Dallas and go to a team that wasn't trying to win, and that was a huge reason why this happened." Some good teams do not have big-time tax benefits, such as the Oilers who went to the Cup final and pushed the Panthers to a Game 7. The Canadian dollar also plays a major role in league finances, with player salaries paid in U.S currency. Teams north of the border have said they can some $400,000 each time the Canadian dollar drops a penny in value, putting a strain on their ability to compete for or retain high-priced talent. The vast majority of the league simply has to deal with paying players while considering state or provincial tax implications. "If you can get New York state to go tax-free, I'm in," Buffalo's Kevyn Adams joked, before explaining his philosophy. "You try to focus your attention on building an organization the right way, where people recognize that and say, 'That's the culture, that's the place that I want to play.'. If there's players that flat out just don't want to be in cold weather or don't want to be in a state that has higher taxes, then they are probably not for us anyway."

Audit finds 2 B.C. toxic drug harm-reduction programs weren't effectively implemented

Watered-down NDP motion on Palestinian statehood prompts anger, disappointment The late-night Liberal watering-down of an NDP motion regarding the recognition of Palestinian statehood on Monday prompted anger and disappointment among both pro-Israel and pro-Palestinian advocacy groups. Fatal salmonella outbreak linked to contact with snakes, rodents: PHAC Canada's public health agency says it is investigating an apparent link between a salmonella outbreak and contact with snakes and feeder rodents. See deep inside a melted Fukushima reactor in these just-released images Images taken by miniature drones from deep inside a badly damaged reactor at the Fukushima nuclear plant show displaced control equipment and misshapen materials but leave many questions unanswered, underscoring the daunting task of decommissioning the plant. Nissan customers in Canada may soon be eligible for compensation in a proposed class action. What to know Nissan customers in Canada may soon be eligible to file a claim in a proposed $1.82 million settlement resulting from a 2017 data breach. Audit finds 2 B.C. toxic drug harm-reduction programs weren't effectively implemented An audit of two harm-reduction programs meant to reduce toxic drug-related deaths in B.C. found the initiatives 'weren't effectively implemented.' A newspaper says video of Prince William and Kate should halt royal rumour mill. That's a tall order The late Queen Elizabeth II used to say that the Royal Family has to be seen to be believed. 14 of the 15 worst cities for air pollution in U.S. and Canada are north of the border: report Air quality in Canada is now worse than in the U.S., according to the 6th Annual World Air Quality Report. Of the 15 most polluted cities in the two countries, 14 were in Canada. Brian Mulroney was 'always taking the call, or making the call': former governor general Top 5 worst places for bed bugs in Canada all located in one province Sooke man charged with manslaughter in shooting death of 42-year-old father A Vancouver Island man is facing multiple charges, including manslaughter, in the shooting death of a 42-year-old father of two young boys near Sooke, B.C., last year. Gwen Stefani, Busta Rhymes to headline Vancouver Island music festival One of Vancouver Island's pre-eminent summer music festivals has announced its lineup for the upcoming Canada Day long weekend. B.C. Premier David Eby, Pierre Poilievre continue war of words on carbon tax Crews are working a wildfire that was discovered in B.C.'s Okanagan Sunday afternoon. Ministry says Kelowna case 'had no impact' on latest public warning, as sex offender gets detention order The convicted sex offender accused of reoffending after his most recent release from custody will be held in jail while the new charges work their way through the courts. BC Corrections issues warning about 'high-risk' offender amid scrutiny of notification process Edmonton police are searching for the driver of an SUV that hit a pedestrian in a marked crosswalk on Whyte Avenue on Monday and left the scene. Thieves steal truck from dealership, $26K in merchandise from drug store in crime spree: police Police are looking for two people who broke into two car dealerships and a drug store in Leduc last month. A sentencing hearing is underway for a Winnipeg football coach who pleaded guilty to multiple charges of sexual assault last year. Victim identified in Winnipeg's latest homicide Winnipeg police have identified the victim of the city's latest homicide. Sask. senior hockey team surprised after acquiring sizable fan base A senior "A" hockey team from southeast Saskatchewan is quietly gaining a huge following. Crews respond to overnight basement fire in southeast Regina No injuries were reported after a fire in the basement of a home in southeast Regina early Tuesday morning. Armed robbery sees vehicle stolen, 49-year-old arrested in Regina The City of Saskatoon is bringing some changes to marked crosswalks prohibiting drivers from parking near crosswalks. FSIN faces forensic audit by Indigenous Services Canada over 'allegations' of misspending Nissan customers in Canada may soon be eligible to file a claim in a proposed $1.82 million settlement resulting from a 2017 data breach. Top 5 worst places for bed bugs in Canada all located in one province The top five Canadian cities with the worst bed bugs are located in Ontario, according to Orkin Canada. PQ wants to form common front to put pressure on Ottawa about immigration Public lines up to pay respects to former prime minister Mulroney Members of the public joined politicians and dignitaries to pay their respects to Brian Mulroney, as the former prime minister began lying in state near Parliament Hill. Ottawa ranks the 5th worst city for bed bugs in Canada, Orkin Canada says Ottawa is one of Canada's "bed buggiest" cities, according to a new report. Ottawa councillor wants city to crackdown on 'problematic' properties An Ottawa city councillor wants the city to do more to crackdown on derelict properties that are the subject of frequent safety concerns and complaints to the city. Spring equinox Wednesday; season brings river and fire watches, a solar eclipse CTV Atlantic meteorologist Kalin Mitchell shares details on the spring forecast, river and fire watches in place in the Maritimes, and a solar eclipse on the way. Halifax police charge 3 people after alleged joyride in cemetery Halifax Regional Police has charged three people after a cemetery in Dartmouth, N.S., was damaged over the weekend. Sour grapes: N.S. pauses subsidy to wine bottlers that drew ire of wineries Nova Scotia Premier Tim Houston says his government is pausing a subsidy for wine bottlers that the province's wineries said undercuts their operations. 'Standoff' in south London, two people in custody In a statement to CTV News police said it is in relation to an ongoing investigation and two people have been taken into custody. Life-threatening injuries, 'substantial' diesel fuel spill after London crash One person has been taken to hospital with serious, life-threatening injuries following a two-vehicle crash in London Tuesday morning. According to London fire, the crash happened on Dundas Street near Creamery Road and one person had to be extricated from a vehicle. Elderly woman on trial in roadside death of 8-year-old Girl Guide A chaotic scene was described in a London, Ont. courtroom as the trial of a senior citizen charged in the roadside crash that killed a young girl got underway on Monday. Cold case investigation brings police to Six Nations property Ontario Provincial Police are searching a property on Six Nations of the Grand River territory as part of their investigation into the disappearance of Amber Ellis. Former Dutchie's employees say they took wage disputes to Ont. Ministry of Labour Two former employees of a Kitchener, Ont., grocer said their Ministry of Labour cases were settled, but only one has been paid what they were allegedly owed. No injuries reported after fire breaks out at Guelph encampment Sudbury ranked second in bed bugs, Sault also in the Top 10 Greater Sudbury is the second 'bed buggiest' city in Canada, according to rankings released Tuesday by Orkin Canada. Northern Ont. teacher's Facebook posts showed 'appalling' lack of moral judgment The Ontario College of Teachers has sanctioned a northern Ontario teacher who posted anti-immigrant messages on her Facebook page, along with spreading COVID-19 conspiracy theories. 14 of the 15 worst cities for air pollution in U.S. and Canada are north of the border: report Carbon tax tiff: PM Trudeau accuses Premier Furey of bowing to 'political pressure' Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is accusing of Liberal Newfoundland and Labrador Premier Andrew Furey of bowing to 'political pressure' in coming out against the looming carbon tax price increase. Curling for pride: Canadian Pride Curling Championship gets underway in St. John's

health

Audit finds 2 B.C. toxic drug harm-reduction programs weren't effectively implemented. Watered-down NDP motion on Palestinian statehood prompts anger, disappointment The late-night Liberal watering-down of an NDP motion regarding the recognition of Palestinian statehood on Monday prompted anger and disappointment among both pro-Israel and pro-Palestinian advocacy groups. Fatal salmonella outbreak linked to contact with snakes, rodents: PHAC Canada's public health agency says it is investigating an apparent link between a salmonella outbreak and contact with snakes and feeder rodents. See deep inside a melted Fukushima reactor in these just-released images Images taken by miniature drones from deep inside a badly damaged reactor at the Fukushima nuclear plant show displaced control equipment and misshapen materials but leave many questions unanswered, underscoring the daunting task of decommissioning the plant. Nissan customers in Canada may soon be eligible for compensation in a proposed class action. What to know Nissan customers in Canada may soon be eligible to file a claim in a proposed $1.82 million settlement resulting from a 2017 data breach. Audit finds 2 B.C. toxic drug harm-reduction programs weren't effectively implemented An audit of two harm-reduction programs meant to reduce toxic drug-related deaths in B.C. found the initiatives 'weren't effectively implemented.' A newspaper says video of Prince William and Kate should halt royal rumour mill. That's a tall order The late Queen Elizabeth II used to say that the Royal Family has to be seen to be believed. 14 of the 15 worst cities for air pollution in U.S. and Canada are north of the border: report Air quality in Canada is now worse than in the U.S., according to the 6th Annual World Air Quality Report. Of the 15 most polluted cities in the two countries, 14 were in Canada. Brian Mulroney was 'always taking the call, or making the call': former governor general Top 5 worst places for bed bugs in Canada all located in one province Sooke man charged with manslaughter in shooting death of 42-year-old father A Vancouver Island man is facing multiple charges, including manslaughter, in the shooting death of a 42-year-old father of two young boys near Sooke, B.C., last year. Gwen Stefani, Busta Rhymes to headline Vancouver Island music festival One of Vancouver Island's pre-eminent summer music festivals has announced its lineup for the upcoming Canada Day long weekend. B.C. Premier David Eby, Pierre Poilievre continue war of words on carbon tax Crews are working a wildfire that was discovered in B.C.'s Okanagan Sunday afternoon. Ministry says Kelowna case 'had no impact' on latest public warning, as sex offender gets detention order The convicted sex offender accused of reoffending after his most recent release from custody will be held in jail while the new charges work their way through the courts. BC Corrections issues warning about 'high-risk' offender amid scrutiny of notification process Edmonton police are searching for the driver of an SUV that hit a pedestrian in a marked crosswalk on Whyte Avenue on Monday and left the scene. Thieves steal truck from dealership, $26K in merchandise from drug store in crime spree: police Police are looking for two people who broke into two car dealerships and a drug store in Leduc last month. A sentencing hearing is underway for a Winnipeg football coach who pleaded guilty to multiple charges of sexual assault last year. Victim identified in Winnipeg's latest homicide Winnipeg police have identified the victim of the city's latest homicide. Sask. senior hockey team surprised after acquiring sizable fan base A senior "A" hockey team from southeast Saskatchewan is quietly gaining a huge following. Crews respond to overnight basement fire in southeast Regina No injuries were reported after a fire in the basement of a home in southeast Regina early Tuesday morning. Armed robbery sees vehicle stolen, 49-year-old arrested in Regina The City of Saskatoon is bringing some changes to marked crosswalks prohibiting drivers from parking near crosswalks. FSIN faces forensic audit by Indigenous Services Canada over 'allegations' of misspending Nissan customers in Canada may soon be eligible to file a claim in a proposed $1.82 million settlement resulting from a 2017 data breach. Top 5 worst places for bed bugs in Canada all located in one province The top five Canadian cities with the worst bed bugs are located in Ontario, according to Orkin Canada. PQ wants to form common front to put pressure on Ottawa about immigration Public lines up to pay respects to former prime minister Mulroney Members of the public joined politicians and dignitaries to pay their respects to Brian Mulroney, as the former prime minister began lying in state near Parliament Hill. Ottawa ranks the 5th worst city for bed bugs in Canada, Orkin Canada says Ottawa is one of Canada's "bed buggiest" cities, according to a new report. Ottawa councillor wants city to crackdown on 'problematic' properties An Ottawa city councillor wants the city to do more to crackdown on derelict properties that are the subject of frequent safety concerns and complaints to the city. Spring equinox Wednesday; season brings river and fire watches, a solar eclipse CTV Atlantic meteorologist Kalin Mitchell shares details on the spring forecast, river and fire watches in place in the Maritimes, and a solar eclipse on the way. Halifax police charge 3 people after alleged joyride in cemetery Halifax Regional Police has charged three people after a cemetery in Dartmouth, N.S., was damaged over the weekend. Sour grapes: N.S. pauses subsidy to wine bottlers that drew ire of wineries Nova Scotia Premier Tim Houston says his government is pausing a subsidy for wine bottlers that the province's wineries said undercuts their operations. 'Standoff' in south London, two people in custody In a statement to CTV News police said it is in relation to an ongoing investigation and two people have been taken into custody. Life-threatening injuries, 'substantial' diesel fuel spill after London crash One person has been taken to hospital with serious, life-threatening injuries following a two-vehicle crash in London Tuesday morning. According to London fire, the crash happened on Dundas Street near Creamery Road and one person had to be extricated from a vehicle. Elderly woman on trial in roadside death of 8-year-old Girl Guide A chaotic scene was described in a London, Ont. courtroom as the trial of a senior citizen charged in the roadside crash that killed a young girl got underway on Monday. Cold case investigation brings police to Six Nations property Ontario Provincial Police are searching a property on Six Nations of the Grand River territory as part of their investigation into the disappearance of Amber Ellis. Former Dutchie's employees say they took wage disputes to Ont. Ministry of Labour Two former employees of a Kitchener, Ont., grocer said their Ministry of Labour cases were settled, but only one has been paid what they were allegedly owed. No injuries reported after fire breaks out at Guelph encampment Sudbury ranked second in bed bugs, Sault also in the Top 10 Greater Sudbury is the second 'bed buggiest' city in Canada, according to rankings released Tuesday by Orkin Canada. Northern Ont. teacher's Facebook posts showed 'appalling' lack of moral judgment The Ontario College of Teachers has sanctioned a northern Ontario teacher who posted anti-immigrant messages on her Facebook page, along with spreading COVID-19 conspiracy theories. 14 of the 15 worst cities for air pollution in U.S. and Canada are north of the border: report Carbon tax tiff: PM Trudeau accuses Premier Furey of bowing to 'political pressure' Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is accusing of Liberal Newfoundland and Labrador Premier Andrew Furey of bowing to 'political pressure' in coming out against the looming carbon tax price increase. Curling for pride: Canadian Pride Curling Championship gets underway in St. John's

Rep. Hillary Scholten and the National Blood Clot Alliance Award Corewell Health Butterworth Hospital as a VTE Center of Excellence

www.stoptheclot.org ) to present NBCA's inaugural Venous Thromboembolism (VTE) Center of Excellence (COE) award to Corewell Health Grand Rapids Hospitals – Butterworth Hospital. This award recognizes the hospital's outstanding commitment to providing the highest standard of care, patient education, and follow-up treatment for VTE patients. Continue Reading Rep. Hillary Scholten (MI-03) (center) presents the inaugural NBCA VTE Center of Excellence Award to the Corewell Health team. Pictured from left to right: Glen VanOtteren, Erin VanDyke, PA-C, MPAS, Michael Knox, MD, and Trevor Cummings, MD, FACEP. Rep. Scholten stated, "Our friends, families, neighbors, and the wider community can trust the commitment to excellence demonstrated by Corewell's clinicians. These incredible providers ensure that all patients, not just some, will receive the highest standard of care when being diagnosed and treated for VTE. I was delighted to submit a FY25 appropriations request to fund a nationwide public awareness campaign and to train healthcare providers to recognize the symptoms of blood clots. West Michigan is leading the way in addressing this public health crisis, setting a model for both the Great Lakes State and our nation." Dr. Michael Knox, MD, FACR, and Co-Director of the Corewell PERT Program, accepted the award on behalf of Corewell. He stated, "I am honored to accept this award on behalf of my team and thank NBCA for this distinction. We appreciate Rep. Scholten's acknowledgement of the important work we are doing. Tackling this public health crisis will take all of us working together -- hospitals, clinicians, patients, and Members of Congress." Justin Crockett, NBCA Board Member and Chair of the NBCA VTE COE Committee, added, "Development of this VTE COE designation has been a long journey. We are very proud to present this award and to start reducing the incidence and mortality of VTE, which claims the lives of 100,000 people each year from all age groups and walks of life. We are especially grateful for Congresswoman Scholten's support and in recognizing the toll VTE takes on both the citizens of Michigan and the entire nation. We also thank her for supporting NBCA's $5 million federal appropriations request directing funding to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's (CDC) Division of Blood Disorders and Genomics for a national VTE education, awareness, and prevention program for both the public and clinicians." VTE (venous blood clots) claims the lives of 100,000 Americans each year while impacting another 900,000 individuals. It is the third leading cause of cardiovascular death and the second cause of sudden unexpected death. It kills more people each year than HIV/AIDS, breast cancer and motor vehicle accidents combined. Nearly half of all VTE cases occur in a hospital or post-hospital setting, yet, according to the CDC, 70% of these cases are preventable. It is estimated that the annual cost to the US healthcare system is About the National Blood Clot Alliance The National Blood Clot Alliance, established in 2003, is the nation's leading nonprofit, patient advocacy organization dedicated to advancing the prevention, early diagnosis, and successful treatment of life-threatening blood clots, such as deep vein thrombosis (DVT) and pulmonary embolism (PE), DVT +PE=VTE. Each year NBCA provides blood clot information, resources, and support to more than 3 million people. For more information about NBCA please contact About Corewell Health™ People are at the heart of everything we do, and the inspiration for our legacy of outstanding outcomes, innovation, strong community partnerships, philanthropy and transparency. Corewell Health is a not-for-profit health system that provides health care and coverage with an exceptional team of 65,000+ dedicated people—including more than 12,000 physicians and advanced practice providers and more than 15,500 nurses providing care and services in 21 hospitals, 300+ outpatient locations and several post-acute facilities—and Priority Health, a provider-sponsored health plan serving more than 1.3 million members. Through experience and collaboration, we are reimagining a better, more equitable model of health and wellness. For more information, visit

health

Rep. Hillary Scholten and the National Blood Clot Alliance Award Corewell Health Butterworth Hospital as a VTE Center of Excellence. www.stoptheclot.org ) to present NBCA's inaugural Venous Thromboembolism (VTE) Center of Excellence (COE) award to Corewell Health Grand Rapids Hospitals – Butterworth Hospital. This award recognizes the hospital's outstanding commitment to providing the highest standard of care, patient education, and follow-up treatment for VTE patients. Continue Reading Rep. Hillary Scholten (MI-03) (center) presents the inaugural NBCA VTE Center of Excellence Award to the Corewell Health team. Pictured from left to right: Glen VanOtteren, Erin VanDyke, PA-C, MPAS, Michael Knox, MD, and Trevor Cummings, MD, FACEP. Rep. Scholten stated, "Our friends, families, neighbors, and the wider community can trust the commitment to excellence demonstrated by Corewell's clinicians. These incredible providers ensure that all patients, not just some, will receive the highest standard of care when being diagnosed and treated for VTE. I was delighted to submit a FY25 appropriations request to fund a nationwide public awareness campaign and to train healthcare providers to recognize the symptoms of blood clots. West Michigan is leading the way in addressing this public health crisis, setting a model for both the Great Lakes State and our nation." Dr. Michael Knox, MD, FACR, and Co-Director of the Corewell PERT Program, accepted the award on behalf of Corewell. He stated, "I am honored to accept this award on behalf of my team and thank NBCA for this distinction. We appreciate Rep. Scholten's acknowledgement of the important work we are doing. Tackling this public health crisis will take all of us working together -- hospitals, clinicians, patients, and Members of Congress." Justin Crockett, NBCA Board Member and Chair of the NBCA VTE COE Committee, added, "Development of this VTE COE designation has been a long journey. We are very proud to present this award and to start reducing the incidence and mortality of VTE, which claims the lives of 100,000 people each year from all age groups and walks of life. We are especially grateful for Congresswoman Scholten's support and in recognizing the toll VTE takes on both the citizens of Michigan and the entire nation. We also thank her for supporting NBCA's $5 million federal appropriations request directing funding to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's (CDC) Division of Blood Disorders and Genomics for a national VTE education, awareness, and prevention program for both the public and clinicians." VTE (venous blood clots) claims the lives of 100,000 Americans each year while impacting another 900,000 individuals. It is the third leading cause of cardiovascular death and the second cause of sudden unexpected death. It kills more people each year than HIV/AIDS, breast cancer and motor vehicle accidents combined. Nearly half of all VTE cases occur in a hospital or post-hospital setting, yet, according to the CDC, 70% of these cases are preventable. It is estimated that the annual cost to the US healthcare system is About the National Blood Clot Alliance The National Blood Clot Alliance, established in 2003, is the nation's leading nonprofit, patient advocacy organization dedicated to advancing the prevention, early diagnosis, and successful treatment of life-threatening blood clots, such as deep vein thrombosis (DVT) and pulmonary embolism (PE), DVT +PE=VTE. Each year NBCA provides blood clot information, resources, and support to more than 3 million people. For more information about NBCA please contact About Corewell Health™ People are at the heart of everything we do, and the inspiration for our legacy of outstanding outcomes, innovation, strong community partnerships, philanthropy and transparency. Corewell Health is a not-for-profit health system that provides health care and coverage with an exceptional team of 65,000+ dedicated people—including more than 12,000 physicians and advanced practice providers and more than 15,500 nurses providing care and services in 21 hospitals, 300+ outpatient locations and several post-acute facilities—and Priority Health, a provider-sponsored health plan serving more than 1.3 million members. Through experience and collaboration, we are reimagining a better, more equitable model of health and wellness. For more information, visit

Hot Docs to close its flagship Toronto theatre, lay off staff for three months

The beleaguered Hot Docs Film Festival says it's closing its flagship Toronto theatre for about three months and laying off staff amid financial difficulties. Canada's largest film festival says it will temporarily shutter the Hot Docs Ted Rogers Cinema starting June 12. A statement from the festival says that will result in temporary layoffs as the organization tries to find a path back to profitability. Robin Mirsky, the co-chair of the Hot Docs' board of directors, says it was a difficult but necessary step for the organization. The latest iteration of the festival wrapped in early May amid ongoing uncertainty over its finances and concerns over a mass staff exodus. 'Happy tears' of victim's sister after prison attack on serial killer Robert Pickton Cynthia Cardinal said she was 'overwhelmed' with happiness when she received a text message on Monday with the news that serial killer Robert Pickton, who murdered her sister, was attacked in prison. She called it 'karma.' Republican National Committee in Washington evacuated after blood vials received in package The headquarters of the Republican National Committee in Washington, D.C., was briefly evacuated on Wednesday morning after a suspicious package containing two vials of blood was delivered to the building, the police said. Fish oil supplements may raise risk of stroke, heart issues, study suggests As an excellent source of heart-healthy omega-3 fatty acids, daily fish oil supplements are a popular way to keep the risk of cardiovascular disease at bay. Woman found dead in Lake Ontario in 2017 matches identity of missing person in Switzerland Genetic genealogy has helped Toronto police identify a woman who was found dead in Lake Ontario in 2017. Montreal photographer captures dramatic Canada goose vs. fox fight on video A Montreal photographer captured the moment a Canada goose defended itself from a fox at the Botanical Garden. Interpol says more than 1,500 stolen Canadian vehicles identified since February Interpol says more than 200 stolen Canadian vehicles have been found each week across the globe since February. Thunderstorms with tornado risk in some areas in Ontario, snow elsewhere in Canada Donald Trump had spent weeks needling U.S. President Joe Biden for his refusal to commit to a debate. But Washington political columnist Eric Ham describes how in one fell swoop, Biden ingeniously stole the issue from the Trump campaign and made it his own. 'All hell broke loose': Passengers on Singapore Airlines flight describe nightmare at 37,000 feet Ottawa ranks 30th in Canada for work-life balance, report finds Ontario investing over $9.5 million to build more than 100 supportive housing Private island on Nova Scotia's South Shore listed for $11.5M A private island on Nova Scotia's South Shore has been listed for sale with a $11.5-million price tag. Halifax suffering from gridlock following accidents An accident or vehicle breakdown on any of the major routes in Halifax can often cause traffic chaos. How to remove ticks and what to know about these bloodsuckers Ticks are parasitic bloodsuckers, capable of spreading deadly disease, and they're becoming increasingly common. Here's what you need to know about them. Newfoundland grandmothers can wail on the accordion. A historian wants them on stage 79-year-old Madonna Wilkinson has been playing the accordion since she was 15, when she picked one up that had been left behind at one of her parents' rollicking parties in the oceanside town about 25 kilometres north of St. John's, N.L. She has played Sunday masses and St. Patrick's Day parties, and community events of all kinds. The latest advice for expecting parents? Sign up for child care as soon as you're pregnant Canada's new $10-a-day child care program is expanding, but there's growing evidence that demand for the program is rising even faster, leaving many parents on the outside looking in. Study says aquaculture likely driving wild salmon extinction in Newfoundland The City of Edmonton says a new property tax subclass is helping in the cleanup of problem residential properties. Progress made on Calgary's housing strategy, but crisis worsening: report Calgary city council will learn what impact its new housing strategy has had since being passed in September during an update on Wednesday. Opposition charges Alberta government knew of hotel use for assisted living patients at earlier date Nearly two months ago, the Alberta government launched four investigations into a company that placed people in hospital awaiting assisted-living accommodations into hotels. Today, internal emails shared by the Official Opposition reveal both the province's health and social services ministries received a complaint about the firm, called Contentment Social Services (CSS), months earlier. Concerned UCalgary faculty, students write letter over 'brutal action' at protest The long weekend proved to be a memorable one for members of the Team Saskatchewan U16 flag football team — they brought home some hardware from Kingston, Ontario. Sask. man accused of killing his mother was hearing violent voices and police knew, brother claims 'It hurts': First Nations leader says little change for women's safety since Pickton murders

entertainment

Hot Docs to close its flagship Toronto theatre, lay off staff for three months. The beleaguered Hot Docs Film Festival says it's closing its flagship Toronto theatre for about three months and laying off staff amid financial difficulties. Canada's largest film festival says it will temporarily shutter the Hot Docs Ted Rogers Cinema starting June 12. A statement from the festival says that will result in temporary layoffs as the organization tries to find a path back to profitability. Robin Mirsky, the co-chair of the Hot Docs' board of directors, says it was a difficult but necessary step for the organization. The latest iteration of the festival wrapped in early May amid ongoing uncertainty over its finances and concerns over a mass staff exodus. 'Happy tears' of victim's sister after prison attack on serial killer Robert Pickton Cynthia Cardinal said she was 'overwhelmed' with happiness when she received a text message on Monday with the news that serial killer Robert Pickton, who murdered her sister, was attacked in prison. She called it 'karma.' Republican National Committee in Washington evacuated after blood vials received in package The headquarters of the Republican National Committee in Washington, D.C., was briefly evacuated on Wednesday morning after a suspicious package containing two vials of blood was delivered to the building, the police said. Fish oil supplements may raise risk of stroke, heart issues, study suggests As an excellent source of heart-healthy omega-3 fatty acids, daily fish oil supplements are a popular way to keep the risk of cardiovascular disease at bay. Woman found dead in Lake Ontario in 2017 matches identity of missing person in Switzerland Genetic genealogy has helped Toronto police identify a woman who was found dead in Lake Ontario in 2017. Montreal photographer captures dramatic Canada goose vs. fox fight on video A Montreal photographer captured the moment a Canada goose defended itself from a fox at the Botanical Garden. Interpol says more than 1,500 stolen Canadian vehicles identified since February Interpol says more than 200 stolen Canadian vehicles have been found each week across the globe since February. Thunderstorms with tornado risk in some areas in Ontario, snow elsewhere in Canada Donald Trump had spent weeks needling U.S. President Joe Biden for his refusal to commit to a debate. But Washington political columnist Eric Ham describes how in one fell swoop, Biden ingeniously stole the issue from the Trump campaign and made it his own. 'All hell broke loose': Passengers on Singapore Airlines flight describe nightmare at 37,000 feet Ottawa ranks 30th in Canada for work-life balance, report finds Ontario investing over $9.5 million to build more than 100 supportive housing Private island on Nova Scotia's South Shore listed for $11.5M A private island on Nova Scotia's South Shore has been listed for sale with a $11.5-million price tag. Halifax suffering from gridlock following accidents An accident or vehicle breakdown on any of the major routes in Halifax can often cause traffic chaos. How to remove ticks and what to know about these bloodsuckers Ticks are parasitic bloodsuckers, capable of spreading deadly disease, and they're becoming increasingly common. Here's what you need to know about them. Newfoundland grandmothers can wail on the accordion. A historian wants them on stage 79-year-old Madonna Wilkinson has been playing the accordion since she was 15, when she picked one up that had been left behind at one of her parents' rollicking parties in the oceanside town about 25 kilometres north of St. John's, N.L. She has played Sunday masses and St. Patrick's Day parties, and community events of all kinds. The latest advice for expecting parents? Sign up for child care as soon as you're pregnant Canada's new $10-a-day child care program is expanding, but there's growing evidence that demand for the program is rising even faster, leaving many parents on the outside looking in. Study says aquaculture likely driving wild salmon extinction in Newfoundland The City of Edmonton says a new property tax subclass is helping in the cleanup of problem residential properties. Progress made on Calgary's housing strategy, but crisis worsening: report Calgary city council will learn what impact its new housing strategy has had since being passed in September during an update on Wednesday. Opposition charges Alberta government knew of hotel use for assisted living patients at earlier date Nearly two months ago, the Alberta government launched four investigations into a company that placed people in hospital awaiting assisted-living accommodations into hotels. Today, internal emails shared by the Official Opposition reveal both the province's health and social services ministries received a complaint about the firm, called Contentment Social Services (CSS), months earlier. Concerned UCalgary faculty, students write letter over 'brutal action' at protest The long weekend proved to be a memorable one for members of the Team Saskatchewan U16 flag football team — they brought home some hardware from Kingston, Ontario. Sask. man accused of killing his mother was hearing violent voices and police knew, brother claims 'It hurts': First Nations leader says little change for women's safety since Pickton murders

Policies, procedures often broken in awarding contracts to under-fire consulting firm: auditor general

Canada's auditor general is blasting federal government departments and agencies for disregarding their own procurement policies and failing to manage risks relating to contracts awarded to McKinsey & Company. In a new report tabled Tuesday, Auditor General Karen Hogan found that the organizations showed a "frequent disregard" for contracting and procurement processes when awarding contracts to the global management consulting company. Capital Dispatch: Sign up for in-depth political coverage of Parliament Hill The vast majority of them, the audit reveals, failed to properly follow all aspects of their policies on at least one contract and many organizations did not always have a way of demonstrating contracts offered value for money. "We concluded that professional services contracts were often not awarded to McKinsey & Company in accordance with applicable policies," the report says. "The federal organizations' frequent disregard of policies and guidance was evident by missing bid evaluations and poorly justified use of non-competitive approaches." Between January 2011 and September 2023, 10 federal government agencies and 10 Crown corporations awarded a total of 97 professional services contracts to McKinsey & Company, worth a total of $209 million. $200 million of that money has been spent. Of the 97 contracts awarded to McKinsey, Hogan found about 70 per cent were issued as non-competitive contracts and at least four appeared to have been designed and implemented to suit McKinsey & Company specifically. "Federal contracting and procurement policies exist to ensure fairness, transparency, and value for Canadians—but they only work if they are followed," the report states. Hogan also concludes that in many cases, organizations could not clearly show whether a contract was needed, what the expected deliverables were, whether all the deliverables were provided or that the ultimate intent of the contract issued to McKinsey & Company was achieved. The AG's latest audit was launched after the House of Commons unanimously passed a motion in February 2023 requesting a value-for-money audit relating to McKinsey & Company contracts. The request from members of Parliament came after a lengthy study on the rise in government contracts by the House of Commons Standing Committee on Government Operations and Estimates. McKinsey came under fire in 2022 after it was revealed a surge of contracts had been awarded to the consulting firm under the Liberal government. At the time, Ottawa said that since 2015, Public Services and Procurement Canada had awarded McKinsey 23 contracts valued at $101.4 million, up from the $2.2 million spent under the previous Harper government. The sharp increase raised questions about the use of federal funds and the company's influence over the Liberal government. Download the CTV News App for breaking news alerts and video on all the top stories In her report, Hogan highlights that spending by departments and agencies on contracts awarded for professional services in categories such as informatics services, management consulting, welfare services and other services increased after 2015, with contracts specifically to McKinsey & Company jumping after 2017. Over the next year-and-a-half, 44 per cent of all mortgages will be up for renewal in Canada. To help guide consumers through these uncertain financial times, CTV News reached out to more than 50 mortgage brokers across Canada with a list of questions. Their answers provide professional guidance for individuals and families searching for clarity and sound advice. Policies, procedures often broken in awarding contracts to under-fire consulting firm: auditor general 9-year-old boy dies after being pulled from water at Ottawa's Britannia Beach From deleting evidence to dismissing reports, audit finds Canadian agencies fall short on fighting cybercrime Paris Olympics: Opening athlete parade on a river, not in a stadium, tops list of innovations Three babies were abandoned in London over 7 years. Now it's revealed they're siblings N.B. auditor general finds $173 million in travel nurse contracts 'did not demonstrate value for money' Biden lays into Trump over convictions and says he now poses a greater threat than in 2016 Netanyahu could be prolonging Gaza war for political aims, Biden says Modi claims victory for his alliance in India's general election Prime Minister Narendra Modi claimed victory for his alliance on Tuesday in India's general election, despite a lackluster performance from his own party as it faced a stronger than expected challenge from the opposition, which pushed back against the leader's mixed economic record and polarizing politics. Policies, procedures often broken in awarding contracts to under-fire consulting firm: auditor general Canada's auditor general is blasting federal government departments and agencies for disregarding their own procurement policies and failing to manage risks relating to contracts awarded to McKinsey and Company. From deleting evidence to dismissing reports, audit finds Canadian agencies fall short on fighting cybercrime Paris Olympics: Opening athlete parade on a river, not in a stadium, tops list of innovations Montreal driver says it's quicker to drive to the U.S. than the West Island Federal NDP want a price cap on grocery store staples, Liberals say it won't work

politics

Policies, procedures often broken in awarding contracts to under-fire consulting firm: auditor general. Canada's auditor general is blasting federal government departments and agencies for disregarding their own procurement policies and failing to manage risks relating to contracts awarded to McKinsey & Company. In a new report tabled Tuesday, Auditor General Karen Hogan found that the organizations showed a "frequent disregard" for contracting and procurement processes when awarding contracts to the global management consulting company. Capital Dispatch: Sign up for in-depth political coverage of Parliament Hill The vast majority of them, the audit reveals, failed to properly follow all aspects of their policies on at least one contract and many organizations did not always have a way of demonstrating contracts offered value for money. "We concluded that professional services contracts were often not awarded to McKinsey & Company in accordance with applicable policies," the report says. "The federal organizations' frequent disregard of policies and guidance was evident by missing bid evaluations and poorly justified use of non-competitive approaches." Between January 2011 and September 2023, 10 federal government agencies and 10 Crown corporations awarded a total of 97 professional services contracts to McKinsey & Company, worth a total of $209 million. $200 million of that money has been spent. Of the 97 contracts awarded to McKinsey, Hogan found about 70 per cent were issued as non-competitive contracts and at least four appeared to have been designed and implemented to suit McKinsey & Company specifically. "Federal contracting and procurement policies exist to ensure fairness, transparency, and value for Canadians—but they only work if they are followed," the report states. Hogan also concludes that in many cases, organizations could not clearly show whether a contract was needed, what the expected deliverables were, whether all the deliverables were provided or that the ultimate intent of the contract issued to McKinsey & Company was achieved. The AG's latest audit was launched after the House of Commons unanimously passed a motion in February 2023 requesting a value-for-money audit relating to McKinsey & Company contracts. The request from members of Parliament came after a lengthy study on the rise in government contracts by the House of Commons Standing Committee on Government Operations and Estimates. McKinsey came under fire in 2022 after it was revealed a surge of contracts had been awarded to the consulting firm under the Liberal government. At the time, Ottawa said that since 2015, Public Services and Procurement Canada had awarded McKinsey 23 contracts valued at $101.4 million, up from the $2.2 million spent under the previous Harper government. The sharp increase raised questions about the use of federal funds and the company's influence over the Liberal government. Download the CTV News App for breaking news alerts and video on all the top stories In her report, Hogan highlights that spending by departments and agencies on contracts awarded for professional services in categories such as informatics services, management consulting, welfare services and other services increased after 2015, with contracts specifically to McKinsey & Company jumping after 2017. Over the next year-and-a-half, 44 per cent of all mortgages will be up for renewal in Canada. To help guide consumers through these uncertain financial times, CTV News reached out to more than 50 mortgage brokers across Canada with a list of questions. Their answers provide professional guidance for individuals and families searching for clarity and sound advice. Policies, procedures often broken in awarding contracts to under-fire consulting firm: auditor general 9-year-old boy dies after being pulled from water at Ottawa's Britannia Beach From deleting evidence to dismissing reports, audit finds Canadian agencies fall short on fighting cybercrime Paris Olympics: Opening athlete parade on a river, not in a stadium, tops list of innovations Three babies were abandoned in London over 7 years. Now it's revealed they're siblings N.B. auditor general finds $173 million in travel nurse contracts 'did not demonstrate value for money' Biden lays into Trump over convictions and says he now poses a greater threat than in 2016 Netanyahu could be prolonging Gaza war for political aims, Biden says Modi claims victory for his alliance in India's general election Prime Minister Narendra Modi claimed victory for his alliance on Tuesday in India's general election, despite a lackluster performance from his own party as it faced a stronger than expected challenge from the opposition, which pushed back against the leader's mixed economic record and polarizing politics. Policies, procedures often broken in awarding contracts to under-fire consulting firm: auditor general Canada's auditor general is blasting federal government departments and agencies for disregarding their own procurement policies and failing to manage risks relating to contracts awarded to McKinsey and Company. From deleting evidence to dismissing reports, audit finds Canadian agencies fall short on fighting cybercrime Paris Olympics: Opening athlete parade on a river, not in a stadium, tops list of innovations Montreal driver says it's quicker to drive to the U.S. than the West Island Federal NDP want a price cap on grocery store staples, Liberals say it won't work

iClick Interactive Asia Group Limited Files 2023 Annual Report on Form 20-F

ICLK ), a leading enterprise and marketing cloud platform in China that empowers worldwide brands with full-stack consumer lifecycle solutions, today announced that it filed its annual report on Form 20-F for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2023 with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC") on ICLK ) is a leading enterprise and marketing cloud platform in China. iClick's mission is to empower worldwide brands to unlock the enormous market potential of smart retail. With its leading proprietary technologies, iClick's full suite of data-driven solutions helps brands drive significant business growth and profitability throughout the full consumer lifecycle. Headquartered in

business,lifestyle

iClick Interactive Asia Group Limited Files 2023 Annual Report on Form 20-F. ICLK ), a leading enterprise and marketing cloud platform in China that empowers worldwide brands with full-stack consumer lifecycle solutions, today announced that it filed its annual report on Form 20-F for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2023 with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC") on ICLK ) is a leading enterprise and marketing cloud platform in China. iClick's mission is to empower worldwide brands to unlock the enormous market potential of smart retail. With its leading proprietary technologies, iClick's full suite of data-driven solutions helps brands drive significant business growth and profitability throughout the full consumer lifecycle. Headquartered in

Mike Tyson’s fight with Jake Paul postponed after health episode

Mike Tyson's fight with Jake Paul has been postponed after the 57-year-old Tyson fell ill on a flight last weekend. Tyson and Paul said Friday that they will announce a new fight date next week. They were scheduled to meet on 20 July in Arlington, Texas. Tyson became nauseous and dizzy during the final hour of a flight from Miami to Los Angeles last Sunday, and his plane was met by first responders who attended to the former heavyweight champion. Tyson's camp attributed the episode to an ulcer problem. "During a follow up consultation on Thursday with medical professionals on his recent ulcer flare-up, the recommendation is for Mike Tyson to do minimal to light training over the next few weeks and then return to full training with no limitations," the fight's promoters said in a statement. Tyson hasn't fought professionally since June 2005, but he has been training regularly for several years. He fought Roy Jones Jr in an entertaining exhibition in Los Angeles in November 2020. "My body is in better overall shape than it has been since the 1990s, and I will be back to my full training schedule soon," Tyson said in the statement. "Jake Paul, this may have bought you some time, but in the end you will still be knocked out and out of boxing for good. I appreciate everyone's patience and can't wait to deliver an unforgettable performance later this year." Texas boxing officials have sanctioned Tyson's meeting with Paul as a legitimate bout with eight two-minute rounds and unusually heavy gloves. Tyson will turn 58 before the fight, which was scheduled to be streamed on Netflix in what's likely to be a massive payday for both fighters. Tickets already purchased for the fight, which was to be held at the Dallas Cowboys' home stadium, will be honored on the new fight date, promoters said. The rescheduled fight is also expected to be in Arlington. The co-feature bout on the card was an eagerly anticipated rematch between Katie Taylor and Amanda Serrano for Taylor's undisputed junior welterweight championship, a rematch of their epochal May 2022 fight at Madison Square Garden.

sports

Mike Tyson’s fight with Jake Paul postponed after health episode. Mike Tyson's fight with Jake Paul has been postponed after the 57-year-old Tyson fell ill on a flight last weekend. Tyson and Paul said Friday that they will announce a new fight date next week. They were scheduled to meet on 20 July in Arlington, Texas. Tyson became nauseous and dizzy during the final hour of a flight from Miami to Los Angeles last Sunday, and his plane was met by first responders who attended to the former heavyweight champion. Tyson's camp attributed the episode to an ulcer problem. "During a follow up consultation on Thursday with medical professionals on his recent ulcer flare-up, the recommendation is for Mike Tyson to do minimal to light training over the next few weeks and then return to full training with no limitations," the fight's promoters said in a statement. Tyson hasn't fought professionally since June 2005, but he has been training regularly for several years. He fought Roy Jones Jr in an entertaining exhibition in Los Angeles in November 2020. "My body is in better overall shape than it has been since the 1990s, and I will be back to my full training schedule soon," Tyson said in the statement. "Jake Paul, this may have bought you some time, but in the end you will still be knocked out and out of boxing for good. I appreciate everyone's patience and can't wait to deliver an unforgettable performance later this year." Texas boxing officials have sanctioned Tyson's meeting with Paul as a legitimate bout with eight two-minute rounds and unusually heavy gloves. Tyson will turn 58 before the fight, which was scheduled to be streamed on Netflix in what's likely to be a massive payday for both fighters. Tickets already purchased for the fight, which was to be held at the Dallas Cowboys' home stadium, will be honored on the new fight date, promoters said. The rescheduled fight is also expected to be in Arlington. The co-feature bout on the card was an eagerly anticipated rematch between Katie Taylor and Amanda Serrano for Taylor's undisputed junior welterweight championship, a rematch of their epochal May 2022 fight at Madison Square Garden.

Murderous mom Susan Smith told suitor in jailhouse call she is ‘ready to go’ ahead of parole hearing: report

'The Shocking Story of Susan Smith': Prosecutor Seeks Death Penalty for Mom Who Killed Kids Fox News Insider Susan Smith, who has been behind bars for nearly three decades after drowning her two sons, is optimistic about her upcoming parole hearing, reportedly telling one of several suitors on a recorded phone call that she's served enough time in prison. Family members told the New York Post that the notorious South Carolina inmate, now 52, has spent the last several months convinced that a parole board will let her out of prison after her upcoming hearing on Nov. 4. In preparation, Smith has been hard at work courting her admirers – according to recorded phone calls from Leath Correctional Institution reviewed by the Post, the convicted killer carried on romantic and sexual conversations with at least 12 suitors over the past three years. SUSAN SMITH, NEARING PAROLE AFTER MURDERS OF YOUNG SONS, SAYS SHE'D BE 'GOOD STEPMOM': REPORT Susan Smith, pictured in a recent mugshot at left and at 22 years old in 1994, has been incarcerated in South Carolina for nearly 30 years for the murder of her two sons. (South Carolina Department of Corrections) "It's time for me to get out," Smith told one such suitor over the phone earlier this year. "I've done my time. I'm ready to go." In March, she asked another man how he could support her if she is paroled, according to another conversation reviewed by the Post. The man replied that she has a large nest egg – a combination of money that he had saved up, gifts from her admirers and the sale of family property – waiting for her if she gets out. "I'll tell you what I did last night, thinking of you – I made a spreadsheet that starts out with $213,000," the caller told the notorious inmate. "You're gonna have more than that. I think you'll be in the $220,000 range, all put together. You can [spend] $40,000 a year. While you're withdrawing from that balance, it's still earning interest on the undrawn amount." KAREN READ MURDER CASE ENDS IN MISTRIAL WITH 'DEEPLY DIVIDED' JURY Susan Smith was convicted on July 22, 1995, of murdering her two sons, 3-year-old Michael Daniel Smith and 14-month-old Alexander Tyler Smith. Initially, Smith claimed that a Black man carjacked her with the two boys still inside her vehicle. But her story unraveled, and the woman admitted that she let her vehicle roll into a lake with the boys strapped inside. (Getty Images) "In 20 years' time, you will have spent most of that," he said. "But you will still have some of it left over." "I love you so much," Smith said after a short pause. "I love you too," the suitor replied. The conversation took a raunchy turn, the Post reported, with the man speculating about what Smith would look like in a wet T-shirt. "I'm going to have you in the front seat of my car," the man said. "You're so bad," Smith replied, giggling. "I have some ideas of things we can do. But I'm going to make you wiggle and squirm before I tell you." FLORIDA'S TOP PROSECUTOR BETS ON DECK OF CARDS TO SOLVE STATE'S COLDEST CASES Michael Daniel Smith, 3, and his 14-month-old brother, Alexander Tyler Smith, in a family photo. "Babe, I'm already wiggling and squirming," the man replied. Late last year, she had "ways to get [his] attention" and speculated about how she might cater to him in the morning. "I can get you up in the morning," she said, coyly. "And I mean up." SIGN UP TO GET TRUE CRIME NEWSLETTER But Smith is unlikely to be paroled on her first attempt – or ever, experts told the Post. According to South Carolina Department of Corrections records, Smith began her life sentence on Nov. 4, 1994, after she was convicted on two counts of murder in the deaths of sons Michael Daniel Smith, 3, and Alexander Tyler Smith, 14 months. Smith let her car roll into John D. Long Lake in Union County, South Carolina, with the two boys strapped into their car seats. She stood by as the vehicle sank to the bottom and drowned both children. Toys are pictured at a small memorial beside the spot where Michael and Alexander Smith were drowned in 1994. (William F. Campbell/Getty Images) GET REAL TIME UPDATES DIRECTLY ON THE told investigators that a Black man had carjacked her while the two boys were still inside the car. Days later, she wept alongside husband David Smith on national television, pleading for their safe return: "Your mama loves you so much," she said during one news conference. But nine days later, she confessed – she was allegedly motivated by her affair with a wealthy man who didn't want children. FOLLOW THE FOX TRUE CRIME TEAM ON X Grief-stricken David Smith, the inmate's former husband, is pictured weeping amid a crowd of mourners as he leaves the funeral for his sons Michael and Alex. (Thomas S. England/Getty Images) Her prospective affair partner and ex-boyfriend, Tom Findlay, penned a letter a week earlier that prosecutors said drove Smith to drown the boys. "Susan, I could really fall for you. But like I have told you before, there are some things about you that aren't suited for me, and yes, I am speaking about your children," he wrote, according to CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP David Smith, the father of the two slain children, has since remarried and fathered two additional children. He and his family intend to oppose Smith's release. "David still thinks of his boys every day, and doesn't ever want Susan to get out," one of the man's relatives told The Messenger. "She belongs in jail… she is exactly where she needs to be – in prison. And we will do what it takes to keep her there." Smith has confirmed her intention to show up at the hearing, the Post reported. Meanwhile, the South Carolina Department of Probation, Parole and Pardon Services has notified victims' families about the upcoming hearing. Christina Coulter is a U.S. and World reporter for Fox News Digital. Email story tips to

usa

Murderous mom Susan Smith told suitor in jailhouse call she is ‘ready to go’ ahead of parole hearing: report. 'The Shocking Story of Susan Smith': Prosecutor Seeks Death Penalty for Mom Who Killed Kids Fox News Insider Susan Smith, who has been behind bars for nearly three decades after drowning her two sons, is optimistic about her upcoming parole hearing, reportedly telling one of several suitors on a recorded phone call that she's served enough time in prison. Family members told the New York Post that the notorious South Carolina inmate, now 52, has spent the last several months convinced that a parole board will let her out of prison after her upcoming hearing on Nov. 4. In preparation, Smith has been hard at work courting her admirers – according to recorded phone calls from Leath Correctional Institution reviewed by the Post, the convicted killer carried on romantic and sexual conversations with at least 12 suitors over the past three years. SUSAN SMITH, NEARING PAROLE AFTER MURDERS OF YOUNG SONS, SAYS SHE'D BE 'GOOD STEPMOM': REPORT Susan Smith, pictured in a recent mugshot at left and at 22 years old in 1994, has been incarcerated in South Carolina for nearly 30 years for the murder of her two sons. (South Carolina Department of Corrections) "It's time for me to get out," Smith told one such suitor over the phone earlier this year. "I've done my time. I'm ready to go." In March, she asked another man how he could support her if she is paroled, according to another conversation reviewed by the Post. The man replied that she has a large nest egg – a combination of money that he had saved up, gifts from her admirers and the sale of family property – waiting for her if she gets out. "I'll tell you what I did last night, thinking of you – I made a spreadsheet that starts out with $213,000," the caller told the notorious inmate. "You're gonna have more than that. I think you'll be in the $220,000 range, all put together. You can [spend] $40,000 a year. While you're withdrawing from that balance, it's still earning interest on the undrawn amount." KAREN READ MURDER CASE ENDS IN MISTRIAL WITH 'DEEPLY DIVIDED' JURY Susan Smith was convicted on July 22, 1995, of murdering her two sons, 3-year-old Michael Daniel Smith and 14-month-old Alexander Tyler Smith. Initially, Smith claimed that a Black man carjacked her with the two boys still inside her vehicle. But her story unraveled, and the woman admitted that she let her vehicle roll into a lake with the boys strapped inside. (Getty Images) "In 20 years' time, you will have spent most of that," he said. "But you will still have some of it left over." "I love you so much," Smith said after a short pause. "I love you too," the suitor replied. The conversation took a raunchy turn, the Post reported, with the man speculating about what Smith would look like in a wet T-shirt. "I'm going to have you in the front seat of my car," the man said. "You're so bad," Smith replied, giggling. "I have some ideas of things we can do. But I'm going to make you wiggle and squirm before I tell you." FLORIDA'S TOP PROSECUTOR BETS ON DECK OF CARDS TO SOLVE STATE'S COLDEST CASES Michael Daniel Smith, 3, and his 14-month-old brother, Alexander Tyler Smith, in a family photo. "Babe, I'm already wiggling and squirming," the man replied. Late last year, she had "ways to get [his] attention" and speculated about how she might cater to him in the morning. "I can get you up in the morning," she said, coyly. "And I mean up." SIGN UP TO GET TRUE CRIME NEWSLETTER But Smith is unlikely to be paroled on her first attempt – or ever, experts told the Post. According to South Carolina Department of Corrections records, Smith began her life sentence on Nov. 4, 1994, after she was convicted on two counts of murder in the deaths of sons Michael Daniel Smith, 3, and Alexander Tyler Smith, 14 months. Smith let her car roll into John D. Long Lake in Union County, South Carolina, with the two boys strapped into their car seats. She stood by as the vehicle sank to the bottom and drowned both children. Toys are pictured at a small memorial beside the spot where Michael and Alexander Smith were drowned in 1994. (William F. Campbell/Getty Images) GET REAL TIME UPDATES DIRECTLY ON THE told investigators that a Black man had carjacked her while the two boys were still inside the car. Days later, she wept alongside husband David Smith on national television, pleading for their safe return: "Your mama loves you so much," she said during one news conference. But nine days later, she confessed – she was allegedly motivated by her affair with a wealthy man who didn't want children. FOLLOW THE FOX TRUE CRIME TEAM ON X Grief-stricken David Smith, the inmate's former husband, is pictured weeping amid a crowd of mourners as he leaves the funeral for his sons Michael and Alex. (Thomas S. England/Getty Images) Her prospective affair partner and ex-boyfriend, Tom Findlay, penned a letter a week earlier that prosecutors said drove Smith to drown the boys. "Susan, I could really fall for you. But like I have told you before, there are some things about you that aren't suited for me, and yes, I am speaking about your children," he wrote, according to CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP David Smith, the father of the two slain children, has since remarried and fathered two additional children. He and his family intend to oppose Smith's release. "David still thinks of his boys every day, and doesn't ever want Susan to get out," one of the man's relatives told The Messenger. "She belongs in jail… she is exactly where she needs to be – in prison. And we will do what it takes to keep her there." Smith has confirmed her intention to show up at the hearing, the Post reported. Meanwhile, the South Carolina Department of Probation, Parole and Pardon Services has notified victims' families about the upcoming hearing. Christina Coulter is a U.S. and World reporter for Fox News Digital. Email story tips to

Man jailed for removing condom without consent in rare rape case

A man has been jailed for four years and three months after being charged with rape as he removed a condom without the woman he was having sex with knowing. Guy Mukendi, 39 and from Brixton, south London, was sentenced at Inner London Crown Court after being found guilty on 2 April. A young woman in Brixton reported the assault on 9 May last year. She had consented to having sex with Mukendi as long as he wore a condom. But during the encounter, he removed the protection without her knowledge. The Metropolitan Police said the victim was supported during the "extremely difficult time" as soon as she first reported the incident. Police worked with the victim to obtain screenshots of messages Mukendi sent where he apologised for taking the condom off, and where he sought to explain his actions by saying he had not had sex in a long time. He then deleted the messages but the screenshots contributed to securing his conviction. Prosecutions for non-consensual condom removal, which is classified as rape under English and Welsh law, are very rare due to under-reporting, the police said. Detective Constable Jack Earl, who led the investigation, said: "Throughout this investigation Mukendi denied any wrongdoing - but our officers built a compelling case against him to leave no doubt in the jury's mind. "We were dedicated to securing justice for the victim and will continue to raise awareness that this crime is a form of rape.

uk

Man jailed for removing condom without consent in rare rape case. A man has been jailed for four years and three months after being charged with rape as he removed a condom without the woman he was having sex with knowing. Guy Mukendi, 39 and from Brixton, south London, was sentenced at Inner London Crown Court after being found guilty on 2 April. A young woman in Brixton reported the assault on 9 May last year. She had consented to having sex with Mukendi as long as he wore a condom. But during the encounter, he removed the protection without her knowledge. The Metropolitan Police said the victim was supported during the "extremely difficult time" as soon as she first reported the incident. Police worked with the victim to obtain screenshots of messages Mukendi sent where he apologised for taking the condom off, and where he sought to explain his actions by saying he had not had sex in a long time. He then deleted the messages but the screenshots contributed to securing his conviction. Prosecutions for non-consensual condom removal, which is classified as rape under English and Welsh law, are very rare due to under-reporting, the police said. Detective Constable Jack Earl, who led the investigation, said: "Throughout this investigation Mukendi denied any wrongdoing - but our officers built a compelling case against him to leave no doubt in the jury's mind. "We were dedicated to securing justice for the victim and will continue to raise awareness that this crime is a form of rape.

Garden ideas: outdoor family fun and weatherproof barbecues

Picture the scene: the sun is shining, the sky is a clear blue, and you have nowhere to be that day other than relaxing outdoors with the family. But as you reach for a comfy chair and sunscreen, you notice that your garden is in need of some TLC. Overgrown hedges, grass taller than the kids and creeping weeds – these all means time spent maintaining your garden rather than enjoying it. Add in an iffy forecast for your barbecue later and an argument about screen time, and suddenly summer starts to look a lot less enticing. But fear not – when it comes to lawn length, help is at hand. A robotic lawnmower, such as the Honda Miimo, could make the regular upkeep of your grass much easier, with its state-of-the-art functions such as mapping your garden, intelligent cutting, the ability to work around obstacles – on uneven terrain and inclines – and top security features. And, to use suitably robotic language, there are cheat codes for the other stuff too. Here are a few more ideas for how you can stop sweating the stressful stuff and have the season you want. How to keep kids entertained outdoors Once the weather turns warmer, the garden is ideal for tempting your kids out of their caves. "A pack of chalk will create endless fun," says Emma Morton-Turner, interior stylist and founder of The garden can be an endless source of inspiration for children – try creating a bug hotel from bits of wood. Photograph: Westend61/Getty Images For green-fingered kids, give them their own section of the garden: they could plant bulbs, build a bug hotel from bits of wood and old pots, or use old plates and spoons to make messy mud pies – while leaving the rest of your garden pristine. "Den building with a duvet cover or tablecloth will keep kids busy," says Morton-Turner. "If trees and branches aren't available, use chairs and tables. They'll want to play, eat and sleep in there too, she says. "As the sun goes down, set up an outdoor cinema for a family movie night: all you need is an inexpensive projector and a sheet. Just add cushions, throws and popcorn." How to throw a weatherproof barbecue "We all know that wet weather pricks up its ears the minute you say 'barbecue', so invest in a large patio umbrella or pop-up gazebo that will cover you and the barbecue during rainy conditions," says Hilary Anderson of Don't let the rain put a dampener on your barbecue – a large umbrella and a well-fitting lid will keep the party going. Photograph: Adene Sanchez/Getty Images From procrastination to manually mowing your lawn: 22 things you should stop doing this summer Read more How to have a low-maintenance garden Creating a welcoming garden doesn't require as much effort as you might imagine if you make some simple swaps. "Containers provide flexibility in any outdoor space, reducing the need for extensive weeding," says Julian Palphramand, head of plants at British Garden Centres. "Clustered together, they centralise gardening chores – plus you can choose self-watering pots, ideal for those with a hectic lifestyle. Plant up with perennials, such as lavender, sedum and geraniums: they're relatively fuss-free, attract wildlife and add easy colour," she says. "You can also swap hedging plants, which need pruning, for wooden lattice or slatted panels that have minimal upkeep." Another smart move is upgrading a traditional lawnmower to a Honda Miimo. Miimo glides around the lawn nibbling the tips of your turf. There isn't even any raking up afterwards as the clippings mulch into the ground below. The newly released models have better navigation, enhanced sensors and smartphone app connectivity – as well as Bluetooth connectivity. So with the kids entertained and the barbecue stress abated, you can raise a glass of something cold and watch Miimo do the hard work. It's summer, simplified. Find out more about how the latest Honda Miimo robotic lawnmowers could transform your lawn

lifestyle

Garden ideas: outdoor family fun and weatherproof barbecues. Picture the scene: the sun is shining, the sky is a clear blue, and you have nowhere to be that day other than relaxing outdoors with the family. But as you reach for a comfy chair and sunscreen, you notice that your garden is in need of some TLC. Overgrown hedges, grass taller than the kids and creeping weeds – these all means time spent maintaining your garden rather than enjoying it. Add in an iffy forecast for your barbecue later and an argument about screen time, and suddenly summer starts to look a lot less enticing. But fear not – when it comes to lawn length, help is at hand. A robotic lawnmower, such as the Honda Miimo, could make the regular upkeep of your grass much easier, with its state-of-the-art functions such as mapping your garden, intelligent cutting, the ability to work around obstacles – on uneven terrain and inclines – and top security features. And, to use suitably robotic language, there are cheat codes for the other stuff too. Here are a few more ideas for how you can stop sweating the stressful stuff and have the season you want. How to keep kids entertained outdoors Once the weather turns warmer, the garden is ideal for tempting your kids out of their caves. "A pack of chalk will create endless fun," says Emma Morton-Turner, interior stylist and founder of The garden can be an endless source of inspiration for children – try creating a bug hotel from bits of wood. Photograph: Westend61/Getty Images For green-fingered kids, give them their own section of the garden: they could plant bulbs, build a bug hotel from bits of wood and old pots, or use old plates and spoons to make messy mud pies – while leaving the rest of your garden pristine. "Den building with a duvet cover or tablecloth will keep kids busy," says Morton-Turner. "If trees and branches aren't available, use chairs and tables. They'll want to play, eat and sleep in there too, she says. "As the sun goes down, set up an outdoor cinema for a family movie night: all you need is an inexpensive projector and a sheet. Just add cushions, throws and popcorn." How to throw a weatherproof barbecue "We all know that wet weather pricks up its ears the minute you say 'barbecue', so invest in a large patio umbrella or pop-up gazebo that will cover you and the barbecue during rainy conditions," says Hilary Anderson of Don't let the rain put a dampener on your barbecue – a large umbrella and a well-fitting lid will keep the party going. Photograph: Adene Sanchez/Getty Images From procrastination to manually mowing your lawn: 22 things you should stop doing this summer Read more How to have a low-maintenance garden Creating a welcoming garden doesn't require as much effort as you might imagine if you make some simple swaps. "Containers provide flexibility in any outdoor space, reducing the need for extensive weeding," says Julian Palphramand, head of plants at British Garden Centres. "Clustered together, they centralise gardening chores – plus you can choose self-watering pots, ideal for those with a hectic lifestyle. Plant up with perennials, such as lavender, sedum and geraniums: they're relatively fuss-free, attract wildlife and add easy colour," she says. "You can also swap hedging plants, which need pruning, for wooden lattice or slatted panels that have minimal upkeep." Another smart move is upgrading a traditional lawnmower to a Honda Miimo. Miimo glides around the lawn nibbling the tips of your turf. There isn't even any raking up afterwards as the clippings mulch into the ground below. The newly released models have better navigation, enhanced sensors and smartphone app connectivity – as well as Bluetooth connectivity. So with the kids entertained and the barbecue stress abated, you can raise a glass of something cold and watch Miimo do the hard work. It's summer, simplified. Find out more about how the latest Honda Miimo robotic lawnmowers could transform your lawn

Breeze launches flights from Manchester-Boston regional airport

Breeze Airways will begin inaugural flights from Manchester-Boston Regional Airport (MHT) to Charleston International Airport (CHS) and Orlando International Airport (MCO). “We started service from Providence three years ago and now offer more than 20 destinations so we expect to see continued growth from Manchester-Boston Regional,” said Breeze Airways’ president Tom Doxey. A statement from […]

aerospace

Breeze launches flights from Manchester-Boston regional airport. Breeze Airways will begin inaugural flights from Manchester-Boston Regional Airport (MHT) to Charleston International Airport (CHS) and Orlando International Airport (MCO). “We started service from Providence three years ago and now offer more than 20 destinations so we expect to see continued growth from Manchester-Boston Regional,” said Breeze Airways’ president Tom Doxey. A statement from […]

Kohli, Rohit and Jadeja retire from T20 internationals

India legends Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma and Ravindra Jadeja have retired from T20 internationals following their World Cup triumph in Barbados. Kohli was man of the match for his 76 and Rohit became the first India captain to lift a World Cup since 2011 following the captivating seven-run defeat of South Africa. Rohit, 37, and 35-year-old Kohli are number one and two respectively on the all-time list of T20 international run-scorers. "I've loved every moment of this," said Rohit. "I started my India career playing this format. This is what I wanted. I wanted to win the cup and say thank you." On former captain Kohli, Rohit said: "He's been a champion player without a doubt. We all know what he has done for us. "At some point everyone has to say goodbye to the game and Virat was very clear that this is what he wanted to do." Jadeja, 35, wrote on Instagram on Sunday: "Like a steadfast horse galloping with pride, I've always given my best for my country and will continue to do so in other formats. "Winning the T20 World Cup was a dream come true, a pinnacle of my T20 international career. Thank you for the memories, the cheers, and the unwavering support." Kohli had endured a difficult World Cup, with only 75 runs in seven innings before his important knock in the final lifted India to 176-7. South Africa needed only 30 runs from the final five overs, but they wilted in the face of some superb India death bowling, and Suryakumar Yadav's all-time great catch to remove David Miller in the 20th over effectively sealed the match. Clearly emotional on receiving his player-of-the-match award, Kohli said: "This is my last T20 game playing for India, my last World Cup I was going to play. "I wanted to make the most of it. And this was our aim. We wanted to lift the cup. "I'm really grateful I was able to get the job done for the team when it mattered the most." Kohli ends with 4,188 runs from 125 T20 internationals, just behind Rohit's tally of 4,231. Rohit's 159 caps is also the most for any man and his five centuries is also a record, shared with Australia's Glenn Maxwell. Left-arm spinning all-rounder Jadeja has made 74 T20 international appearances, taking 54 wickets at an average of 29.85 and scoring 515 runs at a strike rate of 127.16. Rohit and Bangladesh all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan are the only men to feature in every T20 World Cup, the first edition of which was held in 2007, which India won. India's last World Cup success in any format came in the 50-over version in 2011. They have lost two finals in the past year: the World Test Championship final to Australia at The Oval last summer, then the 50-over final on home soil in Ahmedabad to the same opponents in November. "It was very emotional, I wanted this badly," said Rohit. "I was very desperate for this in my life so I'm happy we crossed the line this time.

world

Kohli, Rohit and Jadeja retire from T20 internationals. India legends Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma and Ravindra Jadeja have retired from T20 internationals following their World Cup triumph in Barbados. Kohli was man of the match for his 76 and Rohit became the first India captain to lift a World Cup since 2011 following the captivating seven-run defeat of South Africa. Rohit, 37, and 35-year-old Kohli are number one and two respectively on the all-time list of T20 international run-scorers. "I've loved every moment of this," said Rohit. "I started my India career playing this format. This is what I wanted. I wanted to win the cup and say thank you." On former captain Kohli, Rohit said: "He's been a champion player without a doubt. We all know what he has done for us. "At some point everyone has to say goodbye to the game and Virat was very clear that this is what he wanted to do." Jadeja, 35, wrote on Instagram on Sunday: "Like a steadfast horse galloping with pride, I've always given my best for my country and will continue to do so in other formats. "Winning the T20 World Cup was a dream come true, a pinnacle of my T20 international career. Thank you for the memories, the cheers, and the unwavering support." Kohli had endured a difficult World Cup, with only 75 runs in seven innings before his important knock in the final lifted India to 176-7. South Africa needed only 30 runs from the final five overs, but they wilted in the face of some superb India death bowling, and Suryakumar Yadav's all-time great catch to remove David Miller in the 20th over effectively sealed the match. Clearly emotional on receiving his player-of-the-match award, Kohli said: "This is my last T20 game playing for India, my last World Cup I was going to play. "I wanted to make the most of it. And this was our aim. We wanted to lift the cup. "I'm really grateful I was able to get the job done for the team when it mattered the most." Kohli ends with 4,188 runs from 125 T20 internationals, just behind Rohit's tally of 4,231. Rohit's 159 caps is also the most for any man and his five centuries is also a record, shared with Australia's Glenn Maxwell. Left-arm spinning all-rounder Jadeja has made 74 T20 international appearances, taking 54 wickets at an average of 29.85 and scoring 515 runs at a strike rate of 127.16. Rohit and Bangladesh all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan are the only men to feature in every T20 World Cup, the first edition of which was held in 2007, which India won. India's last World Cup success in any format came in the 50-over version in 2011. They have lost two finals in the past year: the World Test Championship final to Australia at The Oval last summer, then the 50-over final on home soil in Ahmedabad to the same opponents in November. "It was very emotional, I wanted this badly," said Rohit. "I was very desperate for this in my life so I'm happy we crossed the line this time.

More effective cancer treatment with iontronic pump

More effective cancer treatment with iontronic pump Date: June 19, 2024 Source: Linköping University Summary: When low doses of cancer drugs are administered continuously near malignant brain tumors using so-called iontronic technology, cancer cell growth drastically decreases. Researchers demonstrated this in experiments with bird embryos. The results are one step closer to new types of effective treatments for severe cancer forms. Share: When low doses of cancer drugs are administered continuously near malignant brain tumours using so-called iontronic technology, cancer cell growth drastically decreases. Researchers at Linköping University, Sweden, and the Medical University of Graz, Austria, demonstrated this in experiments with bird embryos. The results, published in the Journal of Controlled Release, is one step closer to new types of effective treatments for severe cancer forms. Malignant brain tumours often recur despite surgery and post-treatment with chemotherapy and radiation. This is because cancer cells can "hide" deep within tissue and then regrow. The most effective drugs cannot pass through the so-called blood-brain barrier -- a tight network surrounding blood vessels in the brain that prevents many substances in the blood from entering it. Consequently, there are very few available options for treating aggressive brain tumours. In 2021, a research group from Linköping University and the Medical University of Graz demonstrated how an iontronic pump could be used to locally administer drugs and inhibit cell growth for a particularly malignant and aggressive form of brain cancer -- glioblastoma. At that time, experiments were conducted on tumour cells in a petri dish. Now, the same research group has taken the next step towards using this technology in clinical cancer treatment. By allowing glioblastoma cells to grow using undeveloped bird embryos, new treatment methods can be tested on living tumours. The researchers showed that the growth of cancer cells decreased when low doses of strong drugs (gemcitabine) were continuously administered using an iontronic pump directly adjacent to the brain tumour. "We have previously shown that the concept works. Now we use a model with a living tumour, and we can see that the pump administers the drug very effectively. So even though it is a simplified model of a human, we can say with greater certainty that it works," says Daniel Simon, professor of organic electronics at Linköping University. The concept behind a future treatment for glioblastoma involves surgically implanting an iontronic device directly into the brain, close to the tumour. This approach allows for the use of low doses of potent drugs while bypassing the blood-brain barrier. Precise dosing, both in terms of location and timing, is crucial for effective treatment. Additionally, this method can minimize side effects since the chemotherapy doesn't need to circulate throughout the entire body. Beyond brain tumours, researchers hope that iontronics can be applied to many types of difficult-to-treat cancer forms. "It becomes a very persistent treatment that the tumour cannot hide from. Even though the tumour and surrounding tissue try remove the drug, the materials and control systems we use in iontronics can continuously deliver a locally high concentration of medication to the tissue adjacent to the tumour," explains Theresia Arbring Sjöström, a researcher at the Laboratory for Organic Electronics at Linköping University. The researchers compared the continuous drug delivery of the pump with once-daily dosing, which more closely resembles how chemotherapy is administered to patients today. They observed that tumour growth decreased with the ionic treatment but not with the daily-dose approach, even though the latter was twice as strong. These experiments were conducted using bird embryos at an early developmental stage. According to Linda Waldherr, a researcher at the Medical University of Graz and a guest researcher at LiU, this model serves as a good bridge to larger animal experiments: "In bird embryos, certain biological systems function similarly to those in living animals, such as the formation of blood vessels. However, we don't need to surgically implant any devices in them yet. This demonstrates that the concept works, although there are still many challenges to address," she says. The researchers believe that human trials could be feasible within the next five to ten years. The next steps involve further developing materials to allow for the surgical implantation of iontronic pumps. Subsequent experiments will also be conducted on rats and larger animals to further evaluate this treatment method. 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.

tech,science

More effective cancer treatment with iontronic pump. More effective cancer treatment with iontronic pump Date: June 19, 2024 Source: Linköping University Summary: When low doses of cancer drugs are administered continuously near malignant brain tumors using so-called iontronic technology, cancer cell growth drastically decreases. Researchers demonstrated this in experiments with bird embryos. The results are one step closer to new types of effective treatments for severe cancer forms. Share: When low doses of cancer drugs are administered continuously near malignant brain tumours using so-called iontronic technology, cancer cell growth drastically decreases. Researchers at Linköping University, Sweden, and the Medical University of Graz, Austria, demonstrated this in experiments with bird embryos. The results, published in the Journal of Controlled Release, is one step closer to new types of effective treatments for severe cancer forms. Malignant brain tumours often recur despite surgery and post-treatment with chemotherapy and radiation. This is because cancer cells can "hide" deep within tissue and then regrow. The most effective drugs cannot pass through the so-called blood-brain barrier -- a tight network surrounding blood vessels in the brain that prevents many substances in the blood from entering it. Consequently, there are very few available options for treating aggressive brain tumours. In 2021, a research group from Linköping University and the Medical University of Graz demonstrated how an iontronic pump could be used to locally administer drugs and inhibit cell growth for a particularly malignant and aggressive form of brain cancer -- glioblastoma. At that time, experiments were conducted on tumour cells in a petri dish. Now, the same research group has taken the next step towards using this technology in clinical cancer treatment. By allowing glioblastoma cells to grow using undeveloped bird embryos, new treatment methods can be tested on living tumours. The researchers showed that the growth of cancer cells decreased when low doses of strong drugs (gemcitabine) were continuously administered using an iontronic pump directly adjacent to the brain tumour. "We have previously shown that the concept works. Now we use a model with a living tumour, and we can see that the pump administers the drug very effectively. So even though it is a simplified model of a human, we can say with greater certainty that it works," says Daniel Simon, professor of organic electronics at Linköping University. The concept behind a future treatment for glioblastoma involves surgically implanting an iontronic device directly into the brain, close to the tumour. This approach allows for the use of low doses of potent drugs while bypassing the blood-brain barrier. Precise dosing, both in terms of location and timing, is crucial for effective treatment. Additionally, this method can minimize side effects since the chemotherapy doesn't need to circulate throughout the entire body. Beyond brain tumours, researchers hope that iontronics can be applied to many types of difficult-to-treat cancer forms. "It becomes a very persistent treatment that the tumour cannot hide from. Even though the tumour and surrounding tissue try remove the drug, the materials and control systems we use in iontronics can continuously deliver a locally high concentration of medication to the tissue adjacent to the tumour," explains Theresia Arbring Sjöström, a researcher at the Laboratory for Organic Electronics at Linköping University. The researchers compared the continuous drug delivery of the pump with once-daily dosing, which more closely resembles how chemotherapy is administered to patients today. They observed that tumour growth decreased with the ionic treatment but not with the daily-dose approach, even though the latter was twice as strong. These experiments were conducted using bird embryos at an early developmental stage. According to Linda Waldherr, a researcher at the Medical University of Graz and a guest researcher at LiU, this model serves as a good bridge to larger animal experiments: "In bird embryos, certain biological systems function similarly to those in living animals, such as the formation of blood vessels. However, we don't need to surgically implant any devices in them yet. This demonstrates that the concept works, although there are still many challenges to address," she says. The researchers believe that human trials could be feasible within the next five to ten years. The next steps involve further developing materials to allow for the surgical implantation of iontronic pumps. Subsequent experiments will also be conducted on rats and larger animals to further evaluate this treatment method. 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.

LINCOLN NATIONAL SHAREHOLDER ALERT: CLAIMSFILER REMINDS INVESTORS WITH LOSSES IN EXCESS OF $100,000 of Lead Plaintiff Deadline in Class Action Lawsuit Against Lincoln National Corporation - LNC

or call toll-free (844) 367-9658. Lawyers at Kahn Swick & Foti, LLC are available to discuss your legal options. Lincoln National and certain of its executives are charged with failing to disclose material information during the Class Period, violating federal securities laws. $2.6 billion for the quarter, compared to a net income of $318 million for the third quarter of 2021 the previous year, due to "net unfavorable notable items of

motors

LINCOLN NATIONAL SHAREHOLDER ALERT: CLAIMSFILER REMINDS INVESTORS WITH LOSSES IN EXCESS OF $100,000 of Lead Plaintiff Deadline in Class Action Lawsuit Against Lincoln National Corporation - LNC. or call toll-free (844) 367-9658. Lawyers at Kahn Swick & Foti, LLC are available to discuss your legal options. Lincoln National and certain of its executives are charged with failing to disclose material information during the Class Period, violating federal securities laws. $2.6 billion for the quarter, compared to a net income of $318 million for the third quarter of 2021 the previous year, due to "net unfavorable notable items of

AI better detects prostate cancer on MRI than radiologists

AI detects prostate cancer more often than radiologists. Additionally, AI triggers false alarms half as often. This is shown by an international study coordinated by Radboud university medical center and published in The Lancet Oncology. This is the first large-scale study where an international team transparently evaluates and compares AI with radiologist assessments and clinical outcomes. Radiologists face an increasing workload as men with a higher risk of prostate cancer now routinely receive a prostate MRI. Diagnosing prostate cancer with MRI requires significant expertise, and there is a shortage of experienced radiologists. AI can assist with these challenges. AI expert Henkjan Huisman and radiologist Maarten de Rooij, project leaders of the PI-CAI study, organized a major competition between AI teams and radiologists with an international team. Along with other centers in the Netherlands and Norway, they provided over 10,000 MRI scans. They transparently determined for each patient whether prostate cancer was present. They allowed various groups worldwide to develop AI for analyzing these images. The top five submissions were combined into a super-algorithm for analyzing MRI scans for prostate cancer. Finally, AI assessments were compared to those of a group of radiologists on four hundred prostate MRI scans. Accurate Diagnosis The PI-CAI community brought together over two hundred AI teams and 62 radiologists from twenty countries. They compared the findings of AI and radiologists not only with each other but also with a gold standard, as they monitored the outcomes of the men from whom the scans originated. On average, the men were followed for five years. This first international study on AI in prostate diagnostics shows that AI detects nearly seven percent more significant prostate cancers than the group of radiologists. Additionally, AI identifies suspicious areas, later found not to be cancer, fifty percent less often. This means the number of biopsies could be halved with the use of AI. If these results are replicated in follow-up studies, it could greatly assist radiologists and patients in the future. It could reduce radiologists' workload, provide more accurate diagnoses, and minimize unnecessary prostate biopsies. The developed AI still needs to be validated and is currently not yet available for patients in clinical settings. Quality System 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.

tech

AI better detects prostate cancer on MRI than radiologists. AI detects prostate cancer more often than radiologists. Additionally, AI triggers false alarms half as often. This is shown by an international study coordinated by Radboud university medical center and published in The Lancet Oncology. This is the first large-scale study where an international team transparently evaluates and compares AI with radiologist assessments and clinical outcomes. Radiologists face an increasing workload as men with a higher risk of prostate cancer now routinely receive a prostate MRI. Diagnosing prostate cancer with MRI requires significant expertise, and there is a shortage of experienced radiologists. AI can assist with these challenges. AI expert Henkjan Huisman and radiologist Maarten de Rooij, project leaders of the PI-CAI study, organized a major competition between AI teams and radiologists with an international team. Along with other centers in the Netherlands and Norway, they provided over 10,000 MRI scans. They transparently determined for each patient whether prostate cancer was present. They allowed various groups worldwide to develop AI for analyzing these images. The top five submissions were combined into a super-algorithm for analyzing MRI scans for prostate cancer. Finally, AI assessments were compared to those of a group of radiologists on four hundred prostate MRI scans. Accurate Diagnosis The PI-CAI community brought together over two hundred AI teams and 62 radiologists from twenty countries. They compared the findings of AI and radiologists not only with each other but also with a gold standard, as they monitored the outcomes of the men from whom the scans originated. On average, the men were followed for five years. This first international study on AI in prostate diagnostics shows that AI detects nearly seven percent more significant prostate cancers than the group of radiologists. Additionally, AI identifies suspicious areas, later found not to be cancer, fifty percent less often. This means the number of biopsies could be halved with the use of AI. If these results are replicated in follow-up studies, it could greatly assist radiologists and patients in the future. It could reduce radiologists' workload, provide more accurate diagnoses, and minimize unnecessary prostate biopsies. The developed AI still needs to be validated and is currently not yet available for patients in clinical settings. Quality System 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.

Simoneau leads Canada's charge to artistic swimming's World Cup podium

Simoneau leads Canada's charge to artistic swimming's World Cup podium Jacqueline Simoneau of Saint-Laurent, Que., led Canada's charge to three silver medals Saturday in World Cup artistic swimming. Posted: Jun 01, 2024 7:27 PM EDT | Last Updated: 1 hour ago Jacqueline Simoneau, right, and Audrey Lamothe, pictured competing at the World Aquatics Championships in Doha, Qatar in February, finished second in the technical duet on Saturday in Markham, Ont. (Lee Jin-man/The Associated Press) Social Sharing Jacqueline Simoneau of Saint-Laurent, Que., led Canada's charge to three silver medals Saturday in World Cup artistic swimming. She and Montreal's Audrey Lamothe finished second in the technical duet and Simoneau was also second in the solo free final. Simoneau and Lamothe were also among the eight Canadian women who claimed silver in the team free routine. Simoneau and Lamothe will compete in Sunday's duet free routine in Markham, Ont., which is the host of the third stop of this year's World Cup circuit. Simoneau, 27, won gold in Friday's solo technical program. She and Lamothe posted a score of 248.3350 behind Austrian sisters Anna-Maria and Eirini-Marina Alexandri with 248.3567 on Saturday. WATCH | Canada scores team free silver:

sports

Simoneau leads Canada's charge to artistic swimming's World Cup podium. Simoneau leads Canada's charge to artistic swimming's World Cup podium Jacqueline Simoneau of Saint-Laurent, Que., led Canada's charge to three silver medals Saturday in World Cup artistic swimming. Posted: Jun 01, 2024 7:27 PM EDT | Last Updated: 1 hour ago Jacqueline Simoneau, right, and Audrey Lamothe, pictured competing at the World Aquatics Championships in Doha, Qatar in February, finished second in the technical duet on Saturday in Markham, Ont. (Lee Jin-man/The Associated Press) Social Sharing Jacqueline Simoneau of Saint-Laurent, Que., led Canada's charge to three silver medals Saturday in World Cup artistic swimming. She and Montreal's Audrey Lamothe finished second in the technical duet and Simoneau was also second in the solo free final. Simoneau and Lamothe were also among the eight Canadian women who claimed silver in the team free routine. Simoneau and Lamothe will compete in Sunday's duet free routine in Markham, Ont., which is the host of the third stop of this year's World Cup circuit. Simoneau, 27, won gold in Friday's solo technical program. She and Lamothe posted a score of 248.3350 behind Austrian sisters Anna-Maria and Eirini-Marina Alexandri with 248.3567 on Saturday. WATCH | Canada scores team free silver:

Ukraine uses US weapons to strike inside Russia

U.S. weapons were used under recently approved guidance from President Biden allowing American arms to be used to strike inside Russia for the purpose of defending Kharkiv, pictured here after a Russian missile attack Saturday, May 25, 2024. (Andrii Marienko/AP) Ukraine has used U.S. weapons to strike inside Russia in recent days, according to a U.S. senator and a Western official familiar with the matter. The weapons were used under recently approved guidance from President Joe Biden allowing American arms to be used to strike inside Russia for the limited purpose of defending The move comes as Ukrainian officials have stepped up calls on the U.S. to allow its forces to defend itself against attacks originating from Russia. The official was not authorized to comment publicly on the sensitive matter and spoke on condition of anonymity. Republican Sen. Mike Rounds of South Dakota, a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, confirmed the strikes with U.S. weapons, but did not say how he was briefed. Biden's directive allows for U.S.-supplied weapons to be used to strike Russian forces that are attacking or preparing to attack. It does not change U.S. policy that directs Ukraine not to use American-provided ATACMS or long-range missiles and other munitions to strike offensively inside Russia, U.S. officials have said. Ukrainian officials had stepped up calls on the U.S. to allow Kyiv's forces to defend themselves against attacks originating from Russian territory. Kharkiv sits just 12 miles from the Russian border and has come under intensified Russian attack. In advancing in the northeast Kharkiv region, Russian forces have exploited a lengthy delay in the replenishment of U.S. military aid. In addition, Western Europe's inadequate military production has slowed crucial deliveries to the battlefield for Ukraine. On Tuesday, White House national security spokesman John Kirby told reporters he could not confirm that Ukraine had used U.S. weapons at targets in Russia. "We're just not in a position on a day-to-day basis of knowing exactly what the Ukrainians are firing at what," Kirby said. "It's certainly at a tactical level." According to a June 3 report from the Institute for the Study of War, Ukrainian forces struck a Russian S-300/400 air defense battery in the Belgorod region, likely with the High Mobility Artillery Rocket System, or HIMARS, on June 1 or June 2. The air defense system was located about 40 miles from the current front line in the Kharkiv region and more than 50 miles from the city of Kharkiv, which is within the range of HIMARS, the institute reported. Confirmation of the strikes comes as Ukraine's president, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, visited Qatar, which, along with Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, has been a mediator in prisoner swaps and other negotiations between Russia and Ukraine since the war began. Zelenskyy met with Qatar's ruling emir, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani. A readout from the state-run Qatar News Agency described the men as discussing ways "to stop the fighting, protect civilians, and keep all channels of communication open to resolve the crisis through dialogue and diplomatic means." Rounds said he agreed with Biden's decision to allow U.S. weapons to be used for strikes against Russia under limited circumstances. "I have no problem with Ukraine using the ATACMS and so forth and all the artillery that we got to be able to take them out before they cause more harm in Ukraine," he said. Associated Press writers Tara Copp and Stephen Groves contributed to this report. In Other News Families balance grief with Osprey pilots' love for the aircraft On Wednesday, a House subcommittee will hold a hearing on the Osprey's safety record as families grapple with the deaths of loved ones aboard the V-22. Junior enlisted pay bump to cost as much as two new aircraft carriers A plan to boost young troops' pay by an extra 15% next year will cost more than $24 billion over the next five years, officials said. Navy investigating sailor's fatal electrocution aboard submarine The Navy has thus far released few details regarding the death of Sonar Technician Submarine 3rd Class Timothy Sanders. Navy explores how to get 'forever chemicals' out of sailor uniforms One Navy effort to move away from forever chemicals could change the way a shipboard jacket stays waterproof, according to budget documents. Patton's Prayer: Discussing the famed general with author Alex Kershaw

politics,military

Ukraine uses US weapons to strike inside Russia. U.S. weapons were used under recently approved guidance from President Biden allowing American arms to be used to strike inside Russia for the purpose of defending Kharkiv, pictured here after a Russian missile attack Saturday, May 25, 2024. (Andrii Marienko/AP) Ukraine has used U.S. weapons to strike inside Russia in recent days, according to a U.S. senator and a Western official familiar with the matter. The weapons were used under recently approved guidance from President Joe Biden allowing American arms to be used to strike inside Russia for the limited purpose of defending The move comes as Ukrainian officials have stepped up calls on the U.S. to allow its forces to defend itself against attacks originating from Russia. The official was not authorized to comment publicly on the sensitive matter and spoke on condition of anonymity. Republican Sen. Mike Rounds of South Dakota, a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, confirmed the strikes with U.S. weapons, but did not say how he was briefed. Biden's directive allows for U.S.-supplied weapons to be used to strike Russian forces that are attacking or preparing to attack. It does not change U.S. policy that directs Ukraine not to use American-provided ATACMS or long-range missiles and other munitions to strike offensively inside Russia, U.S. officials have said. Ukrainian officials had stepped up calls on the U.S. to allow Kyiv's forces to defend themselves against attacks originating from Russian territory. Kharkiv sits just 12 miles from the Russian border and has come under intensified Russian attack. In advancing in the northeast Kharkiv region, Russian forces have exploited a lengthy delay in the replenishment of U.S. military aid. In addition, Western Europe's inadequate military production has slowed crucial deliveries to the battlefield for Ukraine. On Tuesday, White House national security spokesman John Kirby told reporters he could not confirm that Ukraine had used U.S. weapons at targets in Russia. "We're just not in a position on a day-to-day basis of knowing exactly what the Ukrainians are firing at what," Kirby said. "It's certainly at a tactical level." According to a June 3 report from the Institute for the Study of War, Ukrainian forces struck a Russian S-300/400 air defense battery in the Belgorod region, likely with the High Mobility Artillery Rocket System, or HIMARS, on June 1 or June 2. The air defense system was located about 40 miles from the current front line in the Kharkiv region and more than 50 miles from the city of Kharkiv, which is within the range of HIMARS, the institute reported. Confirmation of the strikes comes as Ukraine's president, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, visited Qatar, which, along with Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, has been a mediator in prisoner swaps and other negotiations between Russia and Ukraine since the war began. Zelenskyy met with Qatar's ruling emir, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani. A readout from the state-run Qatar News Agency described the men as discussing ways "to stop the fighting, protect civilians, and keep all channels of communication open to resolve the crisis through dialogue and diplomatic means." Rounds said he agreed with Biden's decision to allow U.S. weapons to be used for strikes against Russia under limited circumstances. "I have no problem with Ukraine using the ATACMS and so forth and all the artillery that we got to be able to take them out before they cause more harm in Ukraine," he said. Associated Press writers Tara Copp and Stephen Groves contributed to this report. In Other News Families balance grief with Osprey pilots' love for the aircraft On Wednesday, a House subcommittee will hold a hearing on the Osprey's safety record as families grapple with the deaths of loved ones aboard the V-22. Junior enlisted pay bump to cost as much as two new aircraft carriers A plan to boost young troops' pay by an extra 15% next year will cost more than $24 billion over the next five years, officials said. Navy investigating sailor's fatal electrocution aboard submarine The Navy has thus far released few details regarding the death of Sonar Technician Submarine 3rd Class Timothy Sanders. Navy explores how to get 'forever chemicals' out of sailor uniforms One Navy effort to move away from forever chemicals could change the way a shipboard jacket stays waterproof, according to budget documents. Patton's Prayer: Discussing the famed general with author Alex Kershaw

Quebec mayors hope budget can address housing, nurse shortages

Outaouais leaders hope budget can address housing, nurse shortages Representatives of Western Quebec municipalities say they'd like to see an increase to nurses' wages in the province, money to address homelessness and funding for public transit in the 2024-2025 budget. Quebec budget to be tabled Tuesday Posted: Mar 12, 2024 4:00 AM EDT | Last Updated: 4 hours ago Quebec Finance Minister Eric Girard displays a copy of his budget during a press conference in Longueuil, Que., Monday, March 11, 2024. Girard will present the budget Tuesday and is expected to include a larger deficit than originally forecast. (Christinne Muschi/The Canadian Press) Social Sharing Representatives of Western Quebec municipalities say they'd like to see an increase to nurses' wages in the province, money to address homelessness and funding for public transit in the 2024-2025 budget. Finance Minister Eric Girard will present the budget to the National Assembly of Quebec Tuesday afternoon, which will outline the province's spending over the next year. But with the Quebec grappling with a deficit, there are some questions about just how much government spending there will be on certain issues, said MRC des Collines-de-l'Outaouais warden Marc Carrière. "It's always an issue when the economic situation is more difficult for a government to complete their budget," he said. Still, Carrière said there's hope the Outaouais will get some much needed funding for education, infrastructure and more. Here are some of the top priorities for representatives of western Quebec. Quebec could delay balancing its budget — but will that spare any cuts? Housing and homelessness In a letter sent to Girard's office before her resignation, former Mayor of Gatineau France Bélisle outlined a number of issues the city was facing, including housing and homelessness. She said the number of people experiencing homelessness in the city grew five times from 2018 to 2022. Tents behind police tape at the homeless encampment near Robert-Gertin Centre in Gatineau, Que., on Nov. 16, 2023, after a man was discovered dead inside his tent. (Felix Desroches/Radio-Canada) It's meant more people are living in encampments in Gatineau, which places more people at risk. At least two people living in tents have died since November. Bélisle asked for more programs to help build new housing, with a focus on social and affordable housing. Other requests included rental supplements. In an emailed statement to Radio-Canada, a city representative said the current mayor of Gatineau, Daniel Champagne, is aligned with Bélisle's concerns. Latest death at Gatineau homeless camp raises concerns over services Nursing wages Another item on the wish list for MRC Pontiac Warden Jane Toller is an improvement to nurses' wages. At $53,000 per year, Quebec nurses starting out in entry level positions are making 40 per cent less than Ontario nurses whose salaries begin at $74,000. With more money offered right across the provincial border, Toller said there's now a shortage of nurses in the region. Quebec nurses have lowest starting salary in Canada Between 2019 and 2022, the number of Quebec's registered nurses applying to positions in Ontario jumped from 224 to 435, according to data from the College of Nurses of Ontario (CNO). The number of nurses with Quebec addresses registered to work in the neighbouring province increased by nearly 30 per cent. She said there have been numerous closures in the Pontiac Hospital's obstetrics department because there are too few nurses to consistently keep it open. "I would hope that once the salary issue is equalized, we'll be able to keep our nurses and maybe encourage some of them to come back," Toller said. Transit and roadways The mayor of Chelsea, Que., said he'd like to see funding for public transit in the Outaouais. Despite having a much smaller transit system compared to cities like Montreal, Quebec City and Gatineau, Pierre Guénard said operating costs are rising, particularly the cost of fuel. "It would be nice to get our share of that envelope," he said. The beginning of Highway 5 in Gatineau, Que., just after crossing the Macdonald-Cartier Bridge from Ottawa. (Michel Aspirot/Radio-Canada) If there's funding to help keep costs lower, it means fares can be kept as low as possible to make public transit as inclusive as possible, said Guénard. Some roadways in the region, including Highway 5, are also in need of major repairs, said Liberal MNA André Fortin, who represents the riding of Pontiac.

canada

Quebec mayors hope budget can address housing, nurse shortages. Outaouais leaders hope budget can address housing, nurse shortages Representatives of Western Quebec municipalities say they'd like to see an increase to nurses' wages in the province, money to address homelessness and funding for public transit in the 2024-2025 budget. Quebec budget to be tabled Tuesday Posted: Mar 12, 2024 4:00 AM EDT | Last Updated: 4 hours ago Quebec Finance Minister Eric Girard displays a copy of his budget during a press conference in Longueuil, Que., Monday, March 11, 2024. Girard will present the budget Tuesday and is expected to include a larger deficit than originally forecast. (Christinne Muschi/The Canadian Press) Social Sharing Representatives of Western Quebec municipalities say they'd like to see an increase to nurses' wages in the province, money to address homelessness and funding for public transit in the 2024-2025 budget. Finance Minister Eric Girard will present the budget to the National Assembly of Quebec Tuesday afternoon, which will outline the province's spending over the next year. But with the Quebec grappling with a deficit, there are some questions about just how much government spending there will be on certain issues, said MRC des Collines-de-l'Outaouais warden Marc Carrière. "It's always an issue when the economic situation is more difficult for a government to complete their budget," he said. Still, Carrière said there's hope the Outaouais will get some much needed funding for education, infrastructure and more. Here are some of the top priorities for representatives of western Quebec. Quebec could delay balancing its budget — but will that spare any cuts? Housing and homelessness In a letter sent to Girard's office before her resignation, former Mayor of Gatineau France Bélisle outlined a number of issues the city was facing, including housing and homelessness. She said the number of people experiencing homelessness in the city grew five times from 2018 to 2022. Tents behind police tape at the homeless encampment near Robert-Gertin Centre in Gatineau, Que., on Nov. 16, 2023, after a man was discovered dead inside his tent. (Felix Desroches/Radio-Canada) It's meant more people are living in encampments in Gatineau, which places more people at risk. At least two people living in tents have died since November. Bélisle asked for more programs to help build new housing, with a focus on social and affordable housing. Other requests included rental supplements. In an emailed statement to Radio-Canada, a city representative said the current mayor of Gatineau, Daniel Champagne, is aligned with Bélisle's concerns. Latest death at Gatineau homeless camp raises concerns over services Nursing wages Another item on the wish list for MRC Pontiac Warden Jane Toller is an improvement to nurses' wages. At $53,000 per year, Quebec nurses starting out in entry level positions are making 40 per cent less than Ontario nurses whose salaries begin at $74,000. With more money offered right across the provincial border, Toller said there's now a shortage of nurses in the region. Quebec nurses have lowest starting salary in Canada Between 2019 and 2022, the number of Quebec's registered nurses applying to positions in Ontario jumped from 224 to 435, according to data from the College of Nurses of Ontario (CNO). The number of nurses with Quebec addresses registered to work in the neighbouring province increased by nearly 30 per cent. She said there have been numerous closures in the Pontiac Hospital's obstetrics department because there are too few nurses to consistently keep it open. "I would hope that once the salary issue is equalized, we'll be able to keep our nurses and maybe encourage some of them to come back," Toller said. Transit and roadways The mayor of Chelsea, Que., said he'd like to see funding for public transit in the Outaouais. Despite having a much smaller transit system compared to cities like Montreal, Quebec City and Gatineau, Pierre Guénard said operating costs are rising, particularly the cost of fuel. "It would be nice to get our share of that envelope," he said. The beginning of Highway 5 in Gatineau, Que., just after crossing the Macdonald-Cartier Bridge from Ottawa. (Michel Aspirot/Radio-Canada) If there's funding to help keep costs lower, it means fares can be kept as low as possible to make public transit as inclusive as possible, said Guénard. Some roadways in the region, including Highway 5, are also in need of major repairs, said Liberal MNA André Fortin, who represents the riding of Pontiac.

As heat breaks records in Mexico’s north, torrential rains pummel the south

What feels like an interminable heat wave (in reality, it has been three separate ones) has been scorching large swaths of Mexico since early March, with temperatures reaching above 40 C (104 F) in multiples regions of the country, and even surpassing 50 C (122 F) in a few places in the north. The extreme heat has resulted in 90 deaths according to the federal Health Ministry as of June 7, a more than 1000% increase over the same period last year. Residents of Hermosillo, Sonora, drink electrolyte beverages that the city’s Civil Protection office was handing out for free Wednesday to people on the street. Temperatures on Wednesday broke a local record in the state capital, where Civil Protection is also offering free shelter locations from the heat during daytime hours. (Hermosillo Civil Protection) On Wednesday, Hermosillo, the state capital of Sonora, set a new record when the mercury topped out at 49.5 C. El Cubil — a locality in the state of Sonora — hit 51.9 C on Wednesday,  the highest maximum temperature reached in Mexico that day, according to the National Meterological Service (SMN). Three other municipalities in the state set new local records: Ciudad Obregón reached 48 C, Empalme hit 45.5 C and Navojoa reached 45 C. A Sinaloa geophysicist told the newspaper Milenio that Sonora was seeing temperatures comparable to those seen in the Sahara desert. A fifth heat wave is expected before the end of the month. However, rains and cooling temperatures have also been predicted across the country for the second half of June, as the weather phenomenon El Niño is expected to end and give way to La Niña. On Thursday, the SMN forecast torrential rains for much of southern Mexico. The Gulf Coast states of Campeche and Tabasco as well as the states of Yucatán and Chiapas can expect 150 to 250 millimeters of rain while Oaxaca, Quintana Roo and southern Veracruz will see 75 to 150 millimeters of rain. In addition, 50 to 75 millimeters of precipitation is forecast for Guerrero on the Pacific Coast. The SMN warned of landslides, fast-rising rivers and flooding in the affected areas, while urging the public to pay heed to recommendations from Civil Protection authorities. The weather agency also warned of the approach of the initial tropical cyclones of the hurricane season. Heavy rains are heading to southeastern states of Campeche, Chiapas, Tabasco, and Yucatán, as this Conagua map shows. (Conagua/X) The SMN identified three potential storms: The first just off the coast of southern Florida and possibly headed toward Quintana Roo A second in the southeastern regions of the Gulf of México A third in the Pacific Ocean off the coasts of Guerrero, Oaxaca and Chiapas In the meantime, sweltering conditions continue in northern Mexico: Baja California and Sonora residents are experiencing temperatures above 45 C. Baja California Sur, Chihuahua, Coahuila, Guerrero, Jalisco, Michoacán, Nayarit, Nuevo León, San Luis Potosí, Sinaloa, Tamaulipas, which are all experiencing temperatures ranging from 40–45 C, have been warned to protect themselves from the extreme heat. With reports from El País México , Milenio and El Universal The post As heat breaks records in Mexico’s north, torrential rains pummel the south appeared first on Mexico News Daily

mexico

As heat breaks records in Mexico’s north, torrential rains pummel the south. What feels like an interminable heat wave (in reality, it has been three separate ones) has been scorching large swaths of Mexico since early March, with temperatures reaching above 40 C (104 F) in multiples regions of the country, and even surpassing 50 C (122 F) in a few places in the north. The extreme heat has resulted in 90 deaths according to the federal Health Ministry as of June 7, a more than 1000% increase over the same period last year. Residents of Hermosillo, Sonora, drink electrolyte beverages that the city’s Civil Protection office was handing out for free Wednesday to people on the street. Temperatures on Wednesday broke a local record in the state capital, where Civil Protection is also offering free shelter locations from the heat during daytime hours. (Hermosillo Civil Protection) On Wednesday, Hermosillo, the state capital of Sonora, set a new record when the mercury topped out at 49.5 C. El Cubil — a locality in the state of Sonora — hit 51.9 C on Wednesday,  the highest maximum temperature reached in Mexico that day, according to the National Meterological Service (SMN). Three other municipalities in the state set new local records: Ciudad Obregón reached 48 C, Empalme hit 45.5 C and Navojoa reached 45 C. A Sinaloa geophysicist told the newspaper Milenio that Sonora was seeing temperatures comparable to those seen in the Sahara desert. A fifth heat wave is expected before the end of the month. However, rains and cooling temperatures have also been predicted across the country for the second half of June, as the weather phenomenon El Niño is expected to end and give way to La Niña. On Thursday, the SMN forecast torrential rains for much of southern Mexico. The Gulf Coast states of Campeche and Tabasco as well as the states of Yucatán and Chiapas can expect 150 to 250 millimeters of rain while Oaxaca, Quintana Roo and southern Veracruz will see 75 to 150 millimeters of rain. In addition, 50 to 75 millimeters of precipitation is forecast for Guerrero on the Pacific Coast. The SMN warned of landslides, fast-rising rivers and flooding in the affected areas, while urging the public to pay heed to recommendations from Civil Protection authorities. The weather agency also warned of the approach of the initial tropical cyclones of the hurricane season. Heavy rains are heading to southeastern states of Campeche, Chiapas, Tabasco, and Yucatán, as this Conagua map shows. (Conagua/X) The SMN identified three potential storms: The first just off the coast of southern Florida and possibly headed toward Quintana Roo A second in the southeastern regions of the Gulf of México A third in the Pacific Ocean off the coasts of Guerrero, Oaxaca and Chiapas In the meantime, sweltering conditions continue in northern Mexico: Baja California and Sonora residents are experiencing temperatures above 45 C. Baja California Sur, Chihuahua, Coahuila, Guerrero, Jalisco, Michoacán, Nayarit, Nuevo León, San Luis Potosí, Sinaloa, Tamaulipas, which are all experiencing temperatures ranging from 40–45 C, have been warned to protect themselves from the extreme heat. With reports from El País México , Milenio and El Universal The post As heat breaks records in Mexico’s north, torrential rains pummel the south appeared first on Mexico News Daily

Man charged with murder after fatal stabbing of Amie Gray in Bournemouth

A 20-year-old man has been charged with murder and attempted murder over the stabbing of Amie Gray and another woman on a beach in Bournemouth, police have said. Nasen Saadi, from Croydon in south London, was arrested by Dorset police on Wednesday and will appear at Poole magistrates court on Saturday. Police received a report at 11.42pm on 24 May that two people had been stabbed on Durley Chine beach. Gray, 34, from Poole, died at the scene. A 38-year-old woman from Poole, who has not been named, was taken to hospital with serious injuries. She has since been discharged. Dorset police said: "Following detailed inquiries, led by detectives from the Major Crime Investigation Team (MCIT), 20-year-old Nasen Saadi from Croydon was arrested on the evening of Wednesday May 29 2024. "He has now been charged with murder and attempted murder, and is due to appear at Poole magistrates court on Saturday June 1 2024." Det Supt Richard Dixey said: "Our thoughts remain with the family and loved ones of Amie Gray, as well as the woman who was seriously injured, and they have been updated with this latest development in our investigation. "This matter has been the subject of an extensive investigation and we have now consulted with the Crown Prosecution Service, which has authorised the charges of murder and attempted murder. "This means the case will now be the subject of active court proceedings and it is vital that the justice system is allowed to follow its course. "It is also important to stress that there should be no further commentary or sharing of information online or on social media that could potentially prejudice these court proceedings." Earlier this week, tributes were paid to Gray, who was a personal trainer and women's head coach at Dorset futsal club. Her wife, Sian Gray, said: "Her giggly laugh and big smile will be hard to be without. A larger-than-life character. "I will miss you immensely, my love. To the moon and back, for ever and always."

uk

Man charged with murder after fatal stabbing of Amie Gray in Bournemouth. A 20-year-old man has been charged with murder and attempted murder over the stabbing of Amie Gray and another woman on a beach in Bournemouth, police have said. Nasen Saadi, from Croydon in south London, was arrested by Dorset police on Wednesday and will appear at Poole magistrates court on Saturday. Police received a report at 11.42pm on 24 May that two people had been stabbed on Durley Chine beach. Gray, 34, from Poole, died at the scene. A 38-year-old woman from Poole, who has not been named, was taken to hospital with serious injuries. She has since been discharged. Dorset police said: "Following detailed inquiries, led by detectives from the Major Crime Investigation Team (MCIT), 20-year-old Nasen Saadi from Croydon was arrested on the evening of Wednesday May 29 2024. "He has now been charged with murder and attempted murder, and is due to appear at Poole magistrates court on Saturday June 1 2024." Det Supt Richard Dixey said: "Our thoughts remain with the family and loved ones of Amie Gray, as well as the woman who was seriously injured, and they have been updated with this latest development in our investigation. "This matter has been the subject of an extensive investigation and we have now consulted with the Crown Prosecution Service, which has authorised the charges of murder and attempted murder. "This means the case will now be the subject of active court proceedings and it is vital that the justice system is allowed to follow its course. "It is also important to stress that there should be no further commentary or sharing of information online or on social media that could potentially prejudice these court proceedings." Earlier this week, tributes were paid to Gray, who was a personal trainer and women's head coach at Dorset futsal club. Her wife, Sian Gray, said: "Her giggly laugh and big smile will be hard to be without. A larger-than-life character. "I will miss you immensely, my love. To the moon and back, for ever and always."

Charity founder dies in Ukraine 'battlefield'

The British founder of a charitable organisation providing support to frontline soldiers in Ukraine has died "like a hero in the battlefield". Peter Fouché, 49, from Fulham, west London, died on 27 June while working as a combat medic on the front line in east Ukraine, his organisation Project Konstantin said. It said in a statement on social media: "There are no words that can do Pete's life justice." The organisation, which was founded in 2022, provides vehicles, drones, uniforms and food to soldiers in Ukraine. In a statement released on Monday, the organisation said: "It is with the heaviest of hearts that we announce the passing of Pete, our beloved director and founder. "There are no words that can do Pete's life justice. No words or phrases that could ever encapsulate how much he meant to all of us. "Pete's unwavering dedication, endless compassion, and relentless commitment to Ukraine and her people have left an everlasting impact on the countless lives he touched. "His heroism knew no bounds. He was actively involved in saving more than 200 wounded Ukrainian soldiers, evacuating civilians from the most dangerous frontline cities, as well as bringing humanitarian aid to people in those towns and cities.

world,uk

Charity founder dies in Ukraine 'battlefield'. The British founder of a charitable organisation providing support to frontline soldiers in Ukraine has died "like a hero in the battlefield". Peter Fouché, 49, from Fulham, west London, died on 27 June while working as a combat medic on the front line in east Ukraine, his organisation Project Konstantin said. It said in a statement on social media: "There are no words that can do Pete's life justice." The organisation, which was founded in 2022, provides vehicles, drones, uniforms and food to soldiers in Ukraine. In a statement released on Monday, the organisation said: "It is with the heaviest of hearts that we announce the passing of Pete, our beloved director and founder. "There are no words that can do Pete's life justice. No words or phrases that could ever encapsulate how much he meant to all of us. "Pete's unwavering dedication, endless compassion, and relentless commitment to Ukraine and her people have left an everlasting impact on the countless lives he touched. "His heroism knew no bounds. He was actively involved in saving more than 200 wounded Ukrainian soldiers, evacuating civilians from the most dangerous frontline cities, as well as bringing humanitarian aid to people in those towns and cities.

Google signs deal with organization to distribute $100M to Canadian news companies

Google announced which organization it has selected to distribute the $100 million the tech giant has promised to Canadian news companies Friday. Google agreed to pay Canadian news publishers $100 million annually, indexed to inflation, in order to be exempt from the Online News Act, which compels tech companies to enter into agreements with news publishers. Download the CTV News App for breaking news alerts and video on all the top stories The Canadian Journalism Collective will be responsible for ensuring eligible news organizations get their share of the money. The collective is a federally incorporated non-profit organization that was created for this purpose, and was founded in May by a group of independent publishers and broadcasters. The steering committee is made up of 12 independent media outlets that represent French language, community and Indigenous news, and publications that specifically represent Black and minority Canadians. Some of the organizations include Pivot, The Resolve, IndigiNews, Village Media and the Canadian Association of Community Television Users and Stations. The collective is committed to distributing the funding in a "fair, transparent, and inclusive manner" Sadia Zaman, the CJC's independent board director, said in a statement. "We look forward to working with the full diversity of the Canadian news ecosystem, including traditional print and broadcast organizations, and independent local news publishers, including those who serve Indigenous, Black and racialized communities and Francophone communities." The committee plans to establish its governance structure in the coming weeks. It's unclear when eligible news businesses will receive the cash. The payment is contingent on Google formally receiving an exemption from the federal broadcast regulator. "We hope these next steps will be completed as quickly as possible, so Canadian publishers and journalists can soon begin to receive the proceeds of this new contribution model," Google said in a blog posted on their website Friday. Earlier this year, Google put out an open call to news organizations that wish to receive compensation under the Online News Act, and about 1,500 outlets applied for the cash. The collective will review all news publishers that responded to the open call, and distribute the funds to publishers that meet the criteria. Newsrooms can be eligible for the funding if they are designated as a qualified Canadian journalism organization under the Income Tax Act. They can also be deemed eligible under the Online News Act, which has its own criteria. They must also produce news content of public interest, operate in Canada and employ at least two or more journalists. The money will be distributed proportionately based on how many full time-journalists the companies employ. Small print and digital outlets can expect to receive about $17,000 per journalist that they employ, an official with the Canadian Heritage Department has said. The Liberal government has previously put a cap on how much money the Canadian Broadcasting Corp. and other broadcasters can get. Follow the CTV News channel on WhatsApp CBC/Radio-Canada will get no more than a $7-million share of the annual fund, and $30 million at most will be reserved for other broadcasters. The other $63 million will be shared among other qualifying news outlets, such as newspapers and digital platforms. "Tech giants will be contributing their fair share — nothing more," Canadian Heritage Minister Pascale St-Onge said in a statement in response to the news Friday. "Canadians expect a news landscape where we can get the facts when we need them." The union that represents 9,000 Canada Border Services Agency workers says they won't strike until at least Wednesday, as mediation continues. The Public Service Alliance of Canada initially said border workers were set to strike as early as 4 p.m. Friday if they hadn't reached a deal, but have decided to extend negotiations. Fact check: Trump falsely claims Democratic states are passing laws allowing people to execute babies after birth The union that represents 9,000 Canada Border Services Agency workers says they won't strike until at least Wednesday, as mediation continues. The Public Service Alliance of Canada initially said border workers were set to strike as early as 4 p.m. Friday if they hadn't reached a deal, but have decided to extend negotiations. Tessa Virtue and Morgan Rielly were ordered to stop painting their Toronto home. Here is why. Worries grow for British doctor and TV presenter who went missing in Greece He spent months visiting death row inmates and witnessed three executions. Here's what he's learned Fact check: Trump falsely claims Democratic states are passing laws allowing people to execute babies after birth Here's how far B.C. drivers must keep from cyclists, pedestrians under new law The union that represents 9,000 Canada Border Services Agency workers says they won't strike until at least Wednesday, as mediation continues. The Public Service Alliance of Canada initially said border workers were set to strike as early as 4 p.m. Friday if they hadn't reached a deal, but have decided to extend negotiations. Increased police presence expected at weekend Walk with Israel event, related protest Tessa Virtue and Morgan Rielly were ordered to stop painting their Toronto home. Here is why. The union that represents 9,000 Canada Border Services Agency workers says they won't strike until at least Wednesday, as mediation continues. The Public Service Alliance of Canada initially said border workers were set to strike as early as 4 p.m. Friday if they hadn't reached a deal, but have decided to extend negotiations. Quebec man among Canada's most wanted list could be in Ottawa, police warn A 30-year-old Pictou County, N.S. man is wanted on a provincewide arrest warrant.

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Google signs deal with organization to distribute $100M to Canadian news companies. Google announced which organization it has selected to distribute the $100 million the tech giant has promised to Canadian news companies Friday. Google agreed to pay Canadian news publishers $100 million annually, indexed to inflation, in order to be exempt from the Online News Act, which compels tech companies to enter into agreements with news publishers. Download the CTV News App for breaking news alerts and video on all the top stories The Canadian Journalism Collective will be responsible for ensuring eligible news organizations get their share of the money. The collective is a federally incorporated non-profit organization that was created for this purpose, and was founded in May by a group of independent publishers and broadcasters. The steering committee is made up of 12 independent media outlets that represent French language, community and Indigenous news, and publications that specifically represent Black and minority Canadians. Some of the organizations include Pivot, The Resolve, IndigiNews, Village Media and the Canadian Association of Community Television Users and Stations. The collective is committed to distributing the funding in a "fair, transparent, and inclusive manner" Sadia Zaman, the CJC's independent board director, said in a statement. "We look forward to working with the full diversity of the Canadian news ecosystem, including traditional print and broadcast organizations, and independent local news publishers, including those who serve Indigenous, Black and racialized communities and Francophone communities." The committee plans to establish its governance structure in the coming weeks. It's unclear when eligible news businesses will receive the cash. The payment is contingent on Google formally receiving an exemption from the federal broadcast regulator. "We hope these next steps will be completed as quickly as possible, so Canadian publishers and journalists can soon begin to receive the proceeds of this new contribution model," Google said in a blog posted on their website Friday. Earlier this year, Google put out an open call to news organizations that wish to receive compensation under the Online News Act, and about 1,500 outlets applied for the cash. The collective will review all news publishers that responded to the open call, and distribute the funds to publishers that meet the criteria. Newsrooms can be eligible for the funding if they are designated as a qualified Canadian journalism organization under the Income Tax Act. They can also be deemed eligible under the Online News Act, which has its own criteria. They must also produce news content of public interest, operate in Canada and employ at least two or more journalists. The money will be distributed proportionately based on how many full time-journalists the companies employ. Small print and digital outlets can expect to receive about $17,000 per journalist that they employ, an official with the Canadian Heritage Department has said. The Liberal government has previously put a cap on how much money the Canadian Broadcasting Corp. and other broadcasters can get. Follow the CTV News channel on WhatsApp CBC/Radio-Canada will get no more than a $7-million share of the annual fund, and $30 million at most will be reserved for other broadcasters. The other $63 million will be shared among other qualifying news outlets, such as newspapers and digital platforms. "Tech giants will be contributing their fair share — nothing more," Canadian Heritage Minister Pascale St-Onge said in a statement in response to the news Friday. "Canadians expect a news landscape where we can get the facts when we need them." The union that represents 9,000 Canada Border Services Agency workers says they won't strike until at least Wednesday, as mediation continues. The Public Service Alliance of Canada initially said border workers were set to strike as early as 4 p.m. Friday if they hadn't reached a deal, but have decided to extend negotiations. Fact check: Trump falsely claims Democratic states are passing laws allowing people to execute babies after birth The union that represents 9,000 Canada Border Services Agency workers says they won't strike until at least Wednesday, as mediation continues. The Public Service Alliance of Canada initially said border workers were set to strike as early as 4 p.m. Friday if they hadn't reached a deal, but have decided to extend negotiations. Tessa Virtue and Morgan Rielly were ordered to stop painting their Toronto home. Here is why. Worries grow for British doctor and TV presenter who went missing in Greece He spent months visiting death row inmates and witnessed three executions. Here's what he's learned Fact check: Trump falsely claims Democratic states are passing laws allowing people to execute babies after birth Here's how far B.C. drivers must keep from cyclists, pedestrians under new law The union that represents 9,000 Canada Border Services Agency workers says they won't strike until at least Wednesday, as mediation continues. The Public Service Alliance of Canada initially said border workers were set to strike as early as 4 p.m. Friday if they hadn't reached a deal, but have decided to extend negotiations. Increased police presence expected at weekend Walk with Israel event, related protest Tessa Virtue and Morgan Rielly were ordered to stop painting their Toronto home. Here is why. The union that represents 9,000 Canada Border Services Agency workers says they won't strike until at least Wednesday, as mediation continues. The Public Service Alliance of Canada initially said border workers were set to strike as early as 4 p.m. Friday if they hadn't reached a deal, but have decided to extend negotiations. Quebec man among Canada's most wanted list could be in Ottawa, police warn A 30-year-old Pictou County, N.S. man is wanted on a provincewide arrest warrant.

Chainlink (LINK) Announces Block Magic Hackathon Winners

Chainlink (LINK) has announced the winners of its highly anticipated Block Magic Hackathon, which showcased innovative blockchain projects and awarded over $500,000 in prizes, according to the Top Projects Recognized The Block Magic Hackathon attracted a diverse range of participants who presented groundbreaking solutions to real-world problems using Chainlink's decentralized oracle network. The event highlighted the best projects that demonstrated exceptional technical proficiency, creativity, and potential for real-world impact. Significant Prize Pool With a prize pool exceeding $500,000, the hackathon incentivized developers to push the boundaries of blockchain technology. The substantial rewards were distributed among the top-performing teams, providing them with the resources to further develop and scale their projects. Innovative Solutions Among the standout projects were solutions aimed at enhancing data security, improving supply chain transparency, and creating novel financial instruments. These projects not only showcased the versatility of Chainlink's technology but also underscored the growing importance of decentralized solutions in various industries. Community and Collaboration The hackathon fostered a sense of community and collaboration among participants, who had the opportunity to network with industry experts, gain insights from mentors, and receive feedback on their projects. This collaborative environment was instrumental in driving innovation and ensuring the success of the event. For a detailed list of winners and their projects, visit the

crypto

Chainlink (LINK) Announces Block Magic Hackathon Winners. Chainlink (LINK) has announced the winners of its highly anticipated Block Magic Hackathon, which showcased innovative blockchain projects and awarded over $500,000 in prizes, according to the Top Projects Recognized The Block Magic Hackathon attracted a diverse range of participants who presented groundbreaking solutions to real-world problems using Chainlink's decentralized oracle network. The event highlighted the best projects that demonstrated exceptional technical proficiency, creativity, and potential for real-world impact. Significant Prize Pool With a prize pool exceeding $500,000, the hackathon incentivized developers to push the boundaries of blockchain technology. The substantial rewards were distributed among the top-performing teams, providing them with the resources to further develop and scale their projects. Innovative Solutions Among the standout projects were solutions aimed at enhancing data security, improving supply chain transparency, and creating novel financial instruments. These projects not only showcased the versatility of Chainlink's technology but also underscored the growing importance of decentralized solutions in various industries. Community and Collaboration The hackathon fostered a sense of community and collaboration among participants, who had the opportunity to network with industry experts, gain insights from mentors, and receive feedback on their projects. This collaborative environment was instrumental in driving innovation and ensuring the success of the event. For a detailed list of winners and their projects, visit the

New fee for streaming companies serves Canadian interests at Americans' expense: U.S.

American streaming companies are being unfairly targeted by a new Canadian fee that "disproportionately" serves interests north of the border, the United States is charging. This week, the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission directed foreign streaming companies such as Netflix and Spotify to put five per cent of their Canadian revenues toward local news and Canadian content. Members of the U.S. Congress and trade organizations have raised concerns over the mandate, saying it discriminates against American companies. Some organizations are floating the idea of retaliation. The U.S. Embassy in Ottawa said it is watching developments around the Online Streaming Act closely. The new fee was ushered in as part of a regulatory process to implement the Liberal government legislation. "The United States shares Canada's interests in robust audiovisual and news industries, but (the Online Streaming Act) appears to target U.S. companies to disproportionately serve the interests of large Canadian companies," a spokesperson said in a statement. "We encourage Canada to consider U.S. stakeholder input as it implements this bill." The information you need to know, sent directly to you: Download the CTV News App The legislation passed in Parliament a little over a year ago seeks to level the playing field between tech giants and traditional broadcasters, which already contribute large amounts towards Canadian content. The new fee is expected to inject about $200 million into Canada's broadcasting system every year. But the federal regulator is underestimating the amount of investment U.S. production companies for TV and film already spend in Canada, said Tiffany Smith, vice-president for America's National Foreign Trade Council. She said that includes the transfer of technology and education to "help build up" Canadian cultural industries. Now, U.S. companies are required to even further "fund the work of people in another country, which is one of our closests allies and trade partners," said Smith. "This really is a new world we're looking at in terms of looking to foreign companies to underwrite programs that the Canadian government has traditionally funded." The fee risks restricting cross-border trade with the U.S., said the American Chamber of Commerce in a statement, a point also raised by a bipartisan congressional group. There are provisions within the Canada-U.S.-Mexico trade agreement that would enable the U.S. to retaliate and seek compensation if it was inclined to do so, Smith said. "Now, what any government would do, I'm not really in a position to comment on that," she said. Top headlines on Canadian politics, all in one place Trade Minister Mary Ng has insisted throughout the legislative and regulatory process that the bill is trade-compliant. A spokesperson for the U.S. Trade Representative said that office is reviewing the regulations and will keep the conversation with Canadians going. Parliamentarians on a House of Commons trade committee were expected to hear concerns over Canada's latest move on Thursday. The CEO of the Digital Media Association, which represents Amazon Music, Apple Music, Pandora, Spotify and YouTube, was set to testify. Prepared remarks for Graham Davies, obtained by The Canadian Press, suggested he would argue that the fee undermines investments U.S. streamers are already making in the Canadian music industry "and may also have unintended consequences for consumers, particularly younger Canadians who are the predominant users of music streaming services in Canada." Poilievre calls on Liberals to refuse exemption for Montreal supervised drug-use site Man sentenced to life in prison, no chance of parole for 13 years after Montreal teen's fatal stabbing Elderly woman dies after being struck by out-of-control vehicle in Wolfville Ridge: N.S. RCMP B.C. woman wins court ruling two years after her dog was brutally attacked at Sask. off-leash park Sask. Teachers' Federation, gov't searching for path forward following impasse, reinstating job sanctions New centre in the works to track Indigenous data on businesses, land and resources A new institute is in the works that would track Indigenous economic prosperity in Canada by collecting data on population, businesses, land and resources. The First Nations University of Canada announced Thursday that it will set up the centre with help from two foundations. LeBlanc accuses Tories of theatrics as they push for names of MPs in meddling report B.C.'s brain-injured, mentally-ill drug users: Forced treatment on the table for 'clinical triad' Can the Taylor Swift effect jolt Toronto's sputtering tourism industry? Simons, Eataly, and Nike will take over space previously occupied by Nordstorm at Toronto's Eaton Centre

politics

New fee for streaming companies serves Canadian interests at Americans' expense: U.S.. American streaming companies are being unfairly targeted by a new Canadian fee that "disproportionately" serves interests north of the border, the United States is charging. This week, the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission directed foreign streaming companies such as Netflix and Spotify to put five per cent of their Canadian revenues toward local news and Canadian content. Members of the U.S. Congress and trade organizations have raised concerns over the mandate, saying it discriminates against American companies. Some organizations are floating the idea of retaliation. The U.S. Embassy in Ottawa said it is watching developments around the Online Streaming Act closely. The new fee was ushered in as part of a regulatory process to implement the Liberal government legislation. "The United States shares Canada's interests in robust audiovisual and news industries, but (the Online Streaming Act) appears to target U.S. companies to disproportionately serve the interests of large Canadian companies," a spokesperson said in a statement. "We encourage Canada to consider U.S. stakeholder input as it implements this bill." The information you need to know, sent directly to you: Download the CTV News App The legislation passed in Parliament a little over a year ago seeks to level the playing field between tech giants and traditional broadcasters, which already contribute large amounts towards Canadian content. The new fee is expected to inject about $200 million into Canada's broadcasting system every year. But the federal regulator is underestimating the amount of investment U.S. production companies for TV and film already spend in Canada, said Tiffany Smith, vice-president for America's National Foreign Trade Council. She said that includes the transfer of technology and education to "help build up" Canadian cultural industries. Now, U.S. companies are required to even further "fund the work of people in another country, which is one of our closests allies and trade partners," said Smith. "This really is a new world we're looking at in terms of looking to foreign companies to underwrite programs that the Canadian government has traditionally funded." The fee risks restricting cross-border trade with the U.S., said the American Chamber of Commerce in a statement, a point also raised by a bipartisan congressional group. There are provisions within the Canada-U.S.-Mexico trade agreement that would enable the U.S. to retaliate and seek compensation if it was inclined to do so, Smith said. "Now, what any government would do, I'm not really in a position to comment on that," she said. Top headlines on Canadian politics, all in one place Trade Minister Mary Ng has insisted throughout the legislative and regulatory process that the bill is trade-compliant. A spokesperson for the U.S. Trade Representative said that office is reviewing the regulations and will keep the conversation with Canadians going. Parliamentarians on a House of Commons trade committee were expected to hear concerns over Canada's latest move on Thursday. The CEO of the Digital Media Association, which represents Amazon Music, Apple Music, Pandora, Spotify and YouTube, was set to testify. Prepared remarks for Graham Davies, obtained by The Canadian Press, suggested he would argue that the fee undermines investments U.S. streamers are already making in the Canadian music industry "and may also have unintended consequences for consumers, particularly younger Canadians who are the predominant users of music streaming services in Canada." Poilievre calls on Liberals to refuse exemption for Montreal supervised drug-use site Man sentenced to life in prison, no chance of parole for 13 years after Montreal teen's fatal stabbing Elderly woman dies after being struck by out-of-control vehicle in Wolfville Ridge: N.S. RCMP B.C. woman wins court ruling two years after her dog was brutally attacked at Sask. off-leash park Sask. Teachers' Federation, gov't searching for path forward following impasse, reinstating job sanctions New centre in the works to track Indigenous data on businesses, land and resources A new institute is in the works that would track Indigenous economic prosperity in Canada by collecting data on population, businesses, land and resources. The First Nations University of Canada announced Thursday that it will set up the centre with help from two foundations. LeBlanc accuses Tories of theatrics as they push for names of MPs in meddling report B.C.'s brain-injured, mentally-ill drug users: Forced treatment on the table for 'clinical triad' Can the Taylor Swift effect jolt Toronto's sputtering tourism industry? Simons, Eataly, and Nike will take over space previously occupied by Nordstorm at Toronto's Eaton Centre

CLEAR Opened 10 New TSA PreCheck Enrolment Pods At US Airports Last Month

In just over a month, CLEAR has added TSA PreCheck enrollment pods at 13 airports, offering convenience to travelers nationwide. CLEAR will continue expanding enrollment locations and hours throughout the year, providing fast and efficient airport experiences. TSA PreCheck with CLEAR members can enjoy quicker security screenings, with 99% waiting less than 10 minutes at checkpoints. Just over a month after becoming an authorized TSA PreCheck enrollment provider, CLEAR now has dedicated TSA PreCheck enrollment pods at 13 airports. The newest stations, including major and regional airports, provide additional enrollment and renewal options for travelers nationwide. Ten in a month Biometric security provider CLEAR was announced as the third TSA PreCheck enrollment provider at the end of April and has been rapidly expanding its enrollment locations for the program. According to CLEAR, the company will continue delivering convenience to consumers by launching additional locations and extended hours of operation for enrollment and renewals over the remainder of the year. Related What Is The Difference Between TSA Precheck and CLEAR? Both programs aim to minimize security screening delays at US airports. The program launched with just three locations: Orlando International Airport (MCO), Sacramento International Airport (SMF), and Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR). It offers the possibility of renewing the membership online, regardless of where the enrollment occurred. CLEAR CEO Caryn Seidman-Becker noted just how far helpful the program is for travelers: "TSA PreCheck with enrollment by CLEAR provides a fast and efficient airport experience. "This is a win-win for U.S. travelers who will have access to more enrollment locations, expanded hours and other benefits." Photo: Denver International Airport Once enrolled in TSA PreCheck, travelers benefit from the convenience of keeping shoes, belts, and light jackets on through the security checkpoint and keeping electronics and 3-1-1 compliant liquids in carry-on bags. According to the TSA, members typically get through security screening much faster, with about 99% of members waiting less than 10 minutes at airport checkpoints nationwide. Where are the new locations? Potential TSA PreCheck applicants can pre-enroll or find an enrollment location by visiting the authorized CLEAR and TSA PreCheck website or referring to the list below. New locations are coming online regularly, with the latest batch added on May 29th. Ways to Save On CLEAR Memberships With Your Frequent Flyer Program CLEAR membership comes with a standard price tag of $189 per year - what discounts are available? The latest additions include New York JFK (the final link for the city following LaGuardia and Newark), Washington DC's National Airport, Las Vegas, Birmingham-Shuttleworth, Milwaukee, San Diego, and Los Angeles at LAX. The full list of airport enrollment locations and times can be found below:

aerospace,lifestyle

CLEAR Opened 10 New TSA PreCheck Enrolment Pods At US Airports Last Month. In just over a month, CLEAR has added TSA PreCheck enrollment pods at 13 airports, offering convenience to travelers nationwide. CLEAR will continue expanding enrollment locations and hours throughout the year, providing fast and efficient airport experiences. TSA PreCheck with CLEAR members can enjoy quicker security screenings, with 99% waiting less than 10 minutes at checkpoints. Just over a month after becoming an authorized TSA PreCheck enrollment provider, CLEAR now has dedicated TSA PreCheck enrollment pods at 13 airports. The newest stations, including major and regional airports, provide additional enrollment and renewal options for travelers nationwide. Ten in a month Biometric security provider CLEAR was announced as the third TSA PreCheck enrollment provider at the end of April and has been rapidly expanding its enrollment locations for the program. According to CLEAR, the company will continue delivering convenience to consumers by launching additional locations and extended hours of operation for enrollment and renewals over the remainder of the year. Related What Is The Difference Between TSA Precheck and CLEAR? Both programs aim to minimize security screening delays at US airports. The program launched with just three locations: Orlando International Airport (MCO), Sacramento International Airport (SMF), and Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR). It offers the possibility of renewing the membership online, regardless of where the enrollment occurred. CLEAR CEO Caryn Seidman-Becker noted just how far helpful the program is for travelers: "TSA PreCheck with enrollment by CLEAR provides a fast and efficient airport experience. "This is a win-win for U.S. travelers who will have access to more enrollment locations, expanded hours and other benefits." Photo: Denver International Airport Once enrolled in TSA PreCheck, travelers benefit from the convenience of keeping shoes, belts, and light jackets on through the security checkpoint and keeping electronics and 3-1-1 compliant liquids in carry-on bags. According to the TSA, members typically get through security screening much faster, with about 99% of members waiting less than 10 minutes at airport checkpoints nationwide. Where are the new locations? Potential TSA PreCheck applicants can pre-enroll or find an enrollment location by visiting the authorized CLEAR and TSA PreCheck website or referring to the list below. New locations are coming online regularly, with the latest batch added on May 29th. Ways to Save On CLEAR Memberships With Your Frequent Flyer Program CLEAR membership comes with a standard price tag of $189 per year - what discounts are available? The latest additions include New York JFK (the final link for the city following LaGuardia and Newark), Washington DC's National Airport, Las Vegas, Birmingham-Shuttleworth, Milwaukee, San Diego, and Los Angeles at LAX. The full list of airport enrollment locations and times can be found below:

4 people found dead in southwestern Ontario town of Harrow

found dead in the town of Harrow, just south of Windsor. Essex OPP officers were called to a residence on County Road 13 at approximately 1:30 p.m. on June 20, where they located four deceased individuals. While the cause of death and their identities cannot yet be confirmed, investigators believe there is no imminent threat to public safety, although the OPP reminds all members of the public to be aware of their personal safety at all times. Postmortem examinations will be conducted at the Centre of Forensic Sciences in London. The investigation by the Essex County OPP Crime Unit is continuing under the direction of the OPP Criminal Investigation Branch, with assistance from OPP Forensic Identification Services, and in conjunction with the Office of the Chief Coroner and the Ontario Forensic Pathology Service. Police say the investigation is in its early stages and no further details can be released at this time. Residents of the area should expect to see a large police presence for the next several days. Any person with information regarding this investigation should contact the OPP at 1-888-310-1122. Should you wish to remain anonymous, you may contact Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 (TIPS) or 'I feel used': Ont. woman hands over nearly $50K to psychic who promised to cleanse her of evil spirits This 16-year-old is U of T's youngest graduate since at least 1979 Former Ont. fire captain pleads guilty in wife's murder case Former Ont. fire captain pleads guilty in wife's murder case A former fire captain and father of two accused of killing his wife pleaded guilty on Thursday to second-degree murder. Man tried to swindle Sudbury car dealership out of $36K in fraudulent credit card purchases A man with no fixed address and from another province tried to make two large purchases from a Sudbury car dealership but was caught when he returned a second time. 'I feel used': Ont. woman hands over nearly $50K to psychic who promised to cleanse her of evil spirits An Ontario woman said she felt used and embarrassed after handing over nearly $50,000 to a psychic who promised to rid her of evil spirits. Pilot project leads to new agreement on restorative justice in northern Ontario A successful pilot project in a northern Ontario First Nation focused on diversion and restorative justice has led to a formal agreement with provincial police and an Indigenous legal services organization in Treaty 9 communities. Northern Ont. police say suspect was driving over curbs, had open case of beer in the front seat A citizen alerted police in Elliot Lake to a heavily impaired driver who was all over the road in the community Wednesday afternoon. Northern Ont. neighbourhood evacuated after live explosive devices from the Second World War found Two people facing charges in hate-motivated vandalism incident in Barrhaven, Ottawa police say

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4 people found dead in southwestern Ontario town of Harrow. found dead in the town of Harrow, just south of Windsor. Essex OPP officers were called to a residence on County Road 13 at approximately 1:30 p.m. on June 20, where they located four deceased individuals. While the cause of death and their identities cannot yet be confirmed, investigators believe there is no imminent threat to public safety, although the OPP reminds all members of the public to be aware of their personal safety at all times. Postmortem examinations will be conducted at the Centre of Forensic Sciences in London. The investigation by the Essex County OPP Crime Unit is continuing under the direction of the OPP Criminal Investigation Branch, with assistance from OPP Forensic Identification Services, and in conjunction with the Office of the Chief Coroner and the Ontario Forensic Pathology Service. Police say the investigation is in its early stages and no further details can be released at this time. Residents of the area should expect to see a large police presence for the next several days. Any person with information regarding this investigation should contact the OPP at 1-888-310-1122. Should you wish to remain anonymous, you may contact Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 (TIPS) or 'I feel used': Ont. woman hands over nearly $50K to psychic who promised to cleanse her of evil spirits This 16-year-old is U of T's youngest graduate since at least 1979 Former Ont. fire captain pleads guilty in wife's murder case Former Ont. fire captain pleads guilty in wife's murder case A former fire captain and father of two accused of killing his wife pleaded guilty on Thursday to second-degree murder. Man tried to swindle Sudbury car dealership out of $36K in fraudulent credit card purchases A man with no fixed address and from another province tried to make two large purchases from a Sudbury car dealership but was caught when he returned a second time. 'I feel used': Ont. woman hands over nearly $50K to psychic who promised to cleanse her of evil spirits An Ontario woman said she felt used and embarrassed after handing over nearly $50,000 to a psychic who promised to rid her of evil spirits. Pilot project leads to new agreement on restorative justice in northern Ontario A successful pilot project in a northern Ontario First Nation focused on diversion and restorative justice has led to a formal agreement with provincial police and an Indigenous legal services organization in Treaty 9 communities. Northern Ont. police say suspect was driving over curbs, had open case of beer in the front seat A citizen alerted police in Elliot Lake to a heavily impaired driver who was all over the road in the community Wednesday afternoon. Northern Ont. neighbourhood evacuated after live explosive devices from the Second World War found Two people facing charges in hate-motivated vandalism incident in Barrhaven, Ottawa police say

Challenges and risks of aging aircraft

Commentary by Toma Matutytė, CEO of Locatory.com The aviation industry faces a conundrum: a growing number of aging aircraft taking to the skies. Maintaining older jets offers economic advantages, yet it also presents its own problems and risks. While most of these are apparent even to newcomers in the industry, the current situation, with the order backlog for new aircraft hitting all-time records, brings its own unique set of challenges. Increased Maintenance Needs and Safety Concerns Over the past 35 years, data from IATA shows that more than 16,000 commercial aircraft have been retired globally, with an average of 700 reaching the end of their service life each year. This trend is projected to accelerate, with an estimated 11,000 retirements expected in the next decade. However, this outlook is complicated by a significant backlog of new aircraft deliveries, particularly narrow-body models. The surge in demand, exceeding even recent projections, has outpaced manufacturers’ production capacity. Consequently, many planned aircraft retirements in the coming years might be postponed. Extending an aircraft’s lifespan undoubtedly increases maintenance demands. Age brings wear and tear, requiring more frequent and thorough inspections, along with potential replacements of parts reaching their fatigue limits. This translates to higher costs, longer ground times, and potential disruptions to flight schedules. Airlines must carefully balance these expenses with the benefits of delaying expensive new aircraft purchases. And the current aviation landscape, characterized by an unprecedented surge in air travel demand, poses significant challenges. Aircraft manufacturers are struggling to keep up with this demand, resulting in a backlog of orders for new aircraft. In such a scenario, operators are compelled to reconsider the retirement of older aircraft. With the increased demand for air travel, these aging planes have become more commercially viable than before. Delayed Deliveries Operators are forced to weigh the economic advantages of extending the lifespan of older aircraft against the potential drawbacks, such as increased maintenance costs and potential disruptions. This complex decision-making process underscores the delicate balance airlines must maintain in navigating the evolving dynamics of the aviation industry. The global commercial aviation industry currently operates a fleet of over 30,000 aircraft, with more than 10,000 exceeding 20 years of age. As aircraft age, maintenance costs inevitably rise, averaging around $1 million annually. This increasing burden on airlines became particularly pronounced in the past year, as they navigated the early stages of post-pandemic recovery. In 2021 alone, airlines collectively shouldered over $10 billion in maintenance and repair expenses, highlighting one of the industry’s most significant challenges. This financial pressure is expected to intensify in the coming years. While age doesn’t automatically equate to compromised safety, the potential for issues rises. Extensive maintenance programs, robust regulatory oversight, and proactive risk management are crucial to mitigating these concerns. Airlines must invest in advanced inspection techniques, skilled technicians, and rigorous training to ensure older aircraft remain airworthy. However, a heightened level of vigilance and a zero-tolerance policy for deferred maintenance are essential. Production delays plaguing new aircraft deliveries have pushed airlines towards extending the life of older jets. While financially appealing in the short term, this strategy can backfire. Operating older aircraft often translates to higher fuel costs, lower fuel efficiency, and reduced passenger comfort compared to modern counterparts. These factors can negatively impact competitiveness and profitability in the long run. Airlines must carefully analyze the trade-offs and weigh future costs against short-term relief. Spare Parts: An Unpromising Challenge As the number of older aircraft grows, so does the demand for spare parts. This can lead to shortages, driving up costs and causing delays. Manufacturers prioritize production of parts for newer models, leaving airlines scrambling for components for their aging fleets. Therefore, right now we have a situation where spare parts for older aircraft become in a very limited supply. Some projections aren’t very positive, to say the least. For example, Airbus report predicts a looming 40% gap between demand and supply for spare parts in the A320 family by 2035. And it seems very real for virtually everyone within the industry. Here’s an example of how rapidly prices are increasing for older powertrains: the CFM56 engine, which powers fleets of Boeing 737s and Airbus A320s. Prices for its parts have jumped 30% in the past five years. And, let’s say, it’s not just about pocket change, as, for example, the critical hot section blades in the CFM56 engine. Replacing a complete set now sets an operator back a $1.7 million – and even finding a whole set of such blades is becoming very hard. Now, I’m not fear-mongering, but ignoring this reality wouldn’t be good for any business. We’re facing a complex challenge here: soaring costs and limited access to parts, both pushing the operational boundaries of older aircraft. And there are obviously even some safety-related implications, as aircraft require more vigilant maintenance, but limited parts availability threatens our ability to uphold the highest safety standards. Imagine a critical repair delayed due to lack of parts – not a comforting thought. There is also an economic strain. Airlines are already dealing with fuel price fluctuations and a complex post-pandemic recovery. Add skyrocketing maintenance costs to the mix, and economic viability for older aircraft becomes a serious question. Additionally, environmental impact is a very important topic today. Keeping older, less fuel-efficient jets in the air longer contradicts our sustainability goals. We need a strategic approach that balances safety, economics, and environmental responsibility. Airlines must explore alternative sources, engage in effective inventory management, even strategic stockpiling, if it seems viable and business can afford it. The Human Factor Maintaining the expertise required to service aging aircraft presents another challenge. Technicians trained on newer models may lack the skills needed for older systems. Airlines must invest in upskilling initiatives and knowledge transfer programs to bridge the gap. Additionally, attracting and retaining talent capable of handling complex maintenance tasks becomes crucial in an industry facing a skilled labor shortage. It is frequently mentioned that such challenges are demanding answers, which industry already familiar with. And technological advancements often are the most straightforward answer. Moreover, their implementation usually aligns with sustainability goals, for example, modernizing older aircraft with fuel-efficient technologies can mitigate environmental impact and potentially offer economic benefits. Another answer is, of course, collaboration. Airlines can share resources, expertise, and spare parts through strategic partnerships to alleviate individual challenges and optimize costs. They have been doing so in the face of one crisis or another for decades already, so it is definitely a proven way to overcome the financial burdens of these days. Additionally, I would also mention an importance of the long-term planning here. Airlines must meticulously plan their fleet strategies, considering future replacement needs, technological advancements, and economic factors. All in all, the decision to extend an aircraft’s lifespan is not one to be taken lightly. A thorough understanding of the associated challenges and risks is crucial for airlines to make informed decisions. The post Challenges and risks of aging aircraft appeared first on AeroTime .

aerospace,business

Challenges and risks of aging aircraft. Commentary by Toma Matutytė, CEO of Locatory.com The aviation industry faces a conundrum: a growing number of aging aircraft taking to the skies. Maintaining older jets offers economic advantages, yet it also presents its own problems and risks. While most of these are apparent even to newcomers in the industry, the current situation, with the order backlog for new aircraft hitting all-time records, brings its own unique set of challenges. Increased Maintenance Needs and Safety Concerns Over the past 35 years, data from IATA shows that more than 16,000 commercial aircraft have been retired globally, with an average of 700 reaching the end of their service life each year. This trend is projected to accelerate, with an estimated 11,000 retirements expected in the next decade. However, this outlook is complicated by a significant backlog of new aircraft deliveries, particularly narrow-body models. The surge in demand, exceeding even recent projections, has outpaced manufacturers’ production capacity. Consequently, many planned aircraft retirements in the coming years might be postponed. Extending an aircraft’s lifespan undoubtedly increases maintenance demands. Age brings wear and tear, requiring more frequent and thorough inspections, along with potential replacements of parts reaching their fatigue limits. This translates to higher costs, longer ground times, and potential disruptions to flight schedules. Airlines must carefully balance these expenses with the benefits of delaying expensive new aircraft purchases. And the current aviation landscape, characterized by an unprecedented surge in air travel demand, poses significant challenges. Aircraft manufacturers are struggling to keep up with this demand, resulting in a backlog of orders for new aircraft. In such a scenario, operators are compelled to reconsider the retirement of older aircraft. With the increased demand for air travel, these aging planes have become more commercially viable than before. Delayed Deliveries Operators are forced to weigh the economic advantages of extending the lifespan of older aircraft against the potential drawbacks, such as increased maintenance costs and potential disruptions. This complex decision-making process underscores the delicate balance airlines must maintain in navigating the evolving dynamics of the aviation industry. The global commercial aviation industry currently operates a fleet of over 30,000 aircraft, with more than 10,000 exceeding 20 years of age. As aircraft age, maintenance costs inevitably rise, averaging around $1 million annually. This increasing burden on airlines became particularly pronounced in the past year, as they navigated the early stages of post-pandemic recovery. In 2021 alone, airlines collectively shouldered over $10 billion in maintenance and repair expenses, highlighting one of the industry’s most significant challenges. This financial pressure is expected to intensify in the coming years. While age doesn’t automatically equate to compromised safety, the potential for issues rises. Extensive maintenance programs, robust regulatory oversight, and proactive risk management are crucial to mitigating these concerns. Airlines must invest in advanced inspection techniques, skilled technicians, and rigorous training to ensure older aircraft remain airworthy. However, a heightened level of vigilance and a zero-tolerance policy for deferred maintenance are essential. Production delays plaguing new aircraft deliveries have pushed airlines towards extending the life of older jets. While financially appealing in the short term, this strategy can backfire. Operating older aircraft often translates to higher fuel costs, lower fuel efficiency, and reduced passenger comfort compared to modern counterparts. These factors can negatively impact competitiveness and profitability in the long run. Airlines must carefully analyze the trade-offs and weigh future costs against short-term relief. Spare Parts: An Unpromising Challenge As the number of older aircraft grows, so does the demand for spare parts. This can lead to shortages, driving up costs and causing delays. Manufacturers prioritize production of parts for newer models, leaving airlines scrambling for components for their aging fleets. Therefore, right now we have a situation where spare parts for older aircraft become in a very limited supply. Some projections aren’t very positive, to say the least. For example, Airbus report predicts a looming 40% gap between demand and supply for spare parts in the A320 family by 2035. And it seems very real for virtually everyone within the industry. Here’s an example of how rapidly prices are increasing for older powertrains: the CFM56 engine, which powers fleets of Boeing 737s and Airbus A320s. Prices for its parts have jumped 30% in the past five years. And, let’s say, it’s not just about pocket change, as, for example, the critical hot section blades in the CFM56 engine. Replacing a complete set now sets an operator back a $1.7 million – and even finding a whole set of such blades is becoming very hard. Now, I’m not fear-mongering, but ignoring this reality wouldn’t be good for any business. We’re facing a complex challenge here: soaring costs and limited access to parts, both pushing the operational boundaries of older aircraft. And there are obviously even some safety-related implications, as aircraft require more vigilant maintenance, but limited parts availability threatens our ability to uphold the highest safety standards. Imagine a critical repair delayed due to lack of parts – not a comforting thought. There is also an economic strain. Airlines are already dealing with fuel price fluctuations and a complex post-pandemic recovery. Add skyrocketing maintenance costs to the mix, and economic viability for older aircraft becomes a serious question. Additionally, environmental impact is a very important topic today. Keeping older, less fuel-efficient jets in the air longer contradicts our sustainability goals. We need a strategic approach that balances safety, economics, and environmental responsibility. Airlines must explore alternative sources, engage in effective inventory management, even strategic stockpiling, if it seems viable and business can afford it. The Human Factor Maintaining the expertise required to service aging aircraft presents another challenge. Technicians trained on newer models may lack the skills needed for older systems. Airlines must invest in upskilling initiatives and knowledge transfer programs to bridge the gap. Additionally, attracting and retaining talent capable of handling complex maintenance tasks becomes crucial in an industry facing a skilled labor shortage. It is frequently mentioned that such challenges are demanding answers, which industry already familiar with. And technological advancements often are the most straightforward answer. Moreover, their implementation usually aligns with sustainability goals, for example, modernizing older aircraft with fuel-efficient technologies can mitigate environmental impact and potentially offer economic benefits. Another answer is, of course, collaboration. Airlines can share resources, expertise, and spare parts through strategic partnerships to alleviate individual challenges and optimize costs. They have been doing so in the face of one crisis or another for decades already, so it is definitely a proven way to overcome the financial burdens of these days. Additionally, I would also mention an importance of the long-term planning here. Airlines must meticulously plan their fleet strategies, considering future replacement needs, technological advancements, and economic factors. All in all, the decision to extend an aircraft’s lifespan is not one to be taken lightly. A thorough understanding of the associated challenges and risks is crucial for airlines to make informed decisions. The post Challenges and risks of aging aircraft appeared first on AeroTime .

Mouse jigglers pretending to work fired by bank

Wells Fargo has conducted a rash of sackings in recent weeks after claims some of its employees were faking keyboard activity to fool the firm into thinking they were working. America's third largest bank disclosed the decisions in broker filings with the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (Finra). The firm did not respond to questions about how the alleged issue was discovered, or whether it was related to remote work. New rules came into effect in the US this month that mean offices that brokers are using to work from home need to be inspected every three years. "Wells Fargo holds employees to the highest standards and does not tolerate unethical behaviour," spokeswoman Laurie Kight said in a statement. Some large companies have been using increasingly sophisticated tools to monitor employees since remote work expanded during the Covid pandemic. Such services can track keystrokes and eye movements, take screenshots and log which websites are visited. But tech has also evolved to evade the surveillance, including so-called "mouse jigglers", aimed at making computers appear to be in active use, which are widely available. According to Amazon, where they can be found for less than $10, thousands have been sold in the last month. In the filings, Wells Fargo said staff had resigned or been fired "after review of allegations involving simulation of keyboard activity creating impression of active work". Bloomberg, which first reported the firings, said more than a dozen people had been affected. The BBC has confirmed six instances in which staff had been discharged after review, and one case in which a person resigned voluntarily after being confronted with the claims. Many of them had worked for the firm for less than five years. It comes as many firms, especially in the financial industry, are pushing staff to return to the office. Remote work remains popular since the pandemic, but numbers have been drifting lower. In the US, just under 27% of paid days last month were work-from-home days, compared with more than 60% at the height in 2020, according to research by professors at the Instituto Tecnológico Autónomo de México (ITAM) Business School, Stanford and University of Chicago. As of this spring, about 13% of full-time employees in the US were fully remote, and another 26% enjoyed a hybrid arrangement, according to the researchers.

canada,world,usa

Mouse jigglers pretending to work fired by bank. Wells Fargo has conducted a rash of sackings in recent weeks after claims some of its employees were faking keyboard activity to fool the firm into thinking they were working. America's third largest bank disclosed the decisions in broker filings with the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (Finra). The firm did not respond to questions about how the alleged issue was discovered, or whether it was related to remote work. New rules came into effect in the US this month that mean offices that brokers are using to work from home need to be inspected every three years. "Wells Fargo holds employees to the highest standards and does not tolerate unethical behaviour," spokeswoman Laurie Kight said in a statement. Some large companies have been using increasingly sophisticated tools to monitor employees since remote work expanded during the Covid pandemic. Such services can track keystrokes and eye movements, take screenshots and log which websites are visited. But tech has also evolved to evade the surveillance, including so-called "mouse jigglers", aimed at making computers appear to be in active use, which are widely available. According to Amazon, where they can be found for less than $10, thousands have been sold in the last month. In the filings, Wells Fargo said staff had resigned or been fired "after review of allegations involving simulation of keyboard activity creating impression of active work". Bloomberg, which first reported the firings, said more than a dozen people had been affected. The BBC has confirmed six instances in which staff had been discharged after review, and one case in which a person resigned voluntarily after being confronted with the claims. Many of them had worked for the firm for less than five years. It comes as many firms, especially in the financial industry, are pushing staff to return to the office. Remote work remains popular since the pandemic, but numbers have been drifting lower. In the US, just under 27% of paid days last month were work-from-home days, compared with more than 60% at the height in 2020, according to research by professors at the Instituto Tecnológico Autónomo de México (ITAM) Business School, Stanford and University of Chicago. As of this spring, about 13% of full-time employees in the US were fully remote, and another 26% enjoyed a hybrid arrangement, according to the researchers.

[Fixed!] Failed to Detect Location 12 on Pokémon GO While Spoofing

June 7, Pokémon GO updated to version 315.2, likely adding advanced location monitoring that disrupts current location spoofing tools. Many gamers now see a "failed to detect location 12 Pokémon GO" error when trying to change their location. However, iAnyGo team has finally found a resolution for this error. Tenorshare iAnyGo used in conjunction with PoGo Wizard can now bypass location monitoring to spoof location on iOS and Android devices without jailbreaking/rooting. Continue Reading But how iAnyGo and PoGo Wizard work to fix "failed to detect location 12" error. Let's find out! The combo of Tenorshare iAnyGo and PoGo Wizard now allows you to fix "failed to detect location 12" error for a smooth Pokémon GO gameplay. PoGo Wizard used to have instability issues, causing some Pokémon GO accounts to be locked. After four improvements, the latest version, PoGo Wizard Beta 4, released on June 21, is much more stable with no reported account bans. "We're concerned about your account safety and this is currently the most stable and safe solution available in the market," says a Tenorshare spokesperson. Part 2: Full Guide: Fix Failed to Detect Location 12 by Using Tenorshare iAnyGo + PoGo Wizard For iAnyGo to fix "failed to detect location 12" error, you'll need to download it as well as PoGo Wizard on your computer, then follow instructions below: Step 1: Install iAnyGo on your computer. Then, join PoGo Club Discord group to get PoGo Wizard for free and install it as well. Step 2: Next, log in with a secondary Apple ID or Google account, and click "Install PoGo" to install Pokemon GO (beta 4) on your device. Step 3: Next, log in to cracked version of Pokémon GO, open iAnyGo, and change location. You will be able to fix "Pokémon GO error 12" successfully. Pokémon GO Fest 2024 Giveaway " with discounts for you and your team and deals like buy one, get three free. You also get exclusive chances to win tickets, and learn top tricks and tips for catching more Pokémon. The "failed to detect location 12 Pokémon GO" error is the major woe for gamers wishing to play Pokémon GO from comfort of their home. However, Tenorshare iAnyGo and PoGo Wizard offers a lethal solution to fix this error, preventing account ban. With 85,482,249 satisfied customers worldwide, Tenorshare has long established itself as a leading provider of smartphone solutions to address user problems effectively.

business

[Fixed!] Failed to Detect Location 12 on Pokémon GO While Spoofing. June 7, Pokémon GO updated to version 315.2, likely adding advanced location monitoring that disrupts current location spoofing tools. Many gamers now see a "failed to detect location 12 Pokémon GO" error when trying to change their location. However, iAnyGo team has finally found a resolution for this error. Tenorshare iAnyGo used in conjunction with PoGo Wizard can now bypass location monitoring to spoof location on iOS and Android devices without jailbreaking/rooting. Continue Reading But how iAnyGo and PoGo Wizard work to fix "failed to detect location 12" error. Let's find out! The combo of Tenorshare iAnyGo and PoGo Wizard now allows you to fix "failed to detect location 12" error for a smooth Pokémon GO gameplay. PoGo Wizard used to have instability issues, causing some Pokémon GO accounts to be locked. After four improvements, the latest version, PoGo Wizard Beta 4, released on June 21, is much more stable with no reported account bans. "We're concerned about your account safety and this is currently the most stable and safe solution available in the market," says a Tenorshare spokesperson. Part 2: Full Guide: Fix Failed to Detect Location 12 by Using Tenorshare iAnyGo + PoGo Wizard For iAnyGo to fix "failed to detect location 12" error, you'll need to download it as well as PoGo Wizard on your computer, then follow instructions below: Step 1: Install iAnyGo on your computer. Then, join PoGo Club Discord group to get PoGo Wizard for free and install it as well. Step 2: Next, log in with a secondary Apple ID or Google account, and click "Install PoGo" to install Pokemon GO (beta 4) on your device. Step 3: Next, log in to cracked version of Pokémon GO, open iAnyGo, and change location. You will be able to fix "Pokémon GO error 12" successfully. Pokémon GO Fest 2024 Giveaway " with discounts for you and your team and deals like buy one, get three free. You also get exclusive chances to win tickets, and learn top tricks and tips for catching more Pokémon. The "failed to detect location 12 Pokémon GO" error is the major woe for gamers wishing to play Pokémon GO from comfort of their home. However, Tenorshare iAnyGo and PoGo Wizard offers a lethal solution to fix this error, preventing account ban. With 85,482,249 satisfied customers worldwide, Tenorshare has long established itself as a leading provider of smartphone solutions to address user problems effectively.

Researchers solve 2,000-year-old mystery of the shipworm

Secret of the world's most destructive and intriguing mollusk has implications for everything from climate change to human health Date: June 5, 2024 Source: University of Massachusetts Amherst Summary: They bedeviled ancient Greek navies, helped shipwreck Christopher Columbus, aided in the sinking of the Spanish Armada and caused the wharves in San Francisco Bay to collapse into the sea, but until now, scientists have been unable to pinpoint exactly how shipworms -- a family of mollusks -- are able to cause such damage. A team of researchers has discovered that a population of symbiotic microbes, living in an overlooked sub-organ of the gut called the 'typhlosole,' have the ability to secrete the enzymes needed to digest lignin -- the toughest part of wood. Share: They bedeviled ancient Greek navies, helped shipwreck Christopher Columbus, aided in the sinking of the Spanish Armada and caused the wharves in San Francisco Bay to collapse into the sea, but until now, scientists have been unable to pinpoint exactly how shipworms -- a family of mollusks -- are able to cause such damage. A team of researchers, jointly led by the University of Massachusetts Amherst and the University of Plymouth, along with collaborators from the University of Maine and UMass Chan Medical School, have discovered that a population of symbiotic microbes, living in an overlooked sub-organ of the gut called the "typhlosole," have the ability to secrete the enzymes needed to digest lignin -- the toughest part of wood. "Shipworms are such important animals," says Reuben Shipway, co-corresponding author of the research published recently in International Biodeterioration and Biodegradation and who initiated this work as part of his postdoctoral fellowship at UMass Amherst. "They are found throughout the world's oceans and not only have they changed history, they are also ecosystem engineers and play a fundamental role in cycling carbon in aquatic environments. It's incredible that we haven't had a full understanding of how they do this." Wood is a miraculous substance: flexible and tough, its stringy but nutritious cellulose can make a great meal -- but only for those living things that can digest it and also get through the layer of lignin, a tough, armor-like substance that surrounds the cellulose like "wrap rage"-inducing packaging around your favorite treat. Microbiologists have long known that those animals capable of digesting lignin -- like termites -- host specialized, symbiotic colonies of microbes in their guts that do the work of breaking the lignin down for them. "But," says lead author Barry Goodell, recently retired professor of microbiology at UMass Amherst and emeritus professor at the University of Maine, "the shipworm's digestive tract has long been thought to be virtually sterile." How then do shipworms do what they do? Goodell and Shipway have spent the better part of the last decade trying to answer this question, testing a variety of innovative hypotheses -- none of which gave up the shipworms' secret. "We decided to take a very careful look at the shipworm's gut again," says Goodell, "on the off chance that the last hundred years' worth of researchers missed something." Indeed, that appears to be the case. It turns out that shipworms have a curious sub-organ, called a typhlosole -- "it looks like Salvador Dali's mustache upside down," says Shipway -- that is embedded in the mollusk's digestive tract. Previous researchers had thought that it served as a mixing structure, but, when Goodell and Shipway did some precise culturing work, then enlisted the aid of the Argonne National Lab's facilities for metagenomic analysis as well as the advanced genetic-probe-microscopy technique at the UMass Amherst Institute for Applied Life Sciences, they found what generations of researchers had overlooked: hidden clusters of bacterial symbionts with the capability to produce lignin-digesting enzymes. Not only does this research help to solve a longstanding mystery, but the findings may also have important practical application. Biotech companies are searching for new enzymes that can digest recalcitrant substrates more efficiently than current bio-industrial processes allow, and new sources of enzymes that can open the structure of biomass residues are very important in growing this field. Furthermore, previous shipworm symbionts have proven to be a treasure trove of natural products -- such as novel anti-parasitic antibiotics -- which may have significant impacts on human health. On the climate change front, research such as this can help refine models predicting how CO 2 and other greenhouse gasses are released into the environment, especially given that large amounts of woody debris on land winds up in the ocean, where much of it passes through the shipworm gut. Finally, other animal species, including other mollusks, the common earthworm and even the tadpole stages of frogs, also possess a typhlosole that has not been thoroughly studied before. If symbionts similar to those in shipworms were found in those animals, it could change our understanding of how those animals also make their way in the world. "It's very satisfying," says Goodell of the research. "We've been trying to crack this mystery for years and we finally discovered the shipworm's hidden bacterial symbiont secret." 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

Researchers solve 2,000-year-old mystery of the shipworm. Secret of the world's most destructive and intriguing mollusk has implications for everything from climate change to human health Date: June 5, 2024 Source: University of Massachusetts Amherst Summary: They bedeviled ancient Greek navies, helped shipwreck Christopher Columbus, aided in the sinking of the Spanish Armada and caused the wharves in San Francisco Bay to collapse into the sea, but until now, scientists have been unable to pinpoint exactly how shipworms -- a family of mollusks -- are able to cause such damage. A team of researchers has discovered that a population of symbiotic microbes, living in an overlooked sub-organ of the gut called the 'typhlosole,' have the ability to secrete the enzymes needed to digest lignin -- the toughest part of wood. Share: They bedeviled ancient Greek navies, helped shipwreck Christopher Columbus, aided in the sinking of the Spanish Armada and caused the wharves in San Francisco Bay to collapse into the sea, but until now, scientists have been unable to pinpoint exactly how shipworms -- a family of mollusks -- are able to cause such damage. A team of researchers, jointly led by the University of Massachusetts Amherst and the University of Plymouth, along with collaborators from the University of Maine and UMass Chan Medical School, have discovered that a population of symbiotic microbes, living in an overlooked sub-organ of the gut called the "typhlosole," have the ability to secrete the enzymes needed to digest lignin -- the toughest part of wood. "Shipworms are such important animals," says Reuben Shipway, co-corresponding author of the research published recently in International Biodeterioration and Biodegradation and who initiated this work as part of his postdoctoral fellowship at UMass Amherst. "They are found throughout the world's oceans and not only have they changed history, they are also ecosystem engineers and play a fundamental role in cycling carbon in aquatic environments. It's incredible that we haven't had a full understanding of how they do this." Wood is a miraculous substance: flexible and tough, its stringy but nutritious cellulose can make a great meal -- but only for those living things that can digest it and also get through the layer of lignin, a tough, armor-like substance that surrounds the cellulose like "wrap rage"-inducing packaging around your favorite treat. Microbiologists have long known that those animals capable of digesting lignin -- like termites -- host specialized, symbiotic colonies of microbes in their guts that do the work of breaking the lignin down for them. "But," says lead author Barry Goodell, recently retired professor of microbiology at UMass Amherst and emeritus professor at the University of Maine, "the shipworm's digestive tract has long been thought to be virtually sterile." How then do shipworms do what they do? Goodell and Shipway have spent the better part of the last decade trying to answer this question, testing a variety of innovative hypotheses -- none of which gave up the shipworms' secret. "We decided to take a very careful look at the shipworm's gut again," says Goodell, "on the off chance that the last hundred years' worth of researchers missed something." Indeed, that appears to be the case. It turns out that shipworms have a curious sub-organ, called a typhlosole -- "it looks like Salvador Dali's mustache upside down," says Shipway -- that is embedded in the mollusk's digestive tract. Previous researchers had thought that it served as a mixing structure, but, when Goodell and Shipway did some precise culturing work, then enlisted the aid of the Argonne National Lab's facilities for metagenomic analysis as well as the advanced genetic-probe-microscopy technique at the UMass Amherst Institute for Applied Life Sciences, they found what generations of researchers had overlooked: hidden clusters of bacterial symbionts with the capability to produce lignin-digesting enzymes. Not only does this research help to solve a longstanding mystery, but the findings may also have important practical application. Biotech companies are searching for new enzymes that can digest recalcitrant substrates more efficiently than current bio-industrial processes allow, and new sources of enzymes that can open the structure of biomass residues are very important in growing this field. Furthermore, previous shipworm symbionts have proven to be a treasure trove of natural products -- such as novel anti-parasitic antibiotics -- which may have significant impacts on human health. On the climate change front, research such as this can help refine models predicting how CO 2 and other greenhouse gasses are released into the environment, especially given that large amounts of woody debris on land winds up in the ocean, where much of it passes through the shipworm gut. Finally, other animal species, including other mollusks, the common earthworm and even the tadpole stages of frogs, also possess a typhlosole that has not been thoroughly studied before. If symbionts similar to those in shipworms were found in those animals, it could change our understanding of how those animals also make their way in the world. "It's very satisfying," says Goodell of the research. "We've been trying to crack this mystery for years and we finally discovered the shipworm's hidden bacterial symbiont secret." 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.

Mother receives £2,300 after son unable to shower

A mother has received a £2,300 compensation payment after delayed works meant her disabled son was unable to shower in their bathroom for a "significant amount of time". South Staffordshire District Council had agreed to fund adaptions to Mrs X's bathroom, including a shower aid for her son to bathe more easily. a report by the Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman found that the work was of a poor standard and the shower aid was installed nine months after work started. The council acknowledged that "the quality of the workmanship was not good enough at the beginning and the delays which took place", the report said. Funded by a disabled facilities grant, the majority of the work was completed in September 2022 with a local building contractor, while the shower aid was installed in June 2023. A council letter was sent to Mrs X a few months later which acknowledged that the delays "meant there were times the family had no access to bathing facilities". Delays had caused the mother and son "avoidable distress, inconvenience and frustration", the report said. The council paid her the money to remedy the injustice caused and apologised for Mrs X's experience along with the stress it had caused. It agreed to attend the property to assess any snags along with making sure a contractor completed the agreed snag list.

world,uk

Mother receives £2,300 after son unable to shower. A mother has received a £2,300 compensation payment after delayed works meant her disabled son was unable to shower in their bathroom for a "significant amount of time". South Staffordshire District Council had agreed to fund adaptions to Mrs X's bathroom, including a shower aid for her son to bathe more easily. a report by the Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman found that the work was of a poor standard and the shower aid was installed nine months after work started. The council acknowledged that "the quality of the workmanship was not good enough at the beginning and the delays which took place", the report said. Funded by a disabled facilities grant, the majority of the work was completed in September 2022 with a local building contractor, while the shower aid was installed in June 2023. A council letter was sent to Mrs X a few months later which acknowledged that the delays "meant there were times the family had no access to bathing facilities". Delays had caused the mother and son "avoidable distress, inconvenience and frustration", the report said. The council paid her the money to remedy the injustice caused and apologised for Mrs X's experience along with the stress it had caused. It agreed to attend the property to assess any snags along with making sure a contractor completed the agreed snag list.

Etihad Cargo expands European freighter network with launch of Madrid flights

Etihad Cargo, the cargo and logistics arm of Abu Dhabi-based Etihad Airways, has announced it will be expanding its freighter network with a new route to Madrid. Starting on July 15, 2024, Etihad Cargo will operate two weekly Boeing 777 freighter flights between Abu Dhabi Zayed International Airport (AUH) and Madrid-Barajas International Airport (MAD). The new route is expected to add over 200 tons of cargo capacity for Europe each week. The launch of a twice-weekly freighter service between Abu Dhabi and Madrid will increase the airline’s total number of flights to Spain to 25 per week. Etihad Cargo offers its customers belly capacity on 10 Etihad passenger services to Madrid each week, 10 to Barcelona, plus three seasonal flights to Malaga launched as part of the airline’s 2024 northern summer schedule. According to a company statement, “This expansion highlights the strategic importance of these destinations, particularly Madrid as a key European fashion hub, and aims to boost e-commerce connectivity from Asia to Europe via Etihad Cargo’s Abu Dhabi hub.” “Launching Madrid as Etihad Cargo’s latest European freighter destination supports the growing demand for e-commerce flows between Asia and Europe,” said Stanislas Brun, Vice President of Cargo at Etihad Cargo . “Madrid’s role as a key fashion hub makes it an essential destination for the carrier’s freighter network.” Etihad Cargo This new route complements Etihad Cargo’s existing European freighter network, which includes six weekly flights to Amsterdam and three weekly flights to Frankfurt. With the addition of Madrid to the network, the total number of Etihad Cargo’s freighter flights to Europe increases to 11 per week overall. Additionally, Etihad Cargo customers can also benefit from additional belly hold capacity offered as part of the carrier’s 2024 summer schedule, which includes the launch of two weekly seasonal flights to Nice, France. Flights to Athens in Greece will also be increasing to 14 per week, with two operating via seasonal destination Mykonos and two via Santorini. A new route to Antalya will operate with three weekly flights, and flights to Istanbul will increase from 10 to 14 per week starting on July 22, 2024. Additionally, Dublin will see three more flights from July 23, 2024, totaling 10 per week. According to ch-aviation, Etihad Cargo operates a fleet of five Boeing 777-200F freighters and also has an additional seven Airbus A350Fs on order. Three Airbus A340-600 passenger planes find new lease of life as freighters Air Cargo by Luke Peters 2024-06-14 The post Etihad Cargo expands European freighter network with launch of Madrid flights appeared first on AeroTime .

aerospace

Etihad Cargo expands European freighter network with launch of Madrid flights. Etihad Cargo, the cargo and logistics arm of Abu Dhabi-based Etihad Airways, has announced it will be expanding its freighter network with a new route to Madrid. Starting on July 15, 2024, Etihad Cargo will operate two weekly Boeing 777 freighter flights between Abu Dhabi Zayed International Airport (AUH) and Madrid-Barajas International Airport (MAD). The new route is expected to add over 200 tons of cargo capacity for Europe each week. The launch of a twice-weekly freighter service between Abu Dhabi and Madrid will increase the airline’s total number of flights to Spain to 25 per week. Etihad Cargo offers its customers belly capacity on 10 Etihad passenger services to Madrid each week, 10 to Barcelona, plus three seasonal flights to Malaga launched as part of the airline’s 2024 northern summer schedule. According to a company statement, “This expansion highlights the strategic importance of these destinations, particularly Madrid as a key European fashion hub, and aims to boost e-commerce connectivity from Asia to Europe via Etihad Cargo’s Abu Dhabi hub.” “Launching Madrid as Etihad Cargo’s latest European freighter destination supports the growing demand for e-commerce flows between Asia and Europe,” said Stanislas Brun, Vice President of Cargo at Etihad Cargo . “Madrid’s role as a key fashion hub makes it an essential destination for the carrier’s freighter network.” Etihad Cargo This new route complements Etihad Cargo’s existing European freighter network, which includes six weekly flights to Amsterdam and three weekly flights to Frankfurt. With the addition of Madrid to the network, the total number of Etihad Cargo’s freighter flights to Europe increases to 11 per week overall. Additionally, Etihad Cargo customers can also benefit from additional belly hold capacity offered as part of the carrier’s 2024 summer schedule, which includes the launch of two weekly seasonal flights to Nice, France. Flights to Athens in Greece will also be increasing to 14 per week, with two operating via seasonal destination Mykonos and two via Santorini. A new route to Antalya will operate with three weekly flights, and flights to Istanbul will increase from 10 to 14 per week starting on July 22, 2024. Additionally, Dublin will see three more flights from July 23, 2024, totaling 10 per week. According to ch-aviation, Etihad Cargo operates a fleet of five Boeing 777-200F freighters and also has an additional seven Airbus A350Fs on order. Three Airbus A340-600 passenger planes find new lease of life as freighters Air Cargo by Luke Peters 2024-06-14 The post Etihad Cargo expands European freighter network with launch of Madrid flights appeared first on AeroTime .

How has Lucy Letby tried to fight guilty verdicts and what could happen next?

convicted last year of murdering seven babies and attempting to kill six others at the Countess of Chester hospital in north-west England, where she worked as a nurse. She is serving 14 whole-life sentences, meaning she will never be released from prison. In April she sought permission to appeal against those convictions at the court of appeal in London, and in May her challenge was refused. On Tuesday the court published its judgment explaining its decision. Here we explain what steps she has taken – and what could happen next. What stages has Letby's case been through at the court of appeal? Any defendant wanting to make an appeal against a crown court conviction or sentence must seek permission to do so from the court of appeal criminal division, the second most senior court in England and Wales. This court, based at the Royal Courts of Justice in London, is able to reduce a prison sentence or quash a crown court conviction. It can order a retrial in cases where a judge has made an error. After her trial last year, Letby's lawyers sought permission to appeal against her convictions. She put forward four grounds of appeal, each of which related to applications she had made during the trial that had been denied by the judge, Mr Justice Goss. On 24 May, judges denied permission. What did she argue at the appeal court? Letby's legal team argued that her convictions were unsafe because Goss had been mistaken in law when he refused four separate applications made by the defence. First, they said the evidence of the prosecution's key expert, Dr Dewi Evans, should have been struck out for being "dogmatic and biased". Letby's barrister, Benjamin Myers KC, also argued that the medical evidence behind her convictions for fatally injecting air into babies' bloodstreams, producing what is known as an air embolus, was "very weak" and could not be relied upon. Dr Shoo Lee, an academic who researched the phenomenon of air embolus in babies in 1989, gave evidence to the appeal court on behalf of the defence, telling judges that the "only sign" of it was pink blood vessels "superimposed" on a pink or blue body. When questioned by the prosecution, Lee accepted he had not assessed any of the victims' medical records in Letby's case or seen any of the witness testimony provided by other medical staff, who noted strange rashes on a number of the dead babies. Letby's third argument was that the judge was wrong to direct the jury that they did not have to be sure of the precise act, or acts, that led to a baby's collapse or death. Finally, Myers said the judge failed to properly investigate a complaint made about a juror in the final days of the trial, when they were allegedly overheard saying they had "made up their minds from the start" about Letby's guilt. It was later suggested that the complaint may have been made maliciously as the complaint was traced back to a cafe owner who had been in dispute with the juror's partner over the sale of an iPhone. Why was her application thrown out? In a 59-page ruling published on Tuesday, the appeal court judges said Goss's handling of the trial had been "thoughtful, fair, comprehensive and correct". They ruled that none of the four legal challenges advanced by Letby were "arguable" and said they did not consider that the criteria for the admission of fresh evidence – in the form of two research papers by Lee – had been met. Is this the end of the road for Letby's appeal? What could she do next? After her initial application for leave to appeal was rejected, Letby renewed her application, essentially putting in the appeal application for a second time, to be reconsidered by a panel of judges at a hearing. When this was denied, in effect she had exhausted the appeals process. One avenue still available to Letby may be the Criminal Cases Review Commission (CCRC). What does the Criminal Cases Review Commission do? The CCRC is an official public body tasked with investigating potential miscarriages of justice in England, Wales and Northern Ireland. It can refer a case back to the court of appeal if it identifies new or overlooked evidence. It has the legal power to obtain evidence from public bodies, such as the police and the Crown Prosecution Service, and private organisations. It can also interview witnesses and arrange for new expert evidence such as psychological reports and DNA testing.

uk

How has Lucy Letby tried to fight guilty verdicts and what could happen next?. convicted last year of murdering seven babies and attempting to kill six others at the Countess of Chester hospital in north-west England, where she worked as a nurse. She is serving 14 whole-life sentences, meaning she will never be released from prison. In April she sought permission to appeal against those convictions at the court of appeal in London, and in May her challenge was refused. On Tuesday the court published its judgment explaining its decision. Here we explain what steps she has taken – and what could happen next. What stages has Letby's case been through at the court of appeal? Any defendant wanting to make an appeal against a crown court conviction or sentence must seek permission to do so from the court of appeal criminal division, the second most senior court in England and Wales. This court, based at the Royal Courts of Justice in London, is able to reduce a prison sentence or quash a crown court conviction. It can order a retrial in cases where a judge has made an error. After her trial last year, Letby's lawyers sought permission to appeal against her convictions. She put forward four grounds of appeal, each of which related to applications she had made during the trial that had been denied by the judge, Mr Justice Goss. On 24 May, judges denied permission. What did she argue at the appeal court? Letby's legal team argued that her convictions were unsafe because Goss had been mistaken in law when he refused four separate applications made by the defence. First, they said the evidence of the prosecution's key expert, Dr Dewi Evans, should have been struck out for being "dogmatic and biased". Letby's barrister, Benjamin Myers KC, also argued that the medical evidence behind her convictions for fatally injecting air into babies' bloodstreams, producing what is known as an air embolus, was "very weak" and could not be relied upon. Dr Shoo Lee, an academic who researched the phenomenon of air embolus in babies in 1989, gave evidence to the appeal court on behalf of the defence, telling judges that the "only sign" of it was pink blood vessels "superimposed" on a pink or blue body. When questioned by the prosecution, Lee accepted he had not assessed any of the victims' medical records in Letby's case or seen any of the witness testimony provided by other medical staff, who noted strange rashes on a number of the dead babies. Letby's third argument was that the judge was wrong to direct the jury that they did not have to be sure of the precise act, or acts, that led to a baby's collapse or death. Finally, Myers said the judge failed to properly investigate a complaint made about a juror in the final days of the trial, when they were allegedly overheard saying they had "made up their minds from the start" about Letby's guilt. It was later suggested that the complaint may have been made maliciously as the complaint was traced back to a cafe owner who had been in dispute with the juror's partner over the sale of an iPhone. Why was her application thrown out? In a 59-page ruling published on Tuesday, the appeal court judges said Goss's handling of the trial had been "thoughtful, fair, comprehensive and correct". They ruled that none of the four legal challenges advanced by Letby were "arguable" and said they did not consider that the criteria for the admission of fresh evidence – in the form of two research papers by Lee – had been met. Is this the end of the road for Letby's appeal? What could she do next? After her initial application for leave to appeal was rejected, Letby renewed her application, essentially putting in the appeal application for a second time, to be reconsidered by a panel of judges at a hearing. When this was denied, in effect she had exhausted the appeals process. One avenue still available to Letby may be the Criminal Cases Review Commission (CCRC). What does the Criminal Cases Review Commission do? The CCRC is an official public body tasked with investigating potential miscarriages of justice in England, Wales and Northern Ireland. It can refer a case back to the court of appeal if it identifies new or overlooked evidence. It has the legal power to obtain evidence from public bodies, such as the police and the Crown Prosecution Service, and private organisations. It can also interview witnesses and arrange for new expert evidence such as psychological reports and DNA testing.

Best Crypto to Buy Now June 27 – Kaspa, Injective, Toncoin

Bitcoin (BTC) is currently swimming in a turbulent market environment, trading at approximately $60,750. The German government’s transfer of 750 BTC worth $46.27 million to various destinations, including prominent exchanges like Kraken and Bitstamp, has greatly boosted BTC’s daily volume. 45 mins ago, the German Government transferred away another 750 $BTC ($46.27M), including: • 125 $BTC to #Kraken • 125 $BTC to #Bitstamp • 500 $BTC to wallet “139PoPE1bK” • 0.001 $BTC to Flow Traders (likely a test txn) In the past week, around 4,250 $BTC (~$271.3M) have… https://t.co/JV63Xsc8IC pic.twitter.com/Ezorz9egCf — Spot On Chain (@spotonchain) June 26, 2024 The influx of supply has contributed to BTC’s struggle to maintain levels above $61,000, highlighting the impact of institutional activities on price movement. In addition to these supply-side pressures, regulatory uncertainties surrounding major cryptocurrency exchanges such as Binance US have added to market volatility. Legal actions and operational suspensions, particularly affecting Washington customers starting August 20, also add to the regulatory challenges shaping investor sentiment and BTC price expectations in the short term. Despite these challenges, the resilience of spot Bitcoin exchange-traded funds (ETFs) in the US signals ongoing investor confidence and interest . Recent data shows positive net inflows into these funds, with Fidelity’s FBTC leading at $19 million, followed by Grayscale’s GBTC with $4 million, marking its first positive flow since early June. The trend of inflows totaling $21.52 million on Wednesday highlights a growing preference among investors for regulated investment vehicles amid BTC’s price volatility. But despite these market fluctuations, there are some very good gainers, and here are the best crypto to buy now. Kaspa (KASPA) Kasla on its way to ATH after it broke resistance level Source: TradingView Kaspa has surged 9.51% in the last 24 hours, reaching $0.1762. The increase is supported by a substantial rise in trading volume, which has escalated by 165.19% to $159,640,780. Such heightened trading activity shows growing investor confidence and interest in Kaspa’s blockchain proposition. The current price of Kaspa is approaching a critical resistance level of $0.18, and the Relative Strength Index (RSI) indicates that the token is nearing overbought conditions, suggesting strong demand. A breakout above $0.183 could propel Kaspa toward new highs, potentially targeting levels around $0.205 as part of a bullish scenario. The recent announcement that Marathon Digital has commenced mining Kaspa has further bolstered investor sentiment . With a current price of $0.181 and a market cap exceeding $4.8 billion, Kaspa has secured a place among the top 24 cryptocurrencies by market capitalization. The cryptocurrency trades near its historical price highs, indicating bullish momentum and potential for upward movement. Analyst technical analysis suggests even more bullish momentum, with potential resistance levels around recent highs, supported by increasing trading volumes and positive market sentiment, which makes Kaspa one of the best crypto to buy now. Injective Protocol (INJ) Injective Protocol focuses on decentralized finance (DeFi) and provides a platform for creating and trading decentralized derivatives. Injective powering to resistance level Source: TradingView INJ’s market cap is $2.20 billion , and it is currently trading at $23.54. The INJ price rose by 2.2% today. In the past week, it has traded between $17.38 and $24.41, showing resilience despite a 33.62% decline over the past six months. Notably, there has been a 12.23% increase in the past week, signaling potential for a bullish reversal. The Relative Strength Index (RSI) is currently at 65.25, indicating robust buying momentum. Coupled with a high RSI value of 77.76, these indicators suggest strong bullish sentiment among investors. The next strong resistance level stands at $28.57. If bullish momentum persists, INJ could potentially break through this resistance and aim for higher levels around $35.60, representing a substantial growth of approximately 45% from its current upper range. Injective recently announced a partnership with Andromeda to enhance the adoption and functionality of decentralized finance (DeFi). The integration focuses on managing tokenized assets on a unified trading platform, enabling fractional ownership, expanding investment opportunities, and diversifying assets. With ongoing developments in DeFi integration and strategic partnerships, Injective is positioned to capitalize on the growing demand for decentralized financial solutions, which makes INJ one of the best crypto to buy now. Toncoin (TON) Toncoin broke resistance Source: TradingView Toncoin , currently trading at $7.67 with a market cap of $18.86 billion, experienced a 2.7% increase today. Since February, Toncoin has surged by 271% , demonstrating a strong uptrend. The price is testing resistance around $7.73, with up to a 3% increase today. A successful breakout and consolidation above this level could propel Toncoin towards the next target at the 1.618 Fibonacci extension level, approximately $9.60. On the downside, the 0.786 Fibonacci level is a strong support, offering a buffer in case of price retracement. Toncoin’s recent price actions indicate bullish sentiment among investors, supported by its upward trend and ability to respect key technical levels. Toncoin has been actively expanding its ecosystem and utility, driven by recent developments. On June 25, the TON Foundation introduced Adsgram , a new advertising platform tailored for Telegram’s mini-apps. Adsgram enables developers to integrate ads directly into their applications and earn Toncoin (TON). Adsgram has quickly gained traction, achieving up to 8 million daily impressions as of May 2024. It has attracted notable mini-apps like Gamee and Fonton Fantasy Football. A $20 million TON Ecosystem Fund was recently disbursed to support early-stage projects within the TON ecosystem. Based on current data and multiple technical analyses, Toncoin (TON) is predicted to experience major growth in 2024. The price is expected to rise by 227.52%, reaching approximately $24.82 by July 26, 2024. The optimistic outlook is supported by a bullish sentiment and a Fear & Greed Index 40 (indicating fear), suggesting it could be the best crypto to buy now. The post Best Crypto to Buy Now June 27 – Kaspa, Injective, Toncoin appeared first on Cryptonews .

crypto

Best Crypto to Buy Now June 27 – Kaspa, Injective, Toncoin. Bitcoin (BTC) is currently swimming in a turbulent market environment, trading at approximately $60,750. The German government’s transfer of 750 BTC worth $46.27 million to various destinations, including prominent exchanges like Kraken and Bitstamp, has greatly boosted BTC’s daily volume. 45 mins ago, the German Government transferred away another 750 $BTC ($46.27M), including: • 125 $BTC to #Kraken • 125 $BTC to #Bitstamp • 500 $BTC to wallet “139PoPE1bK” • 0.001 $BTC to Flow Traders (likely a test txn) In the past week, around 4,250 $BTC (~$271.3M) have… https://t.co/JV63Xsc8IC pic.twitter.com/Ezorz9egCf — Spot On Chain (@spotonchain) June 26, 2024 The influx of supply has contributed to BTC’s struggle to maintain levels above $61,000, highlighting the impact of institutional activities on price movement. In addition to these supply-side pressures, regulatory uncertainties surrounding major cryptocurrency exchanges such as Binance US have added to market volatility. Legal actions and operational suspensions, particularly affecting Washington customers starting August 20, also add to the regulatory challenges shaping investor sentiment and BTC price expectations in the short term. Despite these challenges, the resilience of spot Bitcoin exchange-traded funds (ETFs) in the US signals ongoing investor confidence and interest . Recent data shows positive net inflows into these funds, with Fidelity’s FBTC leading at $19 million, followed by Grayscale’s GBTC with $4 million, marking its first positive flow since early June. The trend of inflows totaling $21.52 million on Wednesday highlights a growing preference among investors for regulated investment vehicles amid BTC’s price volatility. But despite these market fluctuations, there are some very good gainers, and here are the best crypto to buy now. Kaspa (KASPA) Kasla on its way to ATH after it broke resistance level Source: TradingView Kaspa has surged 9.51% in the last 24 hours, reaching $0.1762. The increase is supported by a substantial rise in trading volume, which has escalated by 165.19% to $159,640,780. Such heightened trading activity shows growing investor confidence and interest in Kaspa’s blockchain proposition. The current price of Kaspa is approaching a critical resistance level of $0.18, and the Relative Strength Index (RSI) indicates that the token is nearing overbought conditions, suggesting strong demand. A breakout above $0.183 could propel Kaspa toward new highs, potentially targeting levels around $0.205 as part of a bullish scenario. The recent announcement that Marathon Digital has commenced mining Kaspa has further bolstered investor sentiment . With a current price of $0.181 and a market cap exceeding $4.8 billion, Kaspa has secured a place among the top 24 cryptocurrencies by market capitalization. The cryptocurrency trades near its historical price highs, indicating bullish momentum and potential for upward movement. Analyst technical analysis suggests even more bullish momentum, with potential resistance levels around recent highs, supported by increasing trading volumes and positive market sentiment, which makes Kaspa one of the best crypto to buy now. Injective Protocol (INJ) Injective Protocol focuses on decentralized finance (DeFi) and provides a platform for creating and trading decentralized derivatives. Injective powering to resistance level Source: TradingView INJ’s market cap is $2.20 billion , and it is currently trading at $23.54. The INJ price rose by 2.2% today. In the past week, it has traded between $17.38 and $24.41, showing resilience despite a 33.62% decline over the past six months. Notably, there has been a 12.23% increase in the past week, signaling potential for a bullish reversal. The Relative Strength Index (RSI) is currently at 65.25, indicating robust buying momentum. Coupled with a high RSI value of 77.76, these indicators suggest strong bullish sentiment among investors. The next strong resistance level stands at $28.57. If bullish momentum persists, INJ could potentially break through this resistance and aim for higher levels around $35.60, representing a substantial growth of approximately 45% from its current upper range. Injective recently announced a partnership with Andromeda to enhance the adoption and functionality of decentralized finance (DeFi). The integration focuses on managing tokenized assets on a unified trading platform, enabling fractional ownership, expanding investment opportunities, and diversifying assets. With ongoing developments in DeFi integration and strategic partnerships, Injective is positioned to capitalize on the growing demand for decentralized financial solutions, which makes INJ one of the best crypto to buy now. Toncoin (TON) Toncoin broke resistance Source: TradingView Toncoin , currently trading at $7.67 with a market cap of $18.86 billion, experienced a 2.7% increase today. Since February, Toncoin has surged by 271% , demonstrating a strong uptrend. The price is testing resistance around $7.73, with up to a 3% increase today. A successful breakout and consolidation above this level could propel Toncoin towards the next target at the 1.618 Fibonacci extension level, approximately $9.60. On the downside, the 0.786 Fibonacci level is a strong support, offering a buffer in case of price retracement. Toncoin’s recent price actions indicate bullish sentiment among investors, supported by its upward trend and ability to respect key technical levels. Toncoin has been actively expanding its ecosystem and utility, driven by recent developments. On June 25, the TON Foundation introduced Adsgram , a new advertising platform tailored for Telegram’s mini-apps. Adsgram enables developers to integrate ads directly into their applications and earn Toncoin (TON). Adsgram has quickly gained traction, achieving up to 8 million daily impressions as of May 2024. It has attracted notable mini-apps like Gamee and Fonton Fantasy Football. A $20 million TON Ecosystem Fund was recently disbursed to support early-stage projects within the TON ecosystem. Based on current data and multiple technical analyses, Toncoin (TON) is predicted to experience major growth in 2024. The price is expected to rise by 227.52%, reaching approximately $24.82 by July 26, 2024. The optimistic outlook is supported by a bullish sentiment and a Fear & Greed Index 40 (indicating fear), suggesting it could be the best crypto to buy now. The post Best Crypto to Buy Now June 27 – Kaspa, Injective, Toncoin appeared first on Cryptonews .

'Uncommitted' protest vote against Biden draws tens of thousands on Super Tuesday

Rep. Elise Stefanik, R-N.Y., on the primary results from Super Tuesday and the need for Republicans to come together to support Trump Join Fox News for access to this content Plus special access to select articles and other premium content with your account - free of charge. Privacy Policy, which includes our Notice of Financial Incentive. To access the content, check your email and follow the instructions provided. President Biden, after they chose to mark "uncommitted" on their ballots over voting for him. With 99% of the expected votes counted in Minnesota, nearly 1 in 3 voters backed someone other than the president, with nearly 46,000 voters, or nearly 19% of Democrats, marking their ballots "uncommitted," or willfully deciding not to back any named candidate, to protest his support for Israel. The sizable protest vote in Minnesota extended to six other states — Alabama, Colorado, Iowa, Massachusetts, North Carolina and Tennessee — where tens of thousands of voters also refused to support Biden, undoubtedly raising questions for his re-election campaign. The votes come just a week after Arab American and Muslim community leaders in Michigan, home to one of the largest Muslim communities in the U.S., urged voters not to support Biden. 2024 DEMOCRATIC PRIMARIES & CAUCUSES Tens of thousands of Minnesota voters sent a message to President Biden on Super Tuesday by voting against him over his continued support for Israel. (Yuri Gripas/Abaca/Bloomberg via Getty Images) Progressive groups have backed the "uncommitted" vote to protest Biden's support for Israel and its continued war against the Hamas terror group in Gaza, which has resulted in millions of Palestinians becoming displaced from their homes and the deaths of tens of thousands of civilians. The "uncommitted" option appeared on the Democratic ballot in six other Super Tuesday states, and each took a chunk of support away from the president. In Alabama, over 11,000 voters, or roughly 6%, voted for "uncommitted." The option collected the second-most votes in the state. In Colorado, over 43,000 voters, or roughly 8% of the vote, marked "Noncommitted Delegate" on the ballot. In Iowa, 4% of the total vote backed "Uncommitted." In Massachusetts, over 54,000 voters, or just under 10%, backed "No Preference." In North Carolina, a whopping 88,000 voters, or nearly 13%, backed "No Preference." Finally, in Tennessee, approximately 10,450 voters, or nearly 8%, voted "Uncommitted." The "uncommitted" and "no preference" votes were a message for President Biden and one that could cause his campaign to reassess ahead of the 2024 general election. (Yuri Gripas/Abaca/Bloomberg via Getty Images) In these states, the non-declared option was usually the second most chosen, earning more than Democratic presidential candidates Dean Phillips and Marianne Williamson. MICHIGAN DEMOCRATS, COMMUNITY LEADERS SOUND ALARM BELLS AFTER THOUSANDS OF VOTERS PROTEST BIDEN IN SWING STATE The vote is a message for Biden and one that could cause his campaign to reassess ahead of the 2024 general election, where the president is expected to face former President Trump, a voter said. "That is a powerful way to send the administration a message," Christian Peterson, 22, a law student at the University of Minnesota, told Reuters. "Biden needs to stop sending military aid to Israel." The voters stand clearly opposed to President Biden's support for Israel and its continued war against the Hamas terror group in Gaza. (GPO/ Handout/Anadolu via Getty Images)

politics

'Uncommitted' protest vote against Biden draws tens of thousands on Super Tuesday. Rep. Elise Stefanik, R-N.Y., on the primary results from Super Tuesday and the need for Republicans to come together to support Trump Join Fox News for access to this content Plus special access to select articles and other premium content with your account - free of charge. Privacy Policy, which includes our Notice of Financial Incentive. To access the content, check your email and follow the instructions provided. President Biden, after they chose to mark "uncommitted" on their ballots over voting for him. With 99% of the expected votes counted in Minnesota, nearly 1 in 3 voters backed someone other than the president, with nearly 46,000 voters, or nearly 19% of Democrats, marking their ballots "uncommitted," or willfully deciding not to back any named candidate, to protest his support for Israel. The sizable protest vote in Minnesota extended to six other states — Alabama, Colorado, Iowa, Massachusetts, North Carolina and Tennessee — where tens of thousands of voters also refused to support Biden, undoubtedly raising questions for his re-election campaign. The votes come just a week after Arab American and Muslim community leaders in Michigan, home to one of the largest Muslim communities in the U.S., urged voters not to support Biden. 2024 DEMOCRATIC PRIMARIES & CAUCUSES Tens of thousands of Minnesota voters sent a message to President Biden on Super Tuesday by voting against him over his continued support for Israel. (Yuri Gripas/Abaca/Bloomberg via Getty Images) Progressive groups have backed the "uncommitted" vote to protest Biden's support for Israel and its continued war against the Hamas terror group in Gaza, which has resulted in millions of Palestinians becoming displaced from their homes and the deaths of tens of thousands of civilians. The "uncommitted" option appeared on the Democratic ballot in six other Super Tuesday states, and each took a chunk of support away from the president. In Alabama, over 11,000 voters, or roughly 6%, voted for "uncommitted." The option collected the second-most votes in the state. In Colorado, over 43,000 voters, or roughly 8% of the vote, marked "Noncommitted Delegate" on the ballot. In Iowa, 4% of the total vote backed "Uncommitted." In Massachusetts, over 54,000 voters, or just under 10%, backed "No Preference." In North Carolina, a whopping 88,000 voters, or nearly 13%, backed "No Preference." Finally, in Tennessee, approximately 10,450 voters, or nearly 8%, voted "Uncommitted." The "uncommitted" and "no preference" votes were a message for President Biden and one that could cause his campaign to reassess ahead of the 2024 general election. (Yuri Gripas/Abaca/Bloomberg via Getty Images) In these states, the non-declared option was usually the second most chosen, earning more than Democratic presidential candidates Dean Phillips and Marianne Williamson. MICHIGAN DEMOCRATS, COMMUNITY LEADERS SOUND ALARM BELLS AFTER THOUSANDS OF VOTERS PROTEST BIDEN IN SWING STATE The vote is a message for Biden and one that could cause his campaign to reassess ahead of the 2024 general election, where the president is expected to face former President Trump, a voter said. "That is a powerful way to send the administration a message," Christian Peterson, 22, a law student at the University of Minnesota, told Reuters. "Biden needs to stop sending military aid to Israel." The voters stand clearly opposed to President Biden's support for Israel and its continued war against the Hamas terror group in Gaza. (GPO/ Handout/Anadolu via Getty Images)

Wildlife traffickers carried on their illegal trade during COVID lockdown – what legal traders can learn from their resilience

The world literally stopped during the COVID-19 pandemic. But while countries locked down to keep coronavirus at bay, wildlife traffickers carried on their illegal activities. Global risk governance and criminology academics Annette Hübschle and Meredith Gore studied the traffickers’ methods and share lessons from their resilience. How did wildlife traffickers continue their trade? Many wildlife traffickers adapted their operations. From mostly air cargo and commercial flights, they changed to transportation by foot, bicycle, motorcycles and, in some cases, government vehicles. We learned of some instances where they used hearses and caskets of COVID-19 victims, exploiting the cover of funeral events to transport and distribute illegal wildlife products such as ivory and rhino horns. They also shifted their activities online. They created new digital marketplaces that allowed direct interactions with buyers. Online platforms helped wildlife traffickers avoid intermediaries. Finally, we heard multiple reports of stockpiling products which they then moved swiftly once restrictions were lifted. What made them resilient? Their adaptability was remarkable. They innovated by diversifying transport methods and routes. To evade detection, they used less monitored routes. And their swift adoption of online platforms enabled them to reach a wider audience and conduct discreet transactions despite lockdowns and travel restrictions. Stockpiling products during the lockdown allowed them to resume trade quickly when conditions improved. How did you find out about their illegal activities? Many of our insights come from reviewing existing studies on resilience and illegal markets, and conducting extensive field research. We undertook detailed case studies in South Africa, Tanzania and Zambia. We focused on how responses to the pandemic affected people operating in the illegal wildlife trade. Our methods included interviews with people directly involved in the trade and local community members. We also spoke with law enforcement officers and NGO workers. We employed participatory mapping to understand trade routes and methods, analysed documents and gathered statistical data. Why are your findings important? They provide deeper insights into how people operate in illegal economies. By examining how the illegal markets adapted to the challenges of the COVID-19 lockdown, we can learn how to improve the resilience of legal economies. This can help policymakers develop more effective strategies for managing environmental, social and economic challenges. Our research emphasises the importance of considering diverse perspectives and unconventional sources of resilience in addressing complex environmental issues. One of the most critical aspects of our research is the expansion of the Frictions and Flows framework. We originally designed it to analyse the dynamics of illegal wildlife trade. It was built on research about illegal rhino horn flows . Now it has evolved to take a broader perspective, helping us understand both legal and illegal wildlife trade. By observing how these markets adapt, innovate and keep going, we gain insights into the underlying mechanisms. These can be applied to improve resilience in legal economies facing global challenges. For example, the framework could help legal economies to cope with other shocks such as extreme weather events or sea level rise. The framework allows one to identify specific pain points. Supply chain disruptions during hurricanes or floods would be an example. Then it’s possible to come up with strategies to manage the problem. That could involve, for example, diversifying supply sources or improving logistics networks to maintain trade flows. This shift in thinking provides a roadmap through immediate impacts and can help prepare for long-term challenges. The way traffickers adapted during the pandemic highlights the challenges that law enforcement and regulatory agencies face in disrupting wildlife trafficking. The approach to these challenges should combine: whole of society responses (diverse stakeholders) strengthened international cooperation targeted interventions to disrupt trafficking networks, in particular their sources of funding addressing the factors driving demand for illegal wildlife products (for example, urbanisation, increased middle-income populations with dispensable income). Strategies must consider the broader impacts of wildlife trafficking too, such as undermining sustainable development investments. This is particularly true for vulnerable members of society (like women and youth), local communities and Indigenous peoples who are often severely affected by crises but have developed complex coping mechanisms. Efforts to stop wildlife trafficking must consider the links between environmental conservation, public health and socioeconomic factors. By recognising the connections between legal and illegal markets and integrating health, environmental and social policies, countries can develop more robust systems to protect wildlife and support communities against future crises. Annette Hübschle receives funding from the Partnership for Enhanced Engagement in Research (PEER), US Agency for International Development, the South African Department for Science and Innovation, the National Research Foundation, the European Research Council and the US government. Meredith Gore receives funding from the U.S. National Science Foundation, Paul G. Allen Family Foundation, and U.D. Defense Threat Reduction Agency, Partnership for Enhanced Engagement in Research (PEER), US Agency for International Development, the South African Department for Science and Innovation, National Research Foundation.

business,environment,africa

Wildlife traffickers carried on their illegal trade during COVID lockdown – what legal traders can learn from their resilience. The world literally stopped during the COVID-19 pandemic. But while countries locked down to keep coronavirus at bay, wildlife traffickers carried on their illegal activities. Global risk governance and criminology academics Annette Hübschle and Meredith Gore studied the traffickers’ methods and share lessons from their resilience. How did wildlife traffickers continue their trade? Many wildlife traffickers adapted their operations. From mostly air cargo and commercial flights, they changed to transportation by foot, bicycle, motorcycles and, in some cases, government vehicles. We learned of some instances where they used hearses and caskets of COVID-19 victims, exploiting the cover of funeral events to transport and distribute illegal wildlife products such as ivory and rhino horns. They also shifted their activities online. They created new digital marketplaces that allowed direct interactions with buyers. Online platforms helped wildlife traffickers avoid intermediaries. Finally, we heard multiple reports of stockpiling products which they then moved swiftly once restrictions were lifted. What made them resilient? Their adaptability was remarkable. They innovated by diversifying transport methods and routes. To evade detection, they used less monitored routes. And their swift adoption of online platforms enabled them to reach a wider audience and conduct discreet transactions despite lockdowns and travel restrictions. Stockpiling products during the lockdown allowed them to resume trade quickly when conditions improved. How did you find out about their illegal activities? Many of our insights come from reviewing existing studies on resilience and illegal markets, and conducting extensive field research. We undertook detailed case studies in South Africa, Tanzania and Zambia. We focused on how responses to the pandemic affected people operating in the illegal wildlife trade. Our methods included interviews with people directly involved in the trade and local community members. We also spoke with law enforcement officers and NGO workers. We employed participatory mapping to understand trade routes and methods, analysed documents and gathered statistical data. Why are your findings important? They provide deeper insights into how people operate in illegal economies. By examining how the illegal markets adapted to the challenges of the COVID-19 lockdown, we can learn how to improve the resilience of legal economies. This can help policymakers develop more effective strategies for managing environmental, social and economic challenges. Our research emphasises the importance of considering diverse perspectives and unconventional sources of resilience in addressing complex environmental issues. One of the most critical aspects of our research is the expansion of the Frictions and Flows framework. We originally designed it to analyse the dynamics of illegal wildlife trade. It was built on research about illegal rhino horn flows . Now it has evolved to take a broader perspective, helping us understand both legal and illegal wildlife trade. By observing how these markets adapt, innovate and keep going, we gain insights into the underlying mechanisms. These can be applied to improve resilience in legal economies facing global challenges. For example, the framework could help legal economies to cope with other shocks such as extreme weather events or sea level rise. The framework allows one to identify specific pain points. Supply chain disruptions during hurricanes or floods would be an example. Then it’s possible to come up with strategies to manage the problem. That could involve, for example, diversifying supply sources or improving logistics networks to maintain trade flows. This shift in thinking provides a roadmap through immediate impacts and can help prepare for long-term challenges. The way traffickers adapted during the pandemic highlights the challenges that law enforcement and regulatory agencies face in disrupting wildlife trafficking. The approach to these challenges should combine: whole of society responses (diverse stakeholders) strengthened international cooperation targeted interventions to disrupt trafficking networks, in particular their sources of funding addressing the factors driving demand for illegal wildlife products (for example, urbanisation, increased middle-income populations with dispensable income). Strategies must consider the broader impacts of wildlife trafficking too, such as undermining sustainable development investments. This is particularly true for vulnerable members of society (like women and youth), local communities and Indigenous peoples who are often severely affected by crises but have developed complex coping mechanisms. Efforts to stop wildlife trafficking must consider the links between environmental conservation, public health and socioeconomic factors. By recognising the connections between legal and illegal markets and integrating health, environmental and social policies, countries can develop more robust systems to protect wildlife and support communities against future crises. Annette Hübschle receives funding from the Partnership for Enhanced Engagement in Research (PEER), US Agency for International Development, the South African Department for Science and Innovation, the National Research Foundation, the European Research Council and the US government. Meredith Gore receives funding from the U.S. National Science Foundation, Paul G. Allen Family Foundation, and U.D. Defense Threat Reduction Agency, Partnership for Enhanced Engagement in Research (PEER), US Agency for International Development, the South African Department for Science and Innovation, National Research Foundation.

Hematopoietic Stem Cells Transplantation (HSCT) Market size is set to grow by USD 2.58 billion from 2024-2028, Availability of technologically advanced equipment to boost the market growth, Technavio

June 25, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- The global hematopoietic stem cells transplantation (HSCT) market size is estimated to grow by USD 2.58 billion from 2024-2028, according to Technavio. The market is estimated to grow at a CAGR of 6.64% during the forecast period. Availability of technologically advanced equipment is driving market growth, with a trend towards growing demand for personalized medicine. However, high cost of HSCT poses a challenge. Key market players include AllCells Corp., Athersys Inc., Beike Biotechnology Co. Ltd., bluebird bio Inc., Cellular Biomedicine Group Inc., FUJIFILM Corp., Gamida Cell Ltd., Lineage Cell Therapeutics Inc., Lonza Group Ltd., MEDIPOST Co. Ltd., Merck and Co. Inc., Mesoblast Ltd., Pluristem Therapeutics Inc., Sanofi SA, Sartorius CellGenix GmbH, Taiga Biotechnologies Inc., Takeda Pharmaceutical Co. Ltd., Talaris Therapeutics Inc., and ThermoGenesis Holdings Inc. Continue Reading Technavio has announced its latest market research report titled Global hematopoietic stem cells transplantation (HSCT) market 2024-2028 Get a detailed analysis on regions, market segments, customer landscape, and companies - Click for the snapshot of this report Application (Bone marrow transplant, Peripheral blood stem cell transplant, and Cord blood transplant), Type (Autologous HSCT and Allogeneic HSCT), and Geography (North America, Europe, Asia, and Rest of World (ROW)) North America, Europe, Asia, and Rest of World (ROW) Key companies profiled AllCells Corp., Athersys Inc., Beike Biotechnology Co. Ltd., bluebird bio Inc., Cellular Biomedicine Group Inc., FUJIFILM Corp., Gamida Cell Ltd., Lineage Cell Therapeutics Inc., Lonza Group Ltd., MEDIPOST Co. Ltd., Merck and Co. Inc., Mesoblast Ltd., Pluristem Therapeutics Inc., Sanofi SA, Sartorius CellGenix GmbH, Taiga Biotechnologies Inc., Takeda Pharmaceutical Co. Ltd., Talaris Therapeutics Inc., and ThermoGenesis Holdings Inc. Key Market Trends Fueling Growth The hematopoietic stem cells transplantation (HSCT) market is experiencing growth due to the use of mesenchymal stem cells (MSC) in the process. MSC, found in bone marrow, offer benefits such as a low risk of immune rejection, no need for embryonic stem cells, and minimal requirement for anti-rejection drugs. These cells also possess immunosuppressive properties, improving engraftment rates and reducing the risk of graft-versus-host disease (GvHD). Despite the side effects of immunosuppressive therapy, MSC's benefits make HSCT more effective for treating hematological malignancies and inflammatory diseases. The Hematopoietic Stem Cells Transplantation (HSCT) market is experiencing significant growth due to the increasing demand for advanced treatments in various diseases. The use of HSCT in the treatment of hematological malignancies and genetic disorders is on the rise. The market is driven by the development of new technologies and therapies, such as Gamida Cell's CAR-T cell therapy and Cellectis' Allogeneic CAR-T therapy. Additionally, the growing awareness and acceptance of HSCT as a viable treatment option are contributing to market growth. The market is expected to continue its upward trend in the coming years, with key players focusing on innovation and expansion to meet the increasing demand. Research report provides comprehensive data on impact of trend. For more details- Download a Sample Report Market Challenges The HSCT market is projected to expand due to technological advancements, new indications, and alternative graft sources. However, the high cost of transplants, which increases with co-morbidities, acute GvDH, and lengthy hospital stays, hinders market growth. Patients may need extended stays near hospitals for monitoring, further increasing costs. These factors limit adoption and market expansion during the forecast period. The Hematopoietic Stem Cells Transplantation (HSCT) market faces several challenges. These include the high cost of procedures and the need for donor matching. Additionally, the complexity of the process and the risk of graft-versus-host disease require advanced technology and skilled professionals. Furthermore, the lack of awareness and understanding about HSCT among potential patients and healthcare providers can hinder market growth. The use of cord blood and haploidentical transplants offers potential solutions to some of these challenges, but also present new ones, such as ethical considerations and logistical complexities. Overall, the HSCT market requires continued innovation and investment to address these challenges and make this life-saving treatment more accessible and affordable for all. For more insights on driver and challenges - Download a Sample Report This hematopoietic stem cells transplantation (HSCT) market report extensively covers market segmentation by Application 1.1 Bone marrow transplant 1.2 Peripheral blood stem cell transplant 1.3 Cord blood transplant Type 2.1 Autologous HSCT 2.2 Allogeneic HSCT Geography 3.1 1.1 Bone marrow transplant- The Hematopoietic Stem Cells Transplantation (HSCT) market experiences growth due to the increasing need for bone marrow transplants. These procedures replace dysfunctional bone marrow with healthy stem cells, benefiting patients with various disorders such as acute and chronic leukemia, adrenoleukodystrophy, aplastic anemia, and bone marrow failure syndromes. The demand for bone marrow transplants rises as they improve prospects of cure and survival, leading to market expansion throughout the forecast period. Research Analysis The Hematopoietic Stem Cells Transplantation (HSCT) market encompasses the use of autologous and allogeneic transplantation procedures for the treatment of hematological disorders such as leukemia, lymphoma, and lymphoproliferative disorders. Bone marrow transplants and cord blood are common sources of hematopoietic stem cells. Allogeneic transplant therapy involves the use of donor cells, while autologous transplant therapy utilizes a patient's own cells. Magenta Biosciences and Gamida Cell are involved in the development of stem cell-based medicines. Clinical trials explore new transplantation procedures and therapies, including immune cloaking and therapeutic cells. The prevalence of cancer, particularly common cancers, drives healthcare expenditure in this market. Inorganic growth strategies, such as acquisitions and collaborations, are common in the industry. The HSCT market is of significant importance in addressing public health emergencies, including the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. Market Research Overview The Hematopoietic Stem Cells Transplantation (HSCT) market refers to the global trade of products, technologies, and services related to the transplantation of hematopoietic stem cells. These cells are essential for the production of new blood cells in the body. HSCT is a medical procedure used to replace damaged or destroyed cells in the bone marrow with healthy ones. The market for HSCT is driven by the increasing prevalence of blood disorders, such as leukemia, lymphoma, and aplastic anemia. Additionally, advancements in stem cell research and technology are leading to new applications and treatments, expanding the market further. The HSCT market includes various components, such as stem cell sources, collection and processing methods, and transplantation techniques. The market is expected to grow significantly in the coming years due to these factors. Table of Contents: 1 Executive Summary 2 Market Landscape 3 Market Sizing 4 Historic Market Size 5 Five Forces Analysis 6 Market Segmentation Application Bone Marrow Transplant Peripheral Blood Stem Cell Transplant Cord Blood Transplant Type Autologous HSCT Allogeneic HSCT 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.

health

Hematopoietic Stem Cells Transplantation (HSCT) Market size is set to grow by USD 2.58 billion from 2024-2028, Availability of technologically advanced equipment to boost the market growth, Technavio. June 25, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- The global hematopoietic stem cells transplantation (HSCT) market size is estimated to grow by USD 2.58 billion from 2024-2028, according to Technavio. The market is estimated to grow at a CAGR of 6.64% during the forecast period. Availability of technologically advanced equipment is driving market growth, with a trend towards growing demand for personalized medicine. However, high cost of HSCT poses a challenge. Key market players include AllCells Corp., Athersys Inc., Beike Biotechnology Co. Ltd., bluebird bio Inc., Cellular Biomedicine Group Inc., FUJIFILM Corp., Gamida Cell Ltd., Lineage Cell Therapeutics Inc., Lonza Group Ltd., MEDIPOST Co. Ltd., Merck and Co. Inc., Mesoblast Ltd., Pluristem Therapeutics Inc., Sanofi SA, Sartorius CellGenix GmbH, Taiga Biotechnologies Inc., Takeda Pharmaceutical Co. Ltd., Talaris Therapeutics Inc., and ThermoGenesis Holdings Inc. Continue Reading Technavio has announced its latest market research report titled Global hematopoietic stem cells transplantation (HSCT) market 2024-2028 Get a detailed analysis on regions, market segments, customer landscape, and companies - Click for the snapshot of this report Application (Bone marrow transplant, Peripheral blood stem cell transplant, and Cord blood transplant), Type (Autologous HSCT and Allogeneic HSCT), and Geography (North America, Europe, Asia, and Rest of World (ROW)) North America, Europe, Asia, and Rest of World (ROW) Key companies profiled AllCells Corp., Athersys Inc., Beike Biotechnology Co. Ltd., bluebird bio Inc., Cellular Biomedicine Group Inc., FUJIFILM Corp., Gamida Cell Ltd., Lineage Cell Therapeutics Inc., Lonza Group Ltd., MEDIPOST Co. Ltd., Merck and Co. Inc., Mesoblast Ltd., Pluristem Therapeutics Inc., Sanofi SA, Sartorius CellGenix GmbH, Taiga Biotechnologies Inc., Takeda Pharmaceutical Co. Ltd., Talaris Therapeutics Inc., and ThermoGenesis Holdings Inc. Key Market Trends Fueling Growth The hematopoietic stem cells transplantation (HSCT) market is experiencing growth due to the use of mesenchymal stem cells (MSC) in the process. MSC, found in bone marrow, offer benefits such as a low risk of immune rejection, no need for embryonic stem cells, and minimal requirement for anti-rejection drugs. These cells also possess immunosuppressive properties, improving engraftment rates and reducing the risk of graft-versus-host disease (GvHD). Despite the side effects of immunosuppressive therapy, MSC's benefits make HSCT more effective for treating hematological malignancies and inflammatory diseases. The Hematopoietic Stem Cells Transplantation (HSCT) market is experiencing significant growth due to the increasing demand for advanced treatments in various diseases. The use of HSCT in the treatment of hematological malignancies and genetic disorders is on the rise. The market is driven by the development of new technologies and therapies, such as Gamida Cell's CAR-T cell therapy and Cellectis' Allogeneic CAR-T therapy. Additionally, the growing awareness and acceptance of HSCT as a viable treatment option are contributing to market growth. The market is expected to continue its upward trend in the coming years, with key players focusing on innovation and expansion to meet the increasing demand. Research report provides comprehensive data on impact of trend. For more details- Download a Sample Report Market Challenges The HSCT market is projected to expand due to technological advancements, new indications, and alternative graft sources. However, the high cost of transplants, which increases with co-morbidities, acute GvDH, and lengthy hospital stays, hinders market growth. Patients may need extended stays near hospitals for monitoring, further increasing costs. These factors limit adoption and market expansion during the forecast period. The Hematopoietic Stem Cells Transplantation (HSCT) market faces several challenges. These include the high cost of procedures and the need for donor matching. Additionally, the complexity of the process and the risk of graft-versus-host disease require advanced technology and skilled professionals. Furthermore, the lack of awareness and understanding about HSCT among potential patients and healthcare providers can hinder market growth. The use of cord blood and haploidentical transplants offers potential solutions to some of these challenges, but also present new ones, such as ethical considerations and logistical complexities. Overall, the HSCT market requires continued innovation and investment to address these challenges and make this life-saving treatment more accessible and affordable for all. For more insights on driver and challenges - Download a Sample Report This hematopoietic stem cells transplantation (HSCT) market report extensively covers market segmentation by Application 1.1 Bone marrow transplant 1.2 Peripheral blood stem cell transplant 1.3 Cord blood transplant Type 2.1 Autologous HSCT 2.2 Allogeneic HSCT Geography 3.1 1.1 Bone marrow transplant- The Hematopoietic Stem Cells Transplantation (HSCT) market experiences growth due to the increasing need for bone marrow transplants. These procedures replace dysfunctional bone marrow with healthy stem cells, benefiting patients with various disorders such as acute and chronic leukemia, adrenoleukodystrophy, aplastic anemia, and bone marrow failure syndromes. The demand for bone marrow transplants rises as they improve prospects of cure and survival, leading to market expansion throughout the forecast period. Research Analysis The Hematopoietic Stem Cells Transplantation (HSCT) market encompasses the use of autologous and allogeneic transplantation procedures for the treatment of hematological disorders such as leukemia, lymphoma, and lymphoproliferative disorders. Bone marrow transplants and cord blood are common sources of hematopoietic stem cells. Allogeneic transplant therapy involves the use of donor cells, while autologous transplant therapy utilizes a patient's own cells. Magenta Biosciences and Gamida Cell are involved in the development of stem cell-based medicines. Clinical trials explore new transplantation procedures and therapies, including immune cloaking and therapeutic cells. The prevalence of cancer, particularly common cancers, drives healthcare expenditure in this market. Inorganic growth strategies, such as acquisitions and collaborations, are common in the industry. The HSCT market is of significant importance in addressing public health emergencies, including the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. Market Research Overview The Hematopoietic Stem Cells Transplantation (HSCT) market refers to the global trade of products, technologies, and services related to the transplantation of hematopoietic stem cells. These cells are essential for the production of new blood cells in the body. HSCT is a medical procedure used to replace damaged or destroyed cells in the bone marrow with healthy ones. The market for HSCT is driven by the increasing prevalence of blood disorders, such as leukemia, lymphoma, and aplastic anemia. Additionally, advancements in stem cell research and technology are leading to new applications and treatments, expanding the market further. The HSCT market includes various components, such as stem cell sources, collection and processing methods, and transplantation techniques. The market is expected to grow significantly in the coming years due to these factors. Table of Contents: 1 Executive Summary 2 Market Landscape 3 Market Sizing 4 Historic Market Size 5 Five Forces Analysis 6 Market Segmentation Application Bone Marrow Transplant Peripheral Blood Stem Cell Transplant Cord Blood Transplant Type Autologous HSCT Allogeneic HSCT 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.

These countries have Bitcoin worth billions… and are selling up

According to Arkham Intelligence, a slew of confiscations after criminal crackdowns means Uncle Sam is now sitting on an impressive stockpile of 213,543 BTC… that's more than 1% of the total supply. MicroStrategy, which began aggressively adding the world's biggest cryptocurrency to its balance sheet all the way back in August 2020, only surpassed this milestone in March. When you take these figures in isolation, it would be easy to assume that America's vast BTC holdings are exceedingly bullish — a vote of confidence in the crypto sector. But make no mistake, the U.S. is no U.S. Bitcoin holdings | Source: Arkham Intelligence American politicians, regulators, and law enforcement agencies have repeatedly expressed fears that Bitcoin has the potential to undermine the U.S. dollar — with some warning this cryptocurrency can be used for money laundering and criminal activity. This worldview is no doubt informed by the fact that this huge stash primarily came from two major seizures. Late 2022 saw the Justice Department seize 50,676 BTC that was hidden in the home of a man who unlawfully stole it from the Silk Road darknet marketplace. In a particularly surreal development, some of the coins forfeited by James Zhong were "on a single-board computer that was submerged under blankets in a popcorn tin stored in a bathroom closet." OK… that's quite an unusual hiding place. Another record-breaking haul came a little earlier that year, when 94,000 BTC that was stolen from Bitfinex was seized by a husband-and-wife duo later charged with money laundering. All of this opens the door to another question: what should the U.S. do with all this crypto? You might also like: Martin Shkreli's many scandals revealed HODL or auction? There have been some American politicians who have vocally argued that the government should hold on to this crypto for as long as possible so it can appreciate in value. Past BTC liquidations in the U.S. | Source: Jameson Lopp By his estimates, the government has gained $366 million from sales so far — but dramatic price rises over recent years means it could have missed out on $11.7 BILLION. Back in 2014, a chunk of 50,000 BTC that belonged to Ross Ulbricht was sold off for $19 million. At the time of writing, this self-same crypto would be valued at more than $3.1 billion. Ouch. Typically, transactions orchestrated by the U.S. Marshals Service sees proceeds split in multiple directions — between federal agencies, police forces that help bring perpetrators to justice, and those who were victims of the crime. Anything left over goes back to the Treasury. While American officials couldn't have had a crystal ball back then, it's painfully clear now that victims could have ended up being better served if liquidations took place a few years down the track. Undeterred, the government sold off another 9,861 BTC related to Silk Road back in March 2023 for $215.5 million after fees — an average price of about $21,853 per coin. It was planning to sell off roughly 40,000 BTC in four further batches in the year that followed. But while large amounts of Bitcoin have been on the move, it doesn't seem those transactions have been finalized. As GlobalData Thematic Intelligence recently noted: Source: GlobalData Thematic Intelligence Germany also own close to $20 billion in BTC between them — and in recent days, there's been growing nervousness that Berlin might be close to staging some liquidations. That's because a large tranche of Bitcoin that was seized by the European powerhouse has been shifted over to centralized exchanges. At times, this has weighed heavily on BTC's spot price amid fears it would exacerbate selling pressure — and coincide with the imminent release of

crypto

These countries have Bitcoin worth billions… and are selling up. According to Arkham Intelligence, a slew of confiscations after criminal crackdowns means Uncle Sam is now sitting on an impressive stockpile of 213,543 BTC… that's more than 1% of the total supply. MicroStrategy, which began aggressively adding the world's biggest cryptocurrency to its balance sheet all the way back in August 2020, only surpassed this milestone in March. When you take these figures in isolation, it would be easy to assume that America's vast BTC holdings are exceedingly bullish — a vote of confidence in the crypto sector. But make no mistake, the U.S. is no U.S. Bitcoin holdings | Source: Arkham Intelligence American politicians, regulators, and law enforcement agencies have repeatedly expressed fears that Bitcoin has the potential to undermine the U.S. dollar — with some warning this cryptocurrency can be used for money laundering and criminal activity. This worldview is no doubt informed by the fact that this huge stash primarily came from two major seizures. Late 2022 saw the Justice Department seize 50,676 BTC that was hidden in the home of a man who unlawfully stole it from the Silk Road darknet marketplace. In a particularly surreal development, some of the coins forfeited by James Zhong were "on a single-board computer that was submerged under blankets in a popcorn tin stored in a bathroom closet." OK… that's quite an unusual hiding place. Another record-breaking haul came a little earlier that year, when 94,000 BTC that was stolen from Bitfinex was seized by a husband-and-wife duo later charged with money laundering. All of this opens the door to another question: what should the U.S. do with all this crypto? You might also like: Martin Shkreli's many scandals revealed HODL or auction? There have been some American politicians who have vocally argued that the government should hold on to this crypto for as long as possible so it can appreciate in value. Past BTC liquidations in the U.S. | Source: Jameson Lopp By his estimates, the government has gained $366 million from sales so far — but dramatic price rises over recent years means it could have missed out on $11.7 BILLION. Back in 2014, a chunk of 50,000 BTC that belonged to Ross Ulbricht was sold off for $19 million. At the time of writing, this self-same crypto would be valued at more than $3.1 billion. Ouch. Typically, transactions orchestrated by the U.S. Marshals Service sees proceeds split in multiple directions — between federal agencies, police forces that help bring perpetrators to justice, and those who were victims of the crime. Anything left over goes back to the Treasury. While American officials couldn't have had a crystal ball back then, it's painfully clear now that victims could have ended up being better served if liquidations took place a few years down the track. Undeterred, the government sold off another 9,861 BTC related to Silk Road back in March 2023 for $215.5 million after fees — an average price of about $21,853 per coin. It was planning to sell off roughly 40,000 BTC in four further batches in the year that followed. But while large amounts of Bitcoin have been on the move, it doesn't seem those transactions have been finalized. As GlobalData Thematic Intelligence recently noted: Source: GlobalData Thematic Intelligence Germany also own close to $20 billion in BTC between them — and in recent days, there's been growing nervousness that Berlin might be close to staging some liquidations. That's because a large tranche of Bitcoin that was seized by the European powerhouse has been shifted over to centralized exchanges. At times, this has weighed heavily on BTC's spot price amid fears it would exacerbate selling pressure — and coincide with the imminent release of

Asia-Pacific markets set for mixed open ahead of Australia's May inflation figures

Australia's weighted consumer price index is expected to be 3.8% in May, according to a Reuters poll of economists, higher than the 3.6% recorded in April. Singapore's May factory output will also be released Wednesday, with a Reuters poll of economists predicting a 2% year-on-year growth rate, as compared to a 1.6% decline recorded in April. Sydney Harbour taking in the Harbour Bridge, Opera House and ferries at sunrise during the COVID-19 pandemic on April 20, 2020 in Sydney, Australia. James D. Morgan | Getty Images News | Getty Images Asia-Pacific markets are set to open mixed Wednesday as investors anticipate Australia's inflation numbers for May and Singapore's May manufacturing output data. Australia's weighted inflation rate is expected to come in at 3.8% in May, according to a Reuters poll of economists. This is higher than the 3.6% recorded in April. The reading comes after Reserve Bank of Australia Governor Michelle Bullock recently revealed the central bank discussed hiking rates at its last meeting. Should inflation come in higher than expected and spur the RBA to raise rates, it would be the first major Asia-Pacific central bank to do so in an environment where investors are waiting for rate cuts, barring Japan. The RBA has two inflation readings to consider — June 26 and July 31— before its next meeting on Aug. 6. Singapore's May factory output will also be released Wednesday, with a Reuters poll of economists predicting a 2% year-on-year growth rate, as compared to a 1.6% decline recorded in April.

asia

Asia-Pacific markets set for mixed open ahead of Australia's May inflation figures. Australia's weighted consumer price index is expected to be 3.8% in May, according to a Reuters poll of economists, higher than the 3.6% recorded in April. Singapore's May factory output will also be released Wednesday, with a Reuters poll of economists predicting a 2% year-on-year growth rate, as compared to a 1.6% decline recorded in April. Sydney Harbour taking in the Harbour Bridge, Opera House and ferries at sunrise during the COVID-19 pandemic on April 20, 2020 in Sydney, Australia. James D. Morgan | Getty Images News | Getty Images Asia-Pacific markets are set to open mixed Wednesday as investors anticipate Australia's inflation numbers for May and Singapore's May manufacturing output data. Australia's weighted inflation rate is expected to come in at 3.8% in May, according to a Reuters poll of economists. This is higher than the 3.6% recorded in April. The reading comes after Reserve Bank of Australia Governor Michelle Bullock recently revealed the central bank discussed hiking rates at its last meeting. Should inflation come in higher than expected and spur the RBA to raise rates, it would be the first major Asia-Pacific central bank to do so in an environment where investors are waiting for rate cuts, barring Japan. The RBA has two inflation readings to consider — June 26 and July 31— before its next meeting on Aug. 6. Singapore's May factory output will also be released Wednesday, with a Reuters poll of economists predicting a 2% year-on-year growth rate, as compared to a 1.6% decline recorded in April.

US denies Zimbabwe's claims it is militarizing Zambia

The head of U.S. Africa Command denied Thursday claims by Zimbabwean government officials that Washington is setting up a military base in neighboring Zambia and wants to move AFRICOM operations there from Germany. At an online press briefing, General Michael Langley, head of AFRICOM, rejected Zimbabwe's claims that the United States is establishing a base in neighboring Zambia. "That's absolutely false," Langley said from an African Chiefs of Defense Conference in Botswana. "We have no bases in Zambia. We have no plans to put one there." He said the U.S.'s approach on the continent is "African-led and U.S.-enabled." "We have a deep partnership with Zambia," he said. "We have increased security cooperation with them. But there is no footprint. There's no posture. There's no base." Zimbabwean officials declined to comment to VOA about Langley's remarks. But Rutendo Matinyarare, chairperson of the pro-government Zimbabwe Anti-Sanctions Movement, alleged that Langley held a briefing in Lusaka and that the U.S. was setting up the AFRICOM hub in Zambia. Matinyarare claimed that several businesspeople who have flown into the country have seen a substantial amount of American military equipment at Zambia's airport. "And so, the question is, 'What are these weapons doing in Zambia?'" he said. Zambian President Hakainde Hichilema denies that his country is being militarized by the U.S. He says Zambia's army has exchange programs with a number of countries, including the U.S., which should not be mistaken for the U.S. establishing a base. Zambia says it has called on two regional bodies — the African Union and the Southern African Development Community — to mediate talks with Zimbabwe. Zambia and Zimbabwe are members of both organizations. FILE - Zimbabwean President Emerson Mnangagwa, seen here in March 2024, claimed during a recent trip to Russia that the U.S. has been militarizing Zambia to consolidate power and isolate Zimbabwe. (Columbus Mavhunga/VOA) Zambian officials have also said the fallout stems from comments that Zimbabwean President Emerson Mnangagwa made during a recent trip to Russia — namely, the accusation that the U.S. has been militarizing Zambia to consolidate power in the region and isolate Zimbabwe. Western countries imposed travel and financial sanctions on Zimbabwe's leadership and affiliated companies in the early 2000s for alleged election rigging and human rights abuses. The U.S. recently removed sanctions on most Zimbabweans, but a few prominent figures — including Mnangagwa — remain on the list. Meanwhile, Langley told reporters that top regional security challenges throughout Africa were discussed at the just-ended defense conference. "Our African partners want this conference here because they want to own it. But we are AFRICOM, and the U.S. government is here because we have common values, common objectives, that will affect stability, security and prosperity on the continent," he said.

africa

US denies Zimbabwe's claims it is militarizing Zambia. The head of U.S. Africa Command denied Thursday claims by Zimbabwean government officials that Washington is setting up a military base in neighboring Zambia and wants to move AFRICOM operations there from Germany. At an online press briefing, General Michael Langley, head of AFRICOM, rejected Zimbabwe's claims that the United States is establishing a base in neighboring Zambia. "That's absolutely false," Langley said from an African Chiefs of Defense Conference in Botswana. "We have no bases in Zambia. We have no plans to put one there." He said the U.S.'s approach on the continent is "African-led and U.S.-enabled." "We have a deep partnership with Zambia," he said. "We have increased security cooperation with them. But there is no footprint. There's no posture. There's no base." Zimbabwean officials declined to comment to VOA about Langley's remarks. But Rutendo Matinyarare, chairperson of the pro-government Zimbabwe Anti-Sanctions Movement, alleged that Langley held a briefing in Lusaka and that the U.S. was setting up the AFRICOM hub in Zambia. Matinyarare claimed that several businesspeople who have flown into the country have seen a substantial amount of American military equipment at Zambia's airport. "And so, the question is, 'What are these weapons doing in Zambia?'" he said. Zambian President Hakainde Hichilema denies that his country is being militarized by the U.S. He says Zambia's army has exchange programs with a number of countries, including the U.S., which should not be mistaken for the U.S. establishing a base. Zambia says it has called on two regional bodies — the African Union and the Southern African Development Community — to mediate talks with Zimbabwe. Zambia and Zimbabwe are members of both organizations. FILE - Zimbabwean President Emerson Mnangagwa, seen here in March 2024, claimed during a recent trip to Russia that the U.S. has been militarizing Zambia to consolidate power and isolate Zimbabwe. (Columbus Mavhunga/VOA) Zambian officials have also said the fallout stems from comments that Zimbabwean President Emerson Mnangagwa made during a recent trip to Russia — namely, the accusation that the U.S. has been militarizing Zambia to consolidate power in the region and isolate Zimbabwe. Western countries imposed travel and financial sanctions on Zimbabwe's leadership and affiliated companies in the early 2000s for alleged election rigging and human rights abuses. The U.S. recently removed sanctions on most Zimbabweans, but a few prominent figures — including Mnangagwa — remain on the list. Meanwhile, Langley told reporters that top regional security challenges throughout Africa were discussed at the just-ended defense conference. "Our African partners want this conference here because they want to own it. But we are AFRICOM, and the U.S. government is here because we have common values, common objectives, that will affect stability, security and prosperity on the continent," he said.

Data Center Ups Market size is set to grow by USD 6.73 billion from 2024-2028, increase in adoption of modular ups systems to boost the market growth, Technavio

June 19, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- The global data center ups market size is estimated to grow by USD 6.73 billion from 2024-2028, according to Technavio. The market is estimated to grow at a CAGR of over 12.83% during the forecast period. Increase in adoption of modular ups systems is driving market growth, with a trend towards use of lithium-ion ups systems. However, ups battery failure poses a challenge. Key market players include ABB Ltd., Centiel Global, Cyber Power Systems Inc., Delta Electronics Inc., Eaton Corp. Plc, Enconnex LLC, EverExceed Corp., Fuji Electric Co. Ltd., General Electric Co., Hewlett Packard Enterprise Co., Hitachi Ltd., HITEC Power Protection BV, Kohler Co., Legrand SA, Mitsubishi Electric Corp., RPS Spa, Schneider Electric SE, SolarEdge Technologies Inc., Toshiba Corp., and Vertiv Holdings Co. Continue Reading Technavio has announced its latest market research report titled Global data center UPS market 2024-2028 Get a detailed analysis on regions, market segments, customer landscape, and companies - Key companies profiled ABB Ltd., Centiel Global, Cyber Power Systems Inc., Delta Electronics Inc., Eaton Corp. Plc, Enconnex LLC, EverExceed Corp., Fuji Electric Co. Ltd., General Electric Co., Hewlett Packard Enterprise Co., Hitachi Ltd., HITEC Power Protection BV, Kohler Co., Legrand SA, Mitsubishi Electric Corp., RPS Spa, Schneider Electric SE, SolarEdge Technologies Inc., Toshiba Corp., and Vertiv Holdings Co. Key Market Trends Fueling Growth Data centers rely on Uninterruptible Power Supply (UPS) systems to ensure business continuity during power outages. Traditional lead-acid batteries, while effective, require frequent monitoring and replacement every three to five years. Flywheel-based UPS systems are an alternative, but their shorter backup time is a concern. Lithium-ion batteries offer longer backup time, minimal maintenance, and smaller footprint, with a lifespan of nearly ten years. However, their higher cost has hindered widespread adoption. Prices have dropped significantly since 2015, making lithium-ion batteries increasingly popular for UPS systems, driving market growth. The Data Center Ups market is experiencing significant growth due to the increasing demand for reliable power solutions. Power solutions such as Converters, Batteries, and Inverters are in high demand to ensure uninterrupted power supply in data centers. The use of advanced technologies like UPS Systems and Symmetrical Multi-Level Converters is becoming more common. The adoption of these technologies is driven by the need for higher efficiency, longer backup times, and improved reliability. Additionally, the trend towards cloud computing and the increasing use of IoT devices in data centers is further fueling the growth of the Data Center Ups market. The market is expected to continue growing in the coming years as businesses prioritize the need for uninterrupted power supply to support their digital operations. Research report provides comprehensive data on impact of trend. For more details- Download a Sample Report Market Challenges Data centers face significant challenges from UPS battery failures, causing approximately 55% of downtime and potential losses of up to USD500,000 per hour. Manufacturers claim a ten-year battery lifespan, but external factors like temperature inconsistencies, overcharging, and frequent discharge cycles can shorten it. Inefficient UPS systems and lack of maintenance exacerbate the issue. To mitigate these risks, data centers must invest in modern, reliable UPS systems and commit to regular battery maintenance. In the Data Center industry, up time is a critical metric for success. However, achieving and maintaining high up time can be challenging. Factors such as power outages, cooling system failures, and network interruptions can cause downtime. Additionally, the increasing complexity of data centers, with their interconnected systems and dependencies, makes it harder to identify and address issues before they cause outages. Furthermore, the demand for more processing power and storage capacity puts pressure on data centers to scale up quickly and efficiently, adding to the complexity. These challenges require innovative solutions and continuous improvement to ensure reliable and efficient data center operations. For more insights on driver and challenges - This data center ups market report extensively covers market segmentation by Product 1.1 Centralized UPS 1.2 Zone UPS 1.3 Rack-mount UPS Application 2.1 Tier 3 data center 2.2 Tier 1 and 2 data center 2.3 Tier 4 data center Geography 3.1 1.1 Centralized UPS- Data centers are essential infrastructure for businesses, ensuring uninterrupted access to digital services. The data center ups market caters to this need by providing uninterruptible power supply systems. These systems prevent power outages and maintain optimal operating conditions for data centers. The market's growth is driven by the increasing reliance on digital services and the need for businesses to ensure data availability and security. Companies invest in ups systems to protect their critical IT infrastructure and maintain business continuity. The market is expected to grow steadily due to these factors. In the digital age, data center reliability is paramount for businesses, particularly in evolving economies and the remote working culture. Power interruptions can lead to significant downtime and financial losses for critical facility customers. UPS systems, utilizing uninterrupted power supply technologies such as copper, aluminum, and lead batteries, play a crucial role in mitigating power interruptions. Edge computing and IoT implementations also benefit from UPS systems, ensuring efficiency and scalability. Remote monitoring and control solutions enable real-time adjustments to power usage, reducing operating costs and carbon footprint. AI and cloud infrastructure integration further enhance UPS system capabilities, ensuring flexibility and safety for SMEs and large enterprises alike. Backup power solutions offer safety and peace of mind, ensuring business continuity during power outages. The market for UPS systems continues to grow, driven by increasing IT spending and the need for uninterrupted power and reliability. The Data Center Ups Market refers to the industry that provides Uninterruptible Power Supply solutions for data centers to ensure the continuous operation of critical IT infrastructure. These systems protect against power interruptions caused by power outages, voltage fluctuations, and power surges. The market is driven by the increasing demand for data center capacity and the need for businesses to ensure business continuity. The market also benefits from advancements in technology, such as lithium-ion batteries and fuel cells, which offer higher efficiency and longer runtimes. Additionally, the growing adoption of cloud computing and edge computing is expected to fuel market growth. The market is segmented by solution type, such as online UPS systems and offline UPS systems, and by application, such as telecommunications, banking, and IT services. Table of Contents: 1 Executive Summary 2 Market Landscape 3 Market Sizing 4 Historic Market Size 5 Five Forces Analysis 6 Market Segmentation Product Centralized UPS Zone UPS Rack-mount UPS Application Tier 3 Data Center Tier 1 And 2 Data Center Tier 4 Data Center 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,environment

Data Center Ups Market size is set to grow by USD 6.73 billion from 2024-2028, increase in adoption of modular ups systems to boost the market growth, Technavio. June 19, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- The global data center ups market size is estimated to grow by USD 6.73 billion from 2024-2028, according to Technavio. The market is estimated to grow at a CAGR of over 12.83% during the forecast period. Increase in adoption of modular ups systems is driving market growth, with a trend towards use of lithium-ion ups systems. However, ups battery failure poses a challenge. Key market players include ABB Ltd., Centiel Global, Cyber Power Systems Inc., Delta Electronics Inc., Eaton Corp. Plc, Enconnex LLC, EverExceed Corp., Fuji Electric Co. Ltd., General Electric Co., Hewlett Packard Enterprise Co., Hitachi Ltd., HITEC Power Protection BV, Kohler Co., Legrand SA, Mitsubishi Electric Corp., RPS Spa, Schneider Electric SE, SolarEdge Technologies Inc., Toshiba Corp., and Vertiv Holdings Co. Continue Reading Technavio has announced its latest market research report titled Global data center UPS market 2024-2028 Get a detailed analysis on regions, market segments, customer landscape, and companies - Key companies profiled ABB Ltd., Centiel Global, Cyber Power Systems Inc., Delta Electronics Inc., Eaton Corp. Plc, Enconnex LLC, EverExceed Corp., Fuji Electric Co. Ltd., General Electric Co., Hewlett Packard Enterprise Co., Hitachi Ltd., HITEC Power Protection BV, Kohler Co., Legrand SA, Mitsubishi Electric Corp., RPS Spa, Schneider Electric SE, SolarEdge Technologies Inc., Toshiba Corp., and Vertiv Holdings Co. Key Market Trends Fueling Growth Data centers rely on Uninterruptible Power Supply (UPS) systems to ensure business continuity during power outages. Traditional lead-acid batteries, while effective, require frequent monitoring and replacement every three to five years. Flywheel-based UPS systems are an alternative, but their shorter backup time is a concern. Lithium-ion batteries offer longer backup time, minimal maintenance, and smaller footprint, with a lifespan of nearly ten years. However, their higher cost has hindered widespread adoption. Prices have dropped significantly since 2015, making lithium-ion batteries increasingly popular for UPS systems, driving market growth. The Data Center Ups market is experiencing significant growth due to the increasing demand for reliable power solutions. Power solutions such as Converters, Batteries, and Inverters are in high demand to ensure uninterrupted power supply in data centers. The use of advanced technologies like UPS Systems and Symmetrical Multi-Level Converters is becoming more common. The adoption of these technologies is driven by the need for higher efficiency, longer backup times, and improved reliability. Additionally, the trend towards cloud computing and the increasing use of IoT devices in data centers is further fueling the growth of the Data Center Ups market. The market is expected to continue growing in the coming years as businesses prioritize the need for uninterrupted power supply to support their digital operations. Research report provides comprehensive data on impact of trend. For more details- Download a Sample Report Market Challenges Data centers face significant challenges from UPS battery failures, causing approximately 55% of downtime and potential losses of up to USD500,000 per hour. Manufacturers claim a ten-year battery lifespan, but external factors like temperature inconsistencies, overcharging, and frequent discharge cycles can shorten it. Inefficient UPS systems and lack of maintenance exacerbate the issue. To mitigate these risks, data centers must invest in modern, reliable UPS systems and commit to regular battery maintenance. In the Data Center industry, up time is a critical metric for success. However, achieving and maintaining high up time can be challenging. Factors such as power outages, cooling system failures, and network interruptions can cause downtime. Additionally, the increasing complexity of data centers, with their interconnected systems and dependencies, makes it harder to identify and address issues before they cause outages. Furthermore, the demand for more processing power and storage capacity puts pressure on data centers to scale up quickly and efficiently, adding to the complexity. These challenges require innovative solutions and continuous improvement to ensure reliable and efficient data center operations. For more insights on driver and challenges - This data center ups market report extensively covers market segmentation by Product 1.1 Centralized UPS 1.2 Zone UPS 1.3 Rack-mount UPS Application 2.1 Tier 3 data center 2.2 Tier 1 and 2 data center 2.3 Tier 4 data center Geography 3.1 1.1 Centralized UPS- Data centers are essential infrastructure for businesses, ensuring uninterrupted access to digital services. The data center ups market caters to this need by providing uninterruptible power supply systems. These systems prevent power outages and maintain optimal operating conditions for data centers. The market's growth is driven by the increasing reliance on digital services and the need for businesses to ensure data availability and security. Companies invest in ups systems to protect their critical IT infrastructure and maintain business continuity. The market is expected to grow steadily due to these factors. In the digital age, data center reliability is paramount for businesses, particularly in evolving economies and the remote working culture. Power interruptions can lead to significant downtime and financial losses for critical facility customers. UPS systems, utilizing uninterrupted power supply technologies such as copper, aluminum, and lead batteries, play a crucial role in mitigating power interruptions. Edge computing and IoT implementations also benefit from UPS systems, ensuring efficiency and scalability. Remote monitoring and control solutions enable real-time adjustments to power usage, reducing operating costs and carbon footprint. AI and cloud infrastructure integration further enhance UPS system capabilities, ensuring flexibility and safety for SMEs and large enterprises alike. Backup power solutions offer safety and peace of mind, ensuring business continuity during power outages. The market for UPS systems continues to grow, driven by increasing IT spending and the need for uninterrupted power and reliability. The Data Center Ups Market refers to the industry that provides Uninterruptible Power Supply solutions for data centers to ensure the continuous operation of critical IT infrastructure. These systems protect against power interruptions caused by power outages, voltage fluctuations, and power surges. The market is driven by the increasing demand for data center capacity and the need for businesses to ensure business continuity. The market also benefits from advancements in technology, such as lithium-ion batteries and fuel cells, which offer higher efficiency and longer runtimes. Additionally, the growing adoption of cloud computing and edge computing is expected to fuel market growth. The market is segmented by solution type, such as online UPS systems and offline UPS systems, and by application, such as telecommunications, banking, and IT services. Table of Contents: 1 Executive Summary 2 Market Landscape 3 Market Sizing 4 Historic Market Size 5 Five Forces Analysis 6 Market Segmentation Product Centralized UPS Zone UPS Rack-mount UPS Application Tier 3 Data Center Tier 1 And 2 Data Center Tier 4 Data Center 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.

Sask. residents make their way home as snowstorm moves out of province

Sask. residents make their way home as snowstorm moves out of province A weekend snowstorm has flooded southern and central Saskatchewan with piles of snow. The wintry blast forced some municipal facilities and schools to close on Monday. Students, athletes had to spend night in Lloydminster Posted: Mar 03, 2024 6:42 PM EST | Last Updated: 2 hours ago Saskatoon is digging its way out after massive snowstorm but it's got a long way to go Southern and central Saskatchewan was slammed by a snowstorm this weekend that saw dozens of centimetres fall after a fairly dry winter. Now, the storm is finished and the digging out begins. Social Sharing Dozens of Saskatoon residents are trying to make their way home, after a severe winter storm forced them to spend Sunday night in the border-city of Lloydminster. Tyler Rittinger is one of them. Rittinger was chaperoning a ski trip to Jasper for students who attend Aden Bowman Collegiate in Saskatoon. He said their bus stopped in Lloydminster Sunday evening and their hotel was packed with stranded youth. "There's a local Saskatoon track team here. There's a pom and cheer team here from Marion Graham, and there's 46 of these Aden Bowman High School kids." Saskatoon in 'full clean-up mode' after severe snowstorm hits city Rittinger said the students had fun visiting and playing cards. He said their bus driver, hotel staff and others have been extremely helpful, accommodating their changing schedules. The snow that buried much of Saskatchewan in snow, shut down schools and closed roads is expected to taper off as it moves east on Monday. Snowstorm hits province hard The storm sent upwards from Montana dropped 30 to 40 plus centimetres of snow in Saskatoon, 35 centimetres in Eatonia, 33 centimetres in Wilkie, 13 centimetres in Meadow Lake and 11 centimetres in Prince Albert, according Environment and Climate Change meteorologist Eric Dykes "It's long-lasting, It had a wide-ranging amount of effects, especially with the rural conditions in the province and as far as we can tell dropped a lot of snow in various places thus far through the weekend," Dykes said, adding it was Saskatchewan's most notable storm this winter. Regina received around 15 centimetres of snow,according to the Community Collaborative Rain, Hail and Snow Network. The worst of the snowstorm is behind Saskatchewan, but there are still snowfall warnings through the Churchill region in northern Saskatchewan which includes Buffalo Narrows, La Ronge, Pelican Narrows as another 10 centimetres of snow is possible there on Monday, Dykes said. "The good news is that we're going to see improvements across the board as we go through the day today as the low pressure system that's associated with all this snow and winds continues to move to the northeast and head up towards Northern Ontario," Dykes said. This Saskatoon man and his dog didn't seem to mind scaling the snow packed on the median during their walk Monday morning. (Jason Warick/CBC) Dykes said it's important that Saskatchewan residents take precautions when shoveling. "Take your time and don't stress about having to do everything in one swoop," Dykes said. Dykes added that people in areas that saw heavy snowfall should stay off the roads if they can. The Saskatchewan Highway Hotline shows several closed roads highways in the province and many routes in the provinces where travel is not recommended or winter conditions exist. Two Saskatoon residents clearing snow from their properties after the winter storm. (Jenna Leith/CBC) Cities responding to snow Saskatoon activated its Roadways Emergency Response Plan Sunday. It also implemented its Extreme Cold Weather Emergency Plan, which opens up emergency overnight shelters and warm-up locations, among other resources, for people who need them. WATCH | Tour of snowy Saskatoon gives glimpse into why city is urging residents to stay home: Tour of snowy Saskatoon gives glimpse into why city is urging residents to stay home Duration 1:58 A winter storm has closed businesses and schools, and made driving difficult in Saskatoon. CBC's Dan Zakreski gives us the details on foot. In Regina, the city declared its snow routes in effect, meaning no on-street parking on those marked routes for 24 hours beginning Monday at 6 a.m. CST. Tyler Bien, the City of Regina's manager for roadways seasonal operations, said crews are out plowing snow on major roads and applying ice control at high-risk intersections. "At this time we received around 10 centimetres of snow, so we are going to do a category one through three systematic plow that doesn't include the residential streets," Bien said during a virtual scrum on Monday morning. Bien said that the city aims to have sidewalks plowed in 48 hours, but some might have to be re-plowed due to drifting snow. Battlefords Transit also posted to social media that services would not be running on Monday. While the snowfall is slowing, the snow isn't expected to melt quickly. "We're going to be looking at below seasonal temperatures for most of the week, but next weekend looks like it will be back around the freezing mark and if not a few degrees above for that part of the weekend there," Dykes said. WATCH | See what it looked like in Saskatoon as residents dug out on Sunday: Snowstorm pounds Saskatoon as residents dig out Duration 1:30 Snowfall totals were expected to reach up to 40 cm for areas of central and southern Saskatchewan as a result of the latest winter storm, according to Environment and Climate Change Canada. The snow has prompted Saskatoon's Catholic and public school divisions to cancel high school classes. Elementary students were already out of school because of a professional development day for teachers. Full-day teacher strikes to hit Regina, other school divisions on Monday: STF Rotating teacher strikes are expected in some school divisions across Saskatchewan as part of the stalled contract negotiations between teachers and the province, but those do not include Saskatoon. There is no school in either public or Catholics school divisions in Regina on Monday because of rotating teacher strikes. The Saskatchewan Highway Hotline map as of 8:15 a.m. CST on Monday.The red signifies where roads are closed, dotted lines are where travel is not recommended and the yellow roads show were winter conditions exist. (Saskatchewan Highway Hotline) Airport delays and cancellations Both Regina and Saskatoon were showing a string of flight cancellations and delays at their airports on Sunday. Regina Airport Authority CEO James Bogusz said the weather has been a challenge. "So far, we have seen about 10 departures cancel today but the weather is not over yet," he said in a statement Sunday afternoon. Saskatoon received 30 to 40 plus centimetres of snow over the weekend according to Environment and Climate Change Canada meteorologist Eric Dykes. (Dan Zakreski/CBC) The Saskatoon International Airport said in an emailed statement that it had brought in additional crews and runway conditions were good both Saturday and Sunday. "That said, weather conditions have continued to impact flights, primarily due to poor visibility and wind conditions … as of Sunday morning, the airport is aware of approximately 30 flights cancelled this weekend due to the snowstorm."

canada

Sask. residents make their way home as snowstorm moves out of province. Sask. residents make their way home as snowstorm moves out of province A weekend snowstorm has flooded southern and central Saskatchewan with piles of snow. The wintry blast forced some municipal facilities and schools to close on Monday. Students, athletes had to spend night in Lloydminster Posted: Mar 03, 2024 6:42 PM EST | Last Updated: 2 hours ago Saskatoon is digging its way out after massive snowstorm but it's got a long way to go Southern and central Saskatchewan was slammed by a snowstorm this weekend that saw dozens of centimetres fall after a fairly dry winter. Now, the storm is finished and the digging out begins. Social Sharing Dozens of Saskatoon residents are trying to make their way home, after a severe winter storm forced them to spend Sunday night in the border-city of Lloydminster. Tyler Rittinger is one of them. Rittinger was chaperoning a ski trip to Jasper for students who attend Aden Bowman Collegiate in Saskatoon. He said their bus stopped in Lloydminster Sunday evening and their hotel was packed with stranded youth. "There's a local Saskatoon track team here. There's a pom and cheer team here from Marion Graham, and there's 46 of these Aden Bowman High School kids." Saskatoon in 'full clean-up mode' after severe snowstorm hits city Rittinger said the students had fun visiting and playing cards. He said their bus driver, hotel staff and others have been extremely helpful, accommodating their changing schedules. The snow that buried much of Saskatchewan in snow, shut down schools and closed roads is expected to taper off as it moves east on Monday. Snowstorm hits province hard The storm sent upwards from Montana dropped 30 to 40 plus centimetres of snow in Saskatoon, 35 centimetres in Eatonia, 33 centimetres in Wilkie, 13 centimetres in Meadow Lake and 11 centimetres in Prince Albert, according Environment and Climate Change meteorologist Eric Dykes "It's long-lasting, It had a wide-ranging amount of effects, especially with the rural conditions in the province and as far as we can tell dropped a lot of snow in various places thus far through the weekend," Dykes said, adding it was Saskatchewan's most notable storm this winter. Regina received around 15 centimetres of snow,according to the Community Collaborative Rain, Hail and Snow Network. The worst of the snowstorm is behind Saskatchewan, but there are still snowfall warnings through the Churchill region in northern Saskatchewan which includes Buffalo Narrows, La Ronge, Pelican Narrows as another 10 centimetres of snow is possible there on Monday, Dykes said. "The good news is that we're going to see improvements across the board as we go through the day today as the low pressure system that's associated with all this snow and winds continues to move to the northeast and head up towards Northern Ontario," Dykes said. This Saskatoon man and his dog didn't seem to mind scaling the snow packed on the median during their walk Monday morning. (Jason Warick/CBC) Dykes said it's important that Saskatchewan residents take precautions when shoveling. "Take your time and don't stress about having to do everything in one swoop," Dykes said. Dykes added that people in areas that saw heavy snowfall should stay off the roads if they can. The Saskatchewan Highway Hotline shows several closed roads highways in the province and many routes in the provinces where travel is not recommended or winter conditions exist. Two Saskatoon residents clearing snow from their properties after the winter storm. (Jenna Leith/CBC) Cities responding to snow Saskatoon activated its Roadways Emergency Response Plan Sunday. It also implemented its Extreme Cold Weather Emergency Plan, which opens up emergency overnight shelters and warm-up locations, among other resources, for people who need them. WATCH | Tour of snowy Saskatoon gives glimpse into why city is urging residents to stay home: Tour of snowy Saskatoon gives glimpse into why city is urging residents to stay home Duration 1:58 A winter storm has closed businesses and schools, and made driving difficult in Saskatoon. CBC's Dan Zakreski gives us the details on foot. In Regina, the city declared its snow routes in effect, meaning no on-street parking on those marked routes for 24 hours beginning Monday at 6 a.m. CST. Tyler Bien, the City of Regina's manager for roadways seasonal operations, said crews are out plowing snow on major roads and applying ice control at high-risk intersections. "At this time we received around 10 centimetres of snow, so we are going to do a category one through three systematic plow that doesn't include the residential streets," Bien said during a virtual scrum on Monday morning. Bien said that the city aims to have sidewalks plowed in 48 hours, but some might have to be re-plowed due to drifting snow. Battlefords Transit also posted to social media that services would not be running on Monday. While the snowfall is slowing, the snow isn't expected to melt quickly. "We're going to be looking at below seasonal temperatures for most of the week, but next weekend looks like it will be back around the freezing mark and if not a few degrees above for that part of the weekend there," Dykes said. WATCH | See what it looked like in Saskatoon as residents dug out on Sunday: Snowstorm pounds Saskatoon as residents dig out Duration 1:30 Snowfall totals were expected to reach up to 40 cm for areas of central and southern Saskatchewan as a result of the latest winter storm, according to Environment and Climate Change Canada. The snow has prompted Saskatoon's Catholic and public school divisions to cancel high school classes. Elementary students were already out of school because of a professional development day for teachers. Full-day teacher strikes to hit Regina, other school divisions on Monday: STF Rotating teacher strikes are expected in some school divisions across Saskatchewan as part of the stalled contract negotiations between teachers and the province, but those do not include Saskatoon. There is no school in either public or Catholics school divisions in Regina on Monday because of rotating teacher strikes. The Saskatchewan Highway Hotline map as of 8:15 a.m. CST on Monday.The red signifies where roads are closed, dotted lines are where travel is not recommended and the yellow roads show were winter conditions exist. (Saskatchewan Highway Hotline) Airport delays and cancellations Both Regina and Saskatoon were showing a string of flight cancellations and delays at their airports on Sunday. Regina Airport Authority CEO James Bogusz said the weather has been a challenge. "So far, we have seen about 10 departures cancel today but the weather is not over yet," he said in a statement Sunday afternoon. Saskatoon received 30 to 40 plus centimetres of snow over the weekend according to Environment and Climate Change Canada meteorologist Eric Dykes. (Dan Zakreski/CBC) The Saskatoon International Airport said in an emailed statement that it had brought in additional crews and runway conditions were good both Saturday and Sunday. "That said, weather conditions have continued to impact flights, primarily due to poor visibility and wind conditions … as of Sunday morning, the airport is aware of approximately 30 flights cancelled this weekend due to the snowstorm."

Reds pitcher vomits on mound right after delivering 95 mph fastball

Fox News Flash top sports headlines are here. Check out what's clicking on Foxnews.com. The temperature at Great American Ball Park at first pitch on Tuesday was nearly 90 degrees as heat waves have scattered throughout the country. Hunter Greene was on the bump for the Cincinnati Reds, and he apparently got the ill-affects of the sun. In the top of the first inning, the right-hander was pitching against the Pittsburgh Pirates with Bryan Reynolds at the dish. CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COM Hunter Greene of the Cincinnati Reds pitches in the first inning against the Pittsburgh Pirates at Great American Ball Park on June 25, 2024, in Cincinnati. (Dylan Buell/Getty Images) Greene fired a 95 mph fastball on the inside corner that was fouled off, and almost immediately upon Reynolds making contact, Greene turned around and threw up. Trainers immediately ran to the mound to check on Greene, who physically was OK. But perhaps it was a sign of things to come. Hunter Greene of the Cincinnati Reds pitches in the first inning against the Pittsburgh Pirates at Great American Ball Park on June 25, 2024, in Cincinnati. (Dylan Buell/Getty Images) VLADIMIR GUERRERO JR RESCINDS CLAIM HE'D NEVER PLAY FOR YANKEES WITH TRADE DEADLINE 1 MONTH AWAY Pittsburgh wound up scoring three runs in the frame, including a two-run homer from Reynolds in that inning. He then allowed three more in the third and was pulled after four innings. The broadcast noted that Greene had gotten sick after his last start as well, noting he had consumed too much water to keep hydrated. This isn't the first time a pitcher has fallen ill on the mound due to heat. It happened to Dylan Bundy in 2021 while playing a game in nearly 100-degree heat in the Bronx (almost exactly three years ago). He wound up leaving that start in the second inning due to heat exhaustion. Cincinnati Reds starting pitcher Hunter Greene throws to a Pittsburgh Pirates batter during the second inning, June 25, 2024, in Cincinnati.

sports

Reds pitcher vomits on mound right after delivering 95 mph fastball. Fox News Flash top sports headlines are here. Check out what's clicking on Foxnews.com. The temperature at Great American Ball Park at first pitch on Tuesday was nearly 90 degrees as heat waves have scattered throughout the country. Hunter Greene was on the bump for the Cincinnati Reds, and he apparently got the ill-affects of the sun. In the top of the first inning, the right-hander was pitching against the Pittsburgh Pirates with Bryan Reynolds at the dish. CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COM Hunter Greene of the Cincinnati Reds pitches in the first inning against the Pittsburgh Pirates at Great American Ball Park on June 25, 2024, in Cincinnati. (Dylan Buell/Getty Images) Greene fired a 95 mph fastball on the inside corner that was fouled off, and almost immediately upon Reynolds making contact, Greene turned around and threw up. Trainers immediately ran to the mound to check on Greene, who physically was OK. But perhaps it was a sign of things to come. Hunter Greene of the Cincinnati Reds pitches in the first inning against the Pittsburgh Pirates at Great American Ball Park on June 25, 2024, in Cincinnati. (Dylan Buell/Getty Images) VLADIMIR GUERRERO JR RESCINDS CLAIM HE'D NEVER PLAY FOR YANKEES WITH TRADE DEADLINE 1 MONTH AWAY Pittsburgh wound up scoring three runs in the frame, including a two-run homer from Reynolds in that inning. He then allowed three more in the third and was pulled after four innings. The broadcast noted that Greene had gotten sick after his last start as well, noting he had consumed too much water to keep hydrated. This isn't the first time a pitcher has fallen ill on the mound due to heat. It happened to Dylan Bundy in 2021 while playing a game in nearly 100-degree heat in the Bronx (almost exactly three years ago). He wound up leaving that start in the second inning due to heat exhaustion. Cincinnati Reds starting pitcher Hunter Greene throws to a Pittsburgh Pirates batter during the second inning, June 25, 2024, in Cincinnati.

‘It’s going to be difficult’: Southgate agonises over seven-player squad cut

Gareth Southgate admitted it is going to be "difficult" to axe seven players from his squad by Friday's midnight deadline after England's ultimately comfortable 3-0 win against Bosnia and Herzegovina produced several strong auditions for Euro 2024. Southgate is preparing for the tournament with 33 players but can submit only 26 names to Uefa by the Friday deadline. The victory at St James' Park on Monday night only added to his dilemmas as Chelsea's Cole Palmer and Crystal Palace's Eberechi Eze ranked among those making strong cases for inclusion. Southgate left to sweat over Shaw and England's limited options at left-back Read more "Eberechi played with real freedom and swagger," said Southgate, who watched Palmer score his first goal for England from the penalty spot before Trent Alexander‑Arnold volleyed a stunning second and Harry Kane stepped off the substitutes' bench to register the third. "And I thought Cole linked play very well. It was lovely to see his first goal. Trent's was a beautiful finish, he made a very difficult finish look straightforward." Alexander-Arnold began in central midfield before reverting to right‑back but impressed in both roles and his manager said he could be "highly effective" deployed in either position in Germany this month. By then seven players will have been disappointed. "Of course, it's going to be difficult," Southgate said. "I want to make fair and brave ­decisions but those decisions are always going to be subjective. We're spinning a lot of plates. I'll talk things through with the staff and we'll find the best way of doing it." England struggled initially to deconstruct their stubborn opponents, configured with a defensive quintet. "I'm pleased with the intensity of the game," Southgate said. "It was important in terms of the physical aspect. It was important to play against a back five, we might face that in Germany, especially in the first two games, so we need to find solutions. "But if you keep patient and keep probing the game will open up as it did. I think, in the end, the scoreline reflected the performance. There were numerous good individual performances. Eberechi caught the eye and I thought Conor Gallagher was important in midfield."

sports

‘It’s going to be difficult’: Southgate agonises over seven-player squad cut. Gareth Southgate admitted it is going to be "difficult" to axe seven players from his squad by Friday's midnight deadline after England's ultimately comfortable 3-0 win against Bosnia and Herzegovina produced several strong auditions for Euro 2024. Southgate is preparing for the tournament with 33 players but can submit only 26 names to Uefa by the Friday deadline. The victory at St James' Park on Monday night only added to his dilemmas as Chelsea's Cole Palmer and Crystal Palace's Eberechi Eze ranked among those making strong cases for inclusion. Southgate left to sweat over Shaw and England's limited options at left-back Read more "Eberechi played with real freedom and swagger," said Southgate, who watched Palmer score his first goal for England from the penalty spot before Trent Alexander‑Arnold volleyed a stunning second and Harry Kane stepped off the substitutes' bench to register the third. "And I thought Cole linked play very well. It was lovely to see his first goal. Trent's was a beautiful finish, he made a very difficult finish look straightforward." Alexander-Arnold began in central midfield before reverting to right‑back but impressed in both roles and his manager said he could be "highly effective" deployed in either position in Germany this month. By then seven players will have been disappointed. "Of course, it's going to be difficult," Southgate said. "I want to make fair and brave ­decisions but those decisions are always going to be subjective. We're spinning a lot of plates. I'll talk things through with the staff and we'll find the best way of doing it." England struggled initially to deconstruct their stubborn opponents, configured with a defensive quintet. "I'm pleased with the intensity of the game," Southgate said. "It was important in terms of the physical aspect. It was important to play against a back five, we might face that in Germany, especially in the first two games, so we need to find solutions. "But if you keep patient and keep probing the game will open up as it did. I think, in the end, the scoreline reflected the performance. There were numerous good individual performances. Eberechi caught the eye and I thought Conor Gallagher was important in midfield."

Labour manifesto all about wealth creation, says Starmer

The document setting out what Labour would do in government if Sir Keir becomes prime minister after 4 July will be unveiled later on Thursday. Sir Keir has stressed there will be "no surprises" on tax, as he seeks to defuse Tory attacks that his party would put them up. "I think people are taxed too much already. What I want to do, my central mission, is to grow the economy," he said in a Sky News election special. Only by growing the economy can Labour generate the funds needed for public services, he argued. Labour says tax thresholds won't change after election The manifesto launch will be a chance for Labour to showcase key policies it had already announced before the election campaign began. These include setting up a new state-owned energy investment and generation company, hiring more police officers and renationalising nearly all passenger rail. But the party could also offer more detail in other priority areas such as planning reform, which it has put front and centre of its economic plans. Ahead of the launch, Sir Keir said wealth creation was "our number one priority" and "growth is our core business". "If we could grow the economy at anything like the level the last Labour government did, that's an extra £70bn worth of investment for our public services," he added. He argued that "billions upon billions in projects" could be unlocked through changes to investment rules and the planning regime, but were currently "held up by the blockers of aspiration". failed to win the support of Unite, its biggest trade union backer, which argues the party's scaled-back plans to improve workers' rights do not go far enough. The package, first unveiled in 2021, would scrap qualifying times for parental leave and sick pay rights when employees start a new job, and boost flexible working rights where "reasonably feasible". But notably, a pledge to introduce collective wage bargaining "across the economy" has been replaced with a plan to "start by" introducing a fair pay agreement in the adult social care sector, before a potential roll-out in other areas. Other policies expected to feature in the manifesto include: introducing free breakfast clubs in primary schools in England banning under-16s in England from buying high-caffeine energy drinks £1.6bn to pay for more appointments in NHS hospitals, new CT scanners and extra dentist appointments. Labour has long argued that growth is the only responsible way to generate extra funding for public services and says it wants to make the UK the fastest growing economy in the G7 group of rich nations if it wins power. Arguing that it will inherit a difficult financial position if it enters office, it has made only a handful of additional spending commitments since the election was called three weeks ago. These include £140m to convert 3,300 classrooms into nurseries, paid for by introducing VAT on private school fees, and £320m for repairing potholes, financed by deferring a new bypass from the A27 in Sussex. Sir Keir made the unusual move of invoking his predecessor to attack Tory election pledges to cut taxes, accusing them of a "Jeremy Corbyn-style manifesto" where "none of it is costed". Labour has ruled out increasing rates of income tax, National Insurance or VAT, which in the manifesto will be presented as a "tax lock" for voters. It has also ruled out increasing the main rate of corporation tax, which companies pay on their profits, in an attempt to burnish its pro-business credentials.

politics

Labour manifesto all about wealth creation, says Starmer. The document setting out what Labour would do in government if Sir Keir becomes prime minister after 4 July will be unveiled later on Thursday. Sir Keir has stressed there will be "no surprises" on tax, as he seeks to defuse Tory attacks that his party would put them up. "I think people are taxed too much already. What I want to do, my central mission, is to grow the economy," he said in a Sky News election special. Only by growing the economy can Labour generate the funds needed for public services, he argued. Labour says tax thresholds won't change after election The manifesto launch will be a chance for Labour to showcase key policies it had already announced before the election campaign began. These include setting up a new state-owned energy investment and generation company, hiring more police officers and renationalising nearly all passenger rail. But the party could also offer more detail in other priority areas such as planning reform, which it has put front and centre of its economic plans. Ahead of the launch, Sir Keir said wealth creation was "our number one priority" and "growth is our core business". "If we could grow the economy at anything like the level the last Labour government did, that's an extra £70bn worth of investment for our public services," he added. He argued that "billions upon billions in projects" could be unlocked through changes to investment rules and the planning regime, but were currently "held up by the blockers of aspiration". failed to win the support of Unite, its biggest trade union backer, which argues the party's scaled-back plans to improve workers' rights do not go far enough. The package, first unveiled in 2021, would scrap qualifying times for parental leave and sick pay rights when employees start a new job, and boost flexible working rights where "reasonably feasible". But notably, a pledge to introduce collective wage bargaining "across the economy" has been replaced with a plan to "start by" introducing a fair pay agreement in the adult social care sector, before a potential roll-out in other areas. Other policies expected to feature in the manifesto include: introducing free breakfast clubs in primary schools in England banning under-16s in England from buying high-caffeine energy drinks £1.6bn to pay for more appointments in NHS hospitals, new CT scanners and extra dentist appointments. Labour has long argued that growth is the only responsible way to generate extra funding for public services and says it wants to make the UK the fastest growing economy in the G7 group of rich nations if it wins power. Arguing that it will inherit a difficult financial position if it enters office, it has made only a handful of additional spending commitments since the election was called three weeks ago. These include £140m to convert 3,300 classrooms into nurseries, paid for by introducing VAT on private school fees, and £320m for repairing potholes, financed by deferring a new bypass from the A27 in Sussex. Sir Keir made the unusual move of invoking his predecessor to attack Tory election pledges to cut taxes, accusing them of a "Jeremy Corbyn-style manifesto" where "none of it is costed". Labour has ruled out increasing rates of income tax, National Insurance or VAT, which in the manifesto will be presented as a "tax lock" for voters. It has also ruled out increasing the main rate of corporation tax, which companies pay on their profits, in an attempt to burnish its pro-business credentials.

Canadian, Chinese defence ministers meet in Singapore as tensions rise over Taiwan

The Canadian and Chinese defence ministers met in Singapore this week, marking the first in-person meeting between those officials in years. Bill Blair sat down with Admiral Dong Jun on Friday while attending the Shangri-La Dialogue, an international security conference. In a statement issued after the meeting, Blair said he expressed concern about Beijing's foreign interference in Canada and about its recent military exercises in Taiwan. Top headlines on Canadian politics, all in one place China staged a simulated blockade of the island after the election of a new government that does not accept Beijing's position that Taiwan is part of China. Blair's meeting with his Chinese counterpart comes several months after Canadian military officials told members of Parliament they were working to open new lines of communication. Diplomatic relations between the countries have been strained since 2018, when Huawei executive Meng Wanzhou was arrested in Canada and China responded by detaining Canadians Michael Kovrig and Michael Spavor. 'Democracy requires constant vigilance' Trudeau testifies at inquiry into foreign election interference in Canada As Poilievre sides with Smith on trans restrictions, former Conservative candidate says he's 'playing with fire' Supports for passengers, farmers, artists: 7 bills from MPs and Senators to watch in 2024 Ontario gave parents more than $1B in cash over 2 years. Here's where the money went During the pandemic, the Ontario government started to hand out cash to parents to help offset the cost of at-home learning while schools were shuttered. Ryan Reynolds has declared 'War of the Popcorn Buckets.' He's honestly onto something Do this once a month and extend your life by up to 10 years. No gym required Bathroom break nearly derails $22 million project at city council meeting A brief break during Wednesday's city council meeting in Saskatoon nearly cost the city dearly. One dead, 26 wounded in overnight shooting in Ohio: reports South Korea said Sunday it'll soon take retaliatory steps against North Korea over its launch of trash-carrying balloons across the border and other provocations. Mass parachute jump over Normandy kicks off commemorations for the 80th anniversary of D-Day Tensions rise at Serbia local vote as ruling populists seek to cement power after fraud accusations North Korea says it will stop sending trash balloons as South Korea vows strong retaliation California firefighters battle wind-driven wildfire east of San Francisco overnight Oil producers led by Saudis extended supply cuts amid slack prices Zelenskyy accuses China of pressuring other countries not to attend upcoming Ukraine peace talks Ambassador says interactions with Russia 'quite limited' but 'not unfriendly' Navy vessels to sail for Indo-Pacific strategy, Defence Minister Bill Blair says Why replacing alcohol with weed is a growing trend in the U.S. WHO member countries approve steps to bolster health regulations to better brace for pandemics China lands spacecraft on the moon amid growing space rivalry with U.S. Saudi Arabia and allied oil producing countries on Sunday extended output cuts through next year, a move aimed at supporting slack prices that haven't risen even amid turmoil in the Middle East and the start of the summer travel season. Cannabis-infused poutine sauce, jerky, nuts among new edible options in Quebec Ontario gave parents more than $1B in cash over 2 years. Here's where the money went Cannabis-infused poutine sauce, jerky, nuts among new edible options in Quebec Canada's Mackenzie Hughes tied for 2nd ahead of final round of RBC Canadian Open U.S. Labor Department sues Hyundai over U.S. child labour, court filing shows Canadians' interest in buying EVs fades as barriers, concerns remain: J.D. Power 'It really has brought a lot of joy': Family of baby foxes moves into Manitoba woman's yard Leanne Van Bergen discovered a skulk of 10 baby foxes, and two mothers, had made themselves at home on her property in Beausejour. 81-year-old Waterloo, Ont. woman with paralysis, amputated leg lives out dream of riding horse again 25-year-old driver dead after single-vehicle rollover crash in Clarington, Ont. Pedestrian dies after being hit by train in Brockville, Ont., 'foul play' ruled out High-risk stop leads seizure of firearm, 3 arrests on Highway 417: OPP Child's body recovered from lake after boating tragedy in Quebec's Laurentians Cannabis-infused poutine sauce, jerky, nuts among new edible options in Quebec Bathroom break nearly derails $22 million project at city council meeting

politics

Canadian, Chinese defence ministers meet in Singapore as tensions rise over Taiwan. The Canadian and Chinese defence ministers met in Singapore this week, marking the first in-person meeting between those officials in years. Bill Blair sat down with Admiral Dong Jun on Friday while attending the Shangri-La Dialogue, an international security conference. In a statement issued after the meeting, Blair said he expressed concern about Beijing's foreign interference in Canada and about its recent military exercises in Taiwan. Top headlines on Canadian politics, all in one place China staged a simulated blockade of the island after the election of a new government that does not accept Beijing's position that Taiwan is part of China. Blair's meeting with his Chinese counterpart comes several months after Canadian military officials told members of Parliament they were working to open new lines of communication. Diplomatic relations between the countries have been strained since 2018, when Huawei executive Meng Wanzhou was arrested in Canada and China responded by detaining Canadians Michael Kovrig and Michael Spavor. 'Democracy requires constant vigilance' Trudeau testifies at inquiry into foreign election interference in Canada As Poilievre sides with Smith on trans restrictions, former Conservative candidate says he's 'playing with fire' Supports for passengers, farmers, artists: 7 bills from MPs and Senators to watch in 2024 Ontario gave parents more than $1B in cash over 2 years. Here's where the money went During the pandemic, the Ontario government started to hand out cash to parents to help offset the cost of at-home learning while schools were shuttered. Ryan Reynolds has declared 'War of the Popcorn Buckets.' He's honestly onto something Do this once a month and extend your life by up to 10 years. No gym required Bathroom break nearly derails $22 million project at city council meeting A brief break during Wednesday's city council meeting in Saskatoon nearly cost the city dearly. One dead, 26 wounded in overnight shooting in Ohio: reports South Korea said Sunday it'll soon take retaliatory steps against North Korea over its launch of trash-carrying balloons across the border and other provocations. Mass parachute jump over Normandy kicks off commemorations for the 80th anniversary of D-Day Tensions rise at Serbia local vote as ruling populists seek to cement power after fraud accusations North Korea says it will stop sending trash balloons as South Korea vows strong retaliation California firefighters battle wind-driven wildfire east of San Francisco overnight Oil producers led by Saudis extended supply cuts amid slack prices Zelenskyy accuses China of pressuring other countries not to attend upcoming Ukraine peace talks Ambassador says interactions with Russia 'quite limited' but 'not unfriendly' Navy vessels to sail for Indo-Pacific strategy, Defence Minister Bill Blair says Why replacing alcohol with weed is a growing trend in the U.S. WHO member countries approve steps to bolster health regulations to better brace for pandemics China lands spacecraft on the moon amid growing space rivalry with U.S. Saudi Arabia and allied oil producing countries on Sunday extended output cuts through next year, a move aimed at supporting slack prices that haven't risen even amid turmoil in the Middle East and the start of the summer travel season. Cannabis-infused poutine sauce, jerky, nuts among new edible options in Quebec Ontario gave parents more than $1B in cash over 2 years. Here's where the money went Cannabis-infused poutine sauce, jerky, nuts among new edible options in Quebec Canada's Mackenzie Hughes tied for 2nd ahead of final round of RBC Canadian Open U.S. Labor Department sues Hyundai over U.S. child labour, court filing shows Canadians' interest in buying EVs fades as barriers, concerns remain: J.D. Power 'It really has brought a lot of joy': Family of baby foxes moves into Manitoba woman's yard Leanne Van Bergen discovered a skulk of 10 baby foxes, and two mothers, had made themselves at home on her property in Beausejour. 81-year-old Waterloo, Ont. woman with paralysis, amputated leg lives out dream of riding horse again 25-year-old driver dead after single-vehicle rollover crash in Clarington, Ont. Pedestrian dies after being hit by train in Brockville, Ont., 'foul play' ruled out High-risk stop leads seizure of firearm, 3 arrests on Highway 417: OPP Child's body recovered from lake after boating tragedy in Quebec's Laurentians Cannabis-infused poutine sauce, jerky, nuts among new edible options in Quebec Bathroom break nearly derails $22 million project at city council meeting

Voices from Gaza are coming through in podcasts

Photo Illustration: Alex Parkin / Photo by Dawoud Abo Alkas/Anadolu via Getty Images Unsettled host Ilana Levinson spent two months trying to reach one of her contacts in Gaza for an interview. She had stayed in touch with Isam Hammad, a manager for a medical equipment company in Gaza City, since covering his work organizing the March of Return protest in 2018. But after he fled the city in November, the two hadn’t shared much more than the occasional WhatsApp voice note with one another. When Levinson finally got ahold of Hammad in January, he was in Rafah, trying to get his family to Ireland on a family reunification visa. “I have no internet,” he said. “I have had to wake up every night since I made my [visa] application and go to the rooftop, turn on Vodafone Egypt, get the internet, check the list, and go back to sleep.” Levinson and her co-producers spent years building relationships with peace activists from Israel, Gaza, and the West Bank. They now find themselves in the position of having access to people on the ground who can give frank accounts of what is happening — access that has been increasingly hard to come by as the war churns on with no end in sight. That is especially true in Gaza, where foreign journalists are barred from entering unescorted by the Israel Defense Forces, connectivity is spotty at best, and more than 1.7 million people have been displaced from their homes. “There is a real need for it in this moment.” “I think after October 7th, people were really craving these personal stories and context,” said Levinson. “We felt a real obligation toward those new and existing listeners — there is a real need for it in this moment.” For the media, maintaining access to Gaza has been a challenge, both due to limited communications within the region and strict limitations on physical entry from the outside. Daniel Estrin , NPR’s international correspondent in Israel, reported from Gaza many times during his tenure at NPR. But since the start of the war, his access has been whittled down to the occasional IDF-guided tour just across the border. A colleague based in Gaza, reporter and photographer Anas Baba , shares accounts and sound from inside the enclave, but Baba has to navigate the same communications blackouts as everyone else. As a member of the board of the Foreign Press Association of Israel, Estrin was party to a petition sent to the Israeli Supreme Court demanding access to Gaza. “This war is unprecedented in the amount of time that Israel has prevented journalists from entering independently into a war zone,” Estrin said. The petition was denied. Even within Israel, it can be difficult to get people to talk. Israel Story , known as the Israeli This American Life , normally operates as a seasonal, narrative show produced in English and Hebrew that sticks to decidedly nonpolitical topics like buses and cows . But after October 7th, the show shifted into high gear, sending its producers out to all corners of the country gathering people’s perspectives. The result has been Wartime Diaries , a collection of more than four dozen episodes featuring Israeli citizens impacted by the war. They have included accounts from an archeologist who picked through the ruins of Kibbutz Nir Oz, a Druze journalist fighting for equal rights for his people within Israel, and a resident of a settlement in Gaza who dreams of returning. Many Israeli-Arab people are afraid to go on the record amid a state crackdown on speech The series struck a chord with American-Jewish listeners in particular who want to feel connected to Israel during this crisis. Downloads for Israel Story have tripled since before the war, and host Mishy Harman and senior producer Yochai Maital began hosting live shows in the US earlier this month. But the show has struggled to get Israeli-Arab people — who make up 20 percent of the population of Israel — to agree to participate in the Wartime Diaries series. Harman says that many are afraid to go on the record amid a state crackdown on speech that has targeted Israeli-Arabs in particular. “I think we’ve accrued a reputation as being an honest broker. However, I do think that we are not actually living up to that reputation at the moment,” Harman said. “We really are telling a [Jewish] Israeli story here.” The challenge has put an emphasis on the news outlets that were already well established in the region. Al Jazeera, which had staff based in the Gaza Strip before the war, has become a leading source for audiences in the US and Europe due to its established access — access that has been imperiled by a recent ban inside Israel as a result of the outlet’s reporting. It has also thrust The Take , Al Jazeera’s daily news podcast, into the spotlight. “In this moment, people are really paying attention.” “With the dearth of access, Al Jazeera is this eye into Gaza. That puts a lot of responsibility on everyone’s shoulders,” said The Take executive producer Alexandra Locke. “What are you going to do with that lens? And how are you going to digest that into a podcast?” The show has shifted most of its coverage to the war, featuring dispatches from Al Jazeera reporters about the increasingly dire humanitarian and security situation in the enclave. And while most of Al Jazeera’s audience is consuming the news through TV or the website, The Take ’s team focuses on what audio alone can deliver. “When you are listening while you’re on your daily commute or washing dishes, and then you stop because you hear tears or you hear what an airstrike sounds like — there’s just something so powerful about that, that no picture can even really can encompass,” said The Take host Malika Bilal. Other podcasts have worked around the lack of access. NPR’s Throughline , a series that frames current events within historical context, has seen boosts in listenership around episodes that thoughtfully explore topics like the rise of Israel’s right wing and the origins of Hamas. “You often need to look at something from a 360-degree perspective, which requires you to potentially step back and cover the same moment in time from different vantage points,” said co-host Rund Abdelfatah. Audio war reporting is a century-old practice, but the shows that are able to gain access today can have an even larger impact thanks to podcasting’s global reach. At the time Unsettled aired Hammad’s story in January, he was hitting a wall getting his wife and five kids out of Gaza. Because his son is an Irish citizen, there was a pathway to get some, but not all, of his family members out on a family reunification visa. Hammad shared on the podcast that his son in Ireland has cerebral palsy. That resonated with a listener in Ireland who has a child with a nonverbal disability as well. After hearing the episode, she got in touch with Hammad, lobbied local politicians, and worked with the Irish government to get him and his family out in March. They are now together in Dublin, waiting until it is safe to return to Gaza. “For so long, it hasn’t felt like people are even paying attention to what happens in Israel and Palestine,” Levinson said. “In this moment, people are really paying attention, and I’m overwhelmed that it’s possible for journalism to have this kind of impact.”

tech

Voices from Gaza are coming through in podcasts. Photo Illustration: Alex Parkin / Photo by Dawoud Abo Alkas/Anadolu via Getty Images Unsettled host Ilana Levinson spent two months trying to reach one of her contacts in Gaza for an interview. She had stayed in touch with Isam Hammad, a manager for a medical equipment company in Gaza City, since covering his work organizing the March of Return protest in 2018. But after he fled the city in November, the two hadn’t shared much more than the occasional WhatsApp voice note with one another. When Levinson finally got ahold of Hammad in January, he was in Rafah, trying to get his family to Ireland on a family reunification visa. “I have no internet,” he said. “I have had to wake up every night since I made my [visa] application and go to the rooftop, turn on Vodafone Egypt, get the internet, check the list, and go back to sleep.” Levinson and her co-producers spent years building relationships with peace activists from Israel, Gaza, and the West Bank. They now find themselves in the position of having access to people on the ground who can give frank accounts of what is happening — access that has been increasingly hard to come by as the war churns on with no end in sight. That is especially true in Gaza, where foreign journalists are barred from entering unescorted by the Israel Defense Forces, connectivity is spotty at best, and more than 1.7 million people have been displaced from their homes. “There is a real need for it in this moment.” “I think after October 7th, people were really craving these personal stories and context,” said Levinson. “We felt a real obligation toward those new and existing listeners — there is a real need for it in this moment.” For the media, maintaining access to Gaza has been a challenge, both due to limited communications within the region and strict limitations on physical entry from the outside. Daniel Estrin , NPR’s international correspondent in Israel, reported from Gaza many times during his tenure at NPR. But since the start of the war, his access has been whittled down to the occasional IDF-guided tour just across the border. A colleague based in Gaza, reporter and photographer Anas Baba , shares accounts and sound from inside the enclave, but Baba has to navigate the same communications blackouts as everyone else. As a member of the board of the Foreign Press Association of Israel, Estrin was party to a petition sent to the Israeli Supreme Court demanding access to Gaza. “This war is unprecedented in the amount of time that Israel has prevented journalists from entering independently into a war zone,” Estrin said. The petition was denied. Even within Israel, it can be difficult to get people to talk. Israel Story , known as the Israeli This American Life , normally operates as a seasonal, narrative show produced in English and Hebrew that sticks to decidedly nonpolitical topics like buses and cows . But after October 7th, the show shifted into high gear, sending its producers out to all corners of the country gathering people’s perspectives. The result has been Wartime Diaries , a collection of more than four dozen episodes featuring Israeli citizens impacted by the war. They have included accounts from an archeologist who picked through the ruins of Kibbutz Nir Oz, a Druze journalist fighting for equal rights for his people within Israel, and a resident of a settlement in Gaza who dreams of returning. Many Israeli-Arab people are afraid to go on the record amid a state crackdown on speech The series struck a chord with American-Jewish listeners in particular who want to feel connected to Israel during this crisis. Downloads for Israel Story have tripled since before the war, and host Mishy Harman and senior producer Yochai Maital began hosting live shows in the US earlier this month. But the show has struggled to get Israeli-Arab people — who make up 20 percent of the population of Israel — to agree to participate in the Wartime Diaries series. Harman says that many are afraid to go on the record amid a state crackdown on speech that has targeted Israeli-Arabs in particular. “I think we’ve accrued a reputation as being an honest broker. However, I do think that we are not actually living up to that reputation at the moment,” Harman said. “We really are telling a [Jewish] Israeli story here.” The challenge has put an emphasis on the news outlets that were already well established in the region. Al Jazeera, which had staff based in the Gaza Strip before the war, has become a leading source for audiences in the US and Europe due to its established access — access that has been imperiled by a recent ban inside Israel as a result of the outlet’s reporting. It has also thrust The Take , Al Jazeera’s daily news podcast, into the spotlight. “In this moment, people are really paying attention.” “With the dearth of access, Al Jazeera is this eye into Gaza. That puts a lot of responsibility on everyone’s shoulders,” said The Take executive producer Alexandra Locke. “What are you going to do with that lens? And how are you going to digest that into a podcast?” The show has shifted most of its coverage to the war, featuring dispatches from Al Jazeera reporters about the increasingly dire humanitarian and security situation in the enclave. And while most of Al Jazeera’s audience is consuming the news through TV or the website, The Take ’s team focuses on what audio alone can deliver. “When you are listening while you’re on your daily commute or washing dishes, and then you stop because you hear tears or you hear what an airstrike sounds like — there’s just something so powerful about that, that no picture can even really can encompass,” said The Take host Malika Bilal. Other podcasts have worked around the lack of access. NPR’s Throughline , a series that frames current events within historical context, has seen boosts in listenership around episodes that thoughtfully explore topics like the rise of Israel’s right wing and the origins of Hamas. “You often need to look at something from a 360-degree perspective, which requires you to potentially step back and cover the same moment in time from different vantage points,” said co-host Rund Abdelfatah. Audio war reporting is a century-old practice, but the shows that are able to gain access today can have an even larger impact thanks to podcasting’s global reach. At the time Unsettled aired Hammad’s story in January, he was hitting a wall getting his wife and five kids out of Gaza. Because his son is an Irish citizen, there was a pathway to get some, but not all, of his family members out on a family reunification visa. Hammad shared on the podcast that his son in Ireland has cerebral palsy. That resonated with a listener in Ireland who has a child with a nonverbal disability as well. After hearing the episode, she got in touch with Hammad, lobbied local politicians, and worked with the Irish government to get him and his family out in March. They are now together in Dublin, waiting until it is safe to return to Gaza. “For so long, it hasn’t felt like people are even paying attention to what happens in Israel and Palestine,” Levinson said. “In this moment, people are really paying attention, and I’m overwhelmed that it’s possible for journalism to have this kind of impact.”

York University workers to walk off job Monday if no agreement reached over weekend

York University workers to walk off job Monday if no agreement reached over weekend Academic workers at York University have voted to strike on Monday if the school doesn't return to the table with a "real plan to address the affordability crisis." About 3,000 contract faculty, graduate teaching and research assistants will take part in strike Posted: Feb 23, 2024 4:35 PM EST | Last Updated: February 24 As many as 3,000 academic workers could walk off the job Monday if York University fails to reach an agreement with the union representing the group of contract instructors, teaching assistants and graduate assistants. (Michael Wilson/CBC) Social Sharing Academic workers at York University have voted to strike on Monday if the school doesn't return to the table with a "real plan to address the affordability crisis." In a news release on Friday, the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) 3903, which represents the workers, said about 3,000 contract instructors, teaching assistants and graduate assistants at York will stage a strike Monday if an agreement is not reached with their employer. "We're struggling to make ends meet. Basic needs like housing and food have skyrocketed in price, but the wages for people who do the majority of teaching at York have been falling further and further behind," CUPE 3903 spokesperson and PhD student Erin McIntosh said in the release. "The employer is still making an offer that is far below the rising cost of living. Who can afford to work at York anymore?" Picket lines are expected to go up on Monday, with a rally set for the same morning outside of York University subway station. The union did not provide details of the contract negotiations. The move comes just over five years after the 2018 strike at the university, when the Ford government stepped in and passed legislation to end the months-long labour dispute. At the time, the province also passed the unconstitutional Bill 124 that restricted wages to one per cent per year. "That law was subsequently struck down by the courts because it was unconstitutional, but York has yet to address the imbalance it created," the release said. Ontario government legislates end to York University strike On day 87, record-long York University strike drags on with little hope of resolution McIntosh said the issue comes down to equity and access. Workers who are students are also finding the school to be unaffordable, which is affecting the quality of education, she said. "We don't want to be in this position, but things are at a breaking point. The university needs to get serious about bargaining in a way that addresses the issues of affordability and equity," McIntosh said. In a statement on Friday, York University said it met with the union for planned bargaining talks on Friday afternoon. It said negotiations between the university and union may continue on the weekend and into next week with the agreement of both parties. "The university is ensuring that students' learning needs remain the top priority. Contingency plans for all other aspects of university operations are in place and will be activated as required," the university said.

canada

York University workers to walk off job Monday if no agreement reached over weekend. York University workers to walk off job Monday if no agreement reached over weekend Academic workers at York University have voted to strike on Monday if the school doesn't return to the table with a "real plan to address the affordability crisis." About 3,000 contract faculty, graduate teaching and research assistants will take part in strike Posted: Feb 23, 2024 4:35 PM EST | Last Updated: February 24 As many as 3,000 academic workers could walk off the job Monday if York University fails to reach an agreement with the union representing the group of contract instructors, teaching assistants and graduate assistants. (Michael Wilson/CBC) Social Sharing Academic workers at York University have voted to strike on Monday if the school doesn't return to the table with a "real plan to address the affordability crisis." In a news release on Friday, the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) 3903, which represents the workers, said about 3,000 contract instructors, teaching assistants and graduate assistants at York will stage a strike Monday if an agreement is not reached with their employer. "We're struggling to make ends meet. Basic needs like housing and food have skyrocketed in price, but the wages for people who do the majority of teaching at York have been falling further and further behind," CUPE 3903 spokesperson and PhD student Erin McIntosh said in the release. "The employer is still making an offer that is far below the rising cost of living. Who can afford to work at York anymore?" Picket lines are expected to go up on Monday, with a rally set for the same morning outside of York University subway station. The union did not provide details of the contract negotiations. The move comes just over five years after the 2018 strike at the university, when the Ford government stepped in and passed legislation to end the months-long labour dispute. At the time, the province also passed the unconstitutional Bill 124 that restricted wages to one per cent per year. "That law was subsequently struck down by the courts because it was unconstitutional, but York has yet to address the imbalance it created," the release said. Ontario government legislates end to York University strike On day 87, record-long York University strike drags on with little hope of resolution McIntosh said the issue comes down to equity and access. Workers who are students are also finding the school to be unaffordable, which is affecting the quality of education, she said. "We don't want to be in this position, but things are at a breaking point. The university needs to get serious about bargaining in a way that addresses the issues of affordability and equity," McIntosh said. In a statement on Friday, York University said it met with the union for planned bargaining talks on Friday afternoon. It said negotiations between the university and union may continue on the weekend and into next week with the agreement of both parties. "The university is ensuring that students' learning needs remain the top priority. Contingency plans for all other aspects of university operations are in place and will be activated as required," the university said.

Veneers, implants and agonising pain: the risks of cosmetic dentistry are nothing to smile about

UK reality star Katie Price has been open about her quest for 'Turkey teeth' Go My Media/Shutterstock How much would you be willing to pay for a perfect movie star smile? For some, trying to achieve dazzlingly white, uniformly straight teeth without a Hollywood budget comes at a cost to their health as well as their wallet. The UK social media trend for “Turkey teeth” – named after influencers’ penchant for travelling abroad for budget veneers – may offer a cheaper alternative to more expensive cosmetic dentistry at reputable clinics – but it can come at the cost of oral health and may even prove life threatening. But the health risks don’t always outweigh the prospect of a gleaming grin. Naturally, teeth should be an off-white colour because yellow-coloured dentin (the middle layer of the tooth – between the enamel and the pulp – that makes up the majority of the tooth’s structure) shows through the thin, tough, white enamel outer layer of the tooth. But the natural colour of healthy teeth is currently unfashionable and there’s a heavy demand for sparkly white veneers. While there are many people who’re delighted with their new gnashers, there seem to be equally as many horror stories. From being left in “ constant pain ” to developing “ rotting gums ”, fixing problems caused by cut price cosmetic dentistry can end up costing much more than it would have cost to get the procedures done properly in the first place. This is something Ramazan Yilmaz discovered when his tooth implants at a private clinic in Bursa, Turkey, went disastrously wrong. During surgery, the dentist allegedly “forced” the implant through Ramazan’s jawbone and into the area behind the eye where the brain and spinal fluid are located. According to reports, the dentist then took him to the emergency department of a local hospital and ran away. But experiences don’t have to be as extreme as Ramazan’s to cause serious problems. Even the best cosmetic dentistry can lead to oral health problems if scrupulous oral hygiene isn’t maintained. Poorly fitted veneers, for example, can allow plaque, food and drinks into the space between the veneer and the tooth, causing bad breath, staining, tooth decay and gum disease. Gum disease is also linked to liver disease , chronic kidney disease , oral cancers and cardiovascular diseases . Risky business There are a number of options to achieve the Turkey teeth look popularised in the UK by reality shows such as Towie and Love Island , from veneers to more invasive procedures such as crowns or implants that are screwed into your jawbone . Veneers are thin shells applied to the surface of existing teeth to hide imperfections. They are the least invasive of cosmetic dental procedures but usually require the removal of enamel. Improper preparation of the tooth for this process leaves the tooth susceptible to decay. There are different types of veneer, including porcelain, composite and no prep. No prep veneers preserve tooth structure with minimal, if any, removal of enamel but they tend to last only between five to seven years. With proper care, well fitted porcelain and composite veneers can last up to 20 years. Dental crowns are permanent tooth-shaped caps that cover broken, worn down or damaged teeth. Crowns are fitted over existing teeth, which are filed down to fang-like pegs. Filing away the teeth removes protective material that cushions the soft living tissues and can open up these areas to pathogens causing local or systemic infection , potentially resulting in death. Similar risks exist for dental implants; however these can take much longer to bond into your existing bone and therefore it may be months before any potential issues arise. Dental implants are a permanent replacement for missing teeth or to support dentures. The implants are screw-like metal fixtures that are fastened surgically to the jaw bone, beneath the gums. Implants are expensive and it’s a challenging procedure – they are prone to damage and fracture if fitted without proper attention to bite force and the way the mouth works when eating. Replacing teeth can cause significant changes in how bite forces are transmitted through the jaw bones and the rest of the face. Bones take time to remodel and, because many people have all their teeth done at once, implants can cause large scale alteration of the mouth’s bony micro-structure, resulting in pain and discomfort in the gums, jaw joints and muscles of the face that can last for months. Dental implants can reduce bone in the mouth by up to 22% three years after insertion. Home free… or not Cosmetic dental procedures can be risky – but so can the journey home. Patients who’ve undergone restorative treatments like veneers should avoid flying for at least 24 hours post-procedure. Those who’ve had implants and extractions – with no complications – should wait at least 72 hours before hopping on the plane home to limit the risk of swelling during the flight. There’s a serious complicating factor for anyone suffering with problem dental work on their return to the UK: who will fix any issues and to what extent ? The shortage of NHS dental provision in the UK means that dentists are unable to help patients who’ve had faulty work done abroad. The UK regulator for dental professionals, the General Dental Council, have put together a useful “ need to know guide ” for anyone considering overseas dental work. Don’t forget that while overseas cosmetic dentistry might seem like a bargain it could turn out to be a very expensive – and painful – mistake. Adam Taylor 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.

health,uk

Veneers, implants and agonising pain: the risks of cosmetic dentistry are nothing to smile about. UK reality star Katie Price has been open about her quest for 'Turkey teeth' Go My Media/Shutterstock How much would you be willing to pay for a perfect movie star smile? For some, trying to achieve dazzlingly white, uniformly straight teeth without a Hollywood budget comes at a cost to their health as well as their wallet. The UK social media trend for “Turkey teeth” – named after influencers’ penchant for travelling abroad for budget veneers – may offer a cheaper alternative to more expensive cosmetic dentistry at reputable clinics – but it can come at the cost of oral health and may even prove life threatening. But the health risks don’t always outweigh the prospect of a gleaming grin. Naturally, teeth should be an off-white colour because yellow-coloured dentin (the middle layer of the tooth – between the enamel and the pulp – that makes up the majority of the tooth’s structure) shows through the thin, tough, white enamel outer layer of the tooth. But the natural colour of healthy teeth is currently unfashionable and there’s a heavy demand for sparkly white veneers. While there are many people who’re delighted with their new gnashers, there seem to be equally as many horror stories. From being left in “ constant pain ” to developing “ rotting gums ”, fixing problems caused by cut price cosmetic dentistry can end up costing much more than it would have cost to get the procedures done properly in the first place. This is something Ramazan Yilmaz discovered when his tooth implants at a private clinic in Bursa, Turkey, went disastrously wrong. During surgery, the dentist allegedly “forced” the implant through Ramazan’s jawbone and into the area behind the eye where the brain and spinal fluid are located. According to reports, the dentist then took him to the emergency department of a local hospital and ran away. But experiences don’t have to be as extreme as Ramazan’s to cause serious problems. Even the best cosmetic dentistry can lead to oral health problems if scrupulous oral hygiene isn’t maintained. Poorly fitted veneers, for example, can allow plaque, food and drinks into the space between the veneer and the tooth, causing bad breath, staining, tooth decay and gum disease. Gum disease is also linked to liver disease , chronic kidney disease , oral cancers and cardiovascular diseases . Risky business There are a number of options to achieve the Turkey teeth look popularised in the UK by reality shows such as Towie and Love Island , from veneers to more invasive procedures such as crowns or implants that are screwed into your jawbone . Veneers are thin shells applied to the surface of existing teeth to hide imperfections. They are the least invasive of cosmetic dental procedures but usually require the removal of enamel. Improper preparation of the tooth for this process leaves the tooth susceptible to decay. There are different types of veneer, including porcelain, composite and no prep. No prep veneers preserve tooth structure with minimal, if any, removal of enamel but they tend to last only between five to seven years. With proper care, well fitted porcelain and composite veneers can last up to 20 years. Dental crowns are permanent tooth-shaped caps that cover broken, worn down or damaged teeth. Crowns are fitted over existing teeth, which are filed down to fang-like pegs. Filing away the teeth removes protective material that cushions the soft living tissues and can open up these areas to pathogens causing local or systemic infection , potentially resulting in death. Similar risks exist for dental implants; however these can take much longer to bond into your existing bone and therefore it may be months before any potential issues arise. Dental implants are a permanent replacement for missing teeth or to support dentures. The implants are screw-like metal fixtures that are fastened surgically to the jaw bone, beneath the gums. Implants are expensive and it’s a challenging procedure – they are prone to damage and fracture if fitted without proper attention to bite force and the way the mouth works when eating. Replacing teeth can cause significant changes in how bite forces are transmitted through the jaw bones and the rest of the face. Bones take time to remodel and, because many people have all their teeth done at once, implants can cause large scale alteration of the mouth’s bony micro-structure, resulting in pain and discomfort in the gums, jaw joints and muscles of the face that can last for months. Dental implants can reduce bone in the mouth by up to 22% three years after insertion. Home free… or not Cosmetic dental procedures can be risky – but so can the journey home. Patients who’ve undergone restorative treatments like veneers should avoid flying for at least 24 hours post-procedure. Those who’ve had implants and extractions – with no complications – should wait at least 72 hours before hopping on the plane home to limit the risk of swelling during the flight. There’s a serious complicating factor for anyone suffering with problem dental work on their return to the UK: who will fix any issues and to what extent ? The shortage of NHS dental provision in the UK means that dentists are unable to help patients who’ve had faulty work done abroad. The UK regulator for dental professionals, the General Dental Council, have put together a useful “ need to know guide ” for anyone considering overseas dental work. Don’t forget that while overseas cosmetic dentistry might seem like a bargain it could turn out to be a very expensive – and painful – mistake. Adam Taylor 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.

HealthWell Foundation Announces Presenting Sponsorship for the 2024 Healthcare Advocate Summit

July 2, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- The HealthWell Foundation ®, an independent non-profit charitable organization that provides financial assistance for underinsured Americans, is honored to announce that it has partnered with the Healthcare Advocate Summit team as a presenting sponsor of the fourth annual Summit to be held in This three-day event includes HealthWell-moderated panel sessions, as part of a comprehensive agenda featuring advocates and community professionals whose goals are to put patient needs above all else. The Summit brings together stakeholders within the medication access, physician, pharmacy, navigation, foundation, and reimbursement space committed to mitigating the challenges patients face in accessing proper medical care. This is a must attend event for anyone involved in the patient health care journey. HealthWell is also proud to sponsor the two-day networking lounge and to exhibit during the Summit. To view the preliminary agenda and learn more about the 2024 Healthcare Advocate Summit and why you should join the over 1,000 expected registered attendees, visit: "As we prepare for our fourth annual Summit, we are honored to once again have the support and partnership of the HealthWell Foundation," said Elizabeth Johnson and Melissa Paige, Co-CEO's, Healthcare Advocate Summit. "HealthWell's vision to ensure that no patient goes without critical medical care simply because they can't afford it is an inspiration to the advocacy community. By strengthening our collective resources, we will be able to identify deficiencies in accessing proper medical treatments and implement strategies to improve access across the patient continuum of care." "We are proud and honored to demonstrate our support for the Healthcare Advocate Summit for the fourth consecutive year," said Alan Klein, Chief Development Officer, HealthWell Foundation. "With its comprehensive agenda and networking opportunities, the Healthcare Advocate Summit provides a fabulous platform for best practice sharing, brainstorming, and continuing education for patient advocates across the health care spectrum." To learn more about HealthWell programs and our robust disease fund portfolio, visit our website at HealthWellFoundation.org. Visit the Conference section of our website to learn about future industry and disease-specific venues where you can connect with the HealthWell team. About the HealthWell Foundation A nationally recognized, independent non-profit organization founded in 2003 and a resource to the White House Cancer Moonshot, the HealthWell Foundation has served as a safety net across over 90 disease areas for more than 930,000 underinsured patients. Since its inception, HealthWell has provided over $4 billion in financial support through more than 1.5 million grants to access life-changing medical treatments patients otherwise would not be able to afford. HealthWell provides financial assistance to adults and children facing medical hardship resulting from gaps in their insurance that cause out-of-pocket medical expenses to escalate rapidly; HealthWell assists with the treatment-related cost-sharing obligations of these patients. HealthWell ranked 23rd on the 2023 Forbes list of America's Top 100 Charities and was recognized for its 100 percent fundraising efficiency. For more information, visit

health

HealthWell Foundation Announces Presenting Sponsorship for the 2024 Healthcare Advocate Summit. July 2, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- The HealthWell Foundation ®, an independent non-profit charitable organization that provides financial assistance for underinsured Americans, is honored to announce that it has partnered with the Healthcare Advocate Summit team as a presenting sponsor of the fourth annual Summit to be held in This three-day event includes HealthWell-moderated panel sessions, as part of a comprehensive agenda featuring advocates and community professionals whose goals are to put patient needs above all else. The Summit brings together stakeholders within the medication access, physician, pharmacy, navigation, foundation, and reimbursement space committed to mitigating the challenges patients face in accessing proper medical care. This is a must attend event for anyone involved in the patient health care journey. HealthWell is also proud to sponsor the two-day networking lounge and to exhibit during the Summit. To view the preliminary agenda and learn more about the 2024 Healthcare Advocate Summit and why you should join the over 1,000 expected registered attendees, visit: "As we prepare for our fourth annual Summit, we are honored to once again have the support and partnership of the HealthWell Foundation," said Elizabeth Johnson and Melissa Paige, Co-CEO's, Healthcare Advocate Summit. "HealthWell's vision to ensure that no patient goes without critical medical care simply because they can't afford it is an inspiration to the advocacy community. By strengthening our collective resources, we will be able to identify deficiencies in accessing proper medical treatments and implement strategies to improve access across the patient continuum of care." "We are proud and honored to demonstrate our support for the Healthcare Advocate Summit for the fourth consecutive year," said Alan Klein, Chief Development Officer, HealthWell Foundation. "With its comprehensive agenda and networking opportunities, the Healthcare Advocate Summit provides a fabulous platform for best practice sharing, brainstorming, and continuing education for patient advocates across the health care spectrum." To learn more about HealthWell programs and our robust disease fund portfolio, visit our website at HealthWellFoundation.org. Visit the Conference section of our website to learn about future industry and disease-specific venues where you can connect with the HealthWell team. About the HealthWell Foundation A nationally recognized, independent non-profit organization founded in 2003 and a resource to the White House Cancer Moonshot, the HealthWell Foundation has served as a safety net across over 90 disease areas for more than 930,000 underinsured patients. Since its inception, HealthWell has provided over $4 billion in financial support through more than 1.5 million grants to access life-changing medical treatments patients otherwise would not be able to afford. HealthWell provides financial assistance to adults and children facing medical hardship resulting from gaps in their insurance that cause out-of-pocket medical expenses to escalate rapidly; HealthWell assists with the treatment-related cost-sharing obligations of these patients. HealthWell ranked 23rd on the 2023 Forbes list of America's Top 100 Charities and was recognized for its 100 percent fundraising efficiency. For more information, visit

Norris eyes perfection in bid to beat Verstappen

Norris has been a close second behind Verstappen in the last two races in Canada and Spain and feels he and McLaren need to tidy up "just tiny things" to beat the world champion. "Everything needs to be executed perfectly well and last weekend everything was not executed perfectly well," Norris said. "And that's where it cost us. "I'm very happy and 99.5% I'm probably happy with." Norris said he felt he had been "over-critical" of his race in Spain last weekend, when being passed by Verstappen and George Russell's Mercedes at the start cost him victory. Verstappen was able to pass Russell at the start of the third lap, while Norris was stuck behind for the entire first stint. Norris closed to within two seconds of Verstappen by the end, but his victory in Miami in May remains his only F1 win so far. Asked if he felt he and McLaren could strain together a series of wins, Norris said: "A run of wins. I don't want to be over-confident and say that at all." But he added: "We could go on and win races. I definitely think that's possible with how the team are performing and how I'm performing. "But we're against one of the best drivers ever in F1 and one of the best performing teams in F1 and then you have everyone else apart from that who can easily get in the mix too." The 24-year-old Briton moved into second place in the championship with his result in Spain. He is 69 points behind Verstappen with 14 races still to go, starting in Austria this weekend. Norris said that now he had a competitive car, the frustrations are bigger any time he does not quite do the very best he can. "I've only won one race," Norris said. "That is still amazing but everything becomes relative to what you know you are able to achieve and the reason I was frustrated was that small thing cost me. "Being in this position you are just more hungry to win and therefore you are more disappointed when you don't. I think it's as simple as that. And a win in F1 means an incredible amount because it's what I've dreamt about since I was a kid." Norris felt he could also have won in Canada two weeks before Spain, but Verstappen was victorious in both races. He and Red Bull remain the team to beat after three wins in the past five races and seven out of 10 this year, but McLaren have emerged as their most consistent challenger at the front. Verstappen said: "We're pushing as hard as we can, of course, to keep on improving. So that's what we'll try to do now in the coming races, which I think are, of course, very important to see where we're at. "McLaren at the moment, they're just very solid. They're good everywhere, every single track, kind of. And also, I think you could see in Barcelona, they were very good on their tyres. They could just push more on them compared to, I think, everyone else on the grid without actually degging off [slowing down] that much at the end of stints. "So these are things that we have to do better. Plus, of course, our known issues with the kerbs and bumps, low speed, basically. And yeah, those are things that we try to understand better also for next year." Mercedes led both races with Russell, having improved following a series of upgrades, but the Briton said he believed the former champions still needed to improve their car to be regular contenders for victory. Ferrari, who have traditionally been strong in Austria, have had a difficult last couple of races. They were the fourth fastest team behind Red Bull, McLaren and Mercedes in Spain despite a significant upgrade. But Charles Leclerc, third in the championship two points behind Norris, said he did not believe that was indicative of a general drop in performance. Leclerc said: "Montreal, I think we've identified quite well what was going wrong. And it was more down to the tyres. In Barcelona, I think it was just raw pace and we were just slower than what we expected. "We still have some work to try and find something and understand a bit more these new parts that we are using now. However, I don't think that the issues were the same in Montreal and Barcelona, so I don't think it's a trend. "We've been struggling mostly with long, slow-speed corners, which here there are a little bit less. So that's a good sign for us. "But we're also working on that in order to have a better car in those corners, which I think we've seen some good steps forward in the last few races.

world

Norris eyes perfection in bid to beat Verstappen. Norris has been a close second behind Verstappen in the last two races in Canada and Spain and feels he and McLaren need to tidy up "just tiny things" to beat the world champion. "Everything needs to be executed perfectly well and last weekend everything was not executed perfectly well," Norris said. "And that's where it cost us. "I'm very happy and 99.5% I'm probably happy with." Norris said he felt he had been "over-critical" of his race in Spain last weekend, when being passed by Verstappen and George Russell's Mercedes at the start cost him victory. Verstappen was able to pass Russell at the start of the third lap, while Norris was stuck behind for the entire first stint. Norris closed to within two seconds of Verstappen by the end, but his victory in Miami in May remains his only F1 win so far. Asked if he felt he and McLaren could strain together a series of wins, Norris said: "A run of wins. I don't want to be over-confident and say that at all." But he added: "We could go on and win races. I definitely think that's possible with how the team are performing and how I'm performing. "But we're against one of the best drivers ever in F1 and one of the best performing teams in F1 and then you have everyone else apart from that who can easily get in the mix too." The 24-year-old Briton moved into second place in the championship with his result in Spain. He is 69 points behind Verstappen with 14 races still to go, starting in Austria this weekend. Norris said that now he had a competitive car, the frustrations are bigger any time he does not quite do the very best he can. "I've only won one race," Norris said. "That is still amazing but everything becomes relative to what you know you are able to achieve and the reason I was frustrated was that small thing cost me. "Being in this position you are just more hungry to win and therefore you are more disappointed when you don't. I think it's as simple as that. And a win in F1 means an incredible amount because it's what I've dreamt about since I was a kid." Norris felt he could also have won in Canada two weeks before Spain, but Verstappen was victorious in both races. He and Red Bull remain the team to beat after three wins in the past five races and seven out of 10 this year, but McLaren have emerged as their most consistent challenger at the front. Verstappen said: "We're pushing as hard as we can, of course, to keep on improving. So that's what we'll try to do now in the coming races, which I think are, of course, very important to see where we're at. "McLaren at the moment, they're just very solid. They're good everywhere, every single track, kind of. And also, I think you could see in Barcelona, they were very good on their tyres. They could just push more on them compared to, I think, everyone else on the grid without actually degging off [slowing down] that much at the end of stints. "So these are things that we have to do better. Plus, of course, our known issues with the kerbs and bumps, low speed, basically. And yeah, those are things that we try to understand better also for next year." Mercedes led both races with Russell, having improved following a series of upgrades, but the Briton said he believed the former champions still needed to improve their car to be regular contenders for victory. Ferrari, who have traditionally been strong in Austria, have had a difficult last couple of races. They were the fourth fastest team behind Red Bull, McLaren and Mercedes in Spain despite a significant upgrade. But Charles Leclerc, third in the championship two points behind Norris, said he did not believe that was indicative of a general drop in performance. Leclerc said: "Montreal, I think we've identified quite well what was going wrong. And it was more down to the tyres. In Barcelona, I think it was just raw pace and we were just slower than what we expected. "We still have some work to try and find something and understand a bit more these new parts that we are using now. However, I don't think that the issues were the same in Montreal and Barcelona, so I don't think it's a trend. "We've been struggling mostly with long, slow-speed corners, which here there are a little bit less. So that's a good sign for us. "But we're also working on that in order to have a better car in those corners, which I think we've seen some good steps forward in the last few races.

Sears Home Improvement Selected as ENERGY STAR Home Upgrade Service Provider for Commitment to Energy Efficient Home Upgrades

June 19, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Sears Home Improvement, a division of Sears Home Services, proudly announces its selection as one of the first service providers for the ENERGY STAR Home Upgrade Service Provider program. This recognition underscores Sears Home Improvement's commitment to promoting energy efficiency and helping homeowners across the United States benefit from energy savings and enhance the sustainability of their homes. "As we see the costs of goods and services continuing to rise across America, we recognize the need to help households lower costs and educate homeowners on the benefits of investing in long-term energy-efficient solutions that result in actual cost-savings," said Elliot Cohen, CEO of Sears Home Services. "Ninety percent of U.S. households recognize the Energy Star label, making it a trusted symbol for energy-saving products and programs. We are committed to simplifying the experience for homeowners as they navigate complex home improvement projects." As an ENERGY STAR Home Upgrade service provider, Sears Home Improvement acts as an all-in-one retailer for households to make energy-efficient improvements to their home that can result in energy-related cost savings, help reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and improve the overall quality of life. The ENERGY STAR Home Upgrade is focused on six energy-efficient improvements designed to work together, and the program connects households with experts like Sears Home Improvement to function as a concierge and seamlessly get the job done. These upgrades, which can be made all at once or as the equipment is replaced, include an ENERGY STAR-certified heat pump, smart thermostat, and windows, plus a well-insulated and sealed attic and electric-ready wiring/panel improvements. This partnership is particularly timely as the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) Home Energy Rebates are set to be rolled out to households across the U.S. later this year, making efficiency upgrades more affordable and adding additional incentives for homeowners to take action on energy efficiency in their homes. Sears Home Improvement will leverage this new partnership to assist contractors and households in accessing energy efficiency rebate programs, including those provided through the IRA. For more information and to learn about energy-efficient upgrades available through Sears Home Improvement, visit

business,environment

Sears Home Improvement Selected as ENERGY STAR Home Upgrade Service Provider for Commitment to Energy Efficient Home Upgrades. June 19, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Sears Home Improvement, a division of Sears Home Services, proudly announces its selection as one of the first service providers for the ENERGY STAR Home Upgrade Service Provider program. This recognition underscores Sears Home Improvement's commitment to promoting energy efficiency and helping homeowners across the United States benefit from energy savings and enhance the sustainability of their homes. "As we see the costs of goods and services continuing to rise across America, we recognize the need to help households lower costs and educate homeowners on the benefits of investing in long-term energy-efficient solutions that result in actual cost-savings," said Elliot Cohen, CEO of Sears Home Services. "Ninety percent of U.S. households recognize the Energy Star label, making it a trusted symbol for energy-saving products and programs. We are committed to simplifying the experience for homeowners as they navigate complex home improvement projects." As an ENERGY STAR Home Upgrade service provider, Sears Home Improvement acts as an all-in-one retailer for households to make energy-efficient improvements to their home that can result in energy-related cost savings, help reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and improve the overall quality of life. The ENERGY STAR Home Upgrade is focused on six energy-efficient improvements designed to work together, and the program connects households with experts like Sears Home Improvement to function as a concierge and seamlessly get the job done. These upgrades, which can be made all at once or as the equipment is replaced, include an ENERGY STAR-certified heat pump, smart thermostat, and windows, plus a well-insulated and sealed attic and electric-ready wiring/panel improvements. This partnership is particularly timely as the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) Home Energy Rebates are set to be rolled out to households across the U.S. later this year, making efficiency upgrades more affordable and adding additional incentives for homeowners to take action on energy efficiency in their homes. Sears Home Improvement will leverage this new partnership to assist contractors and households in accessing energy efficiency rebate programs, including those provided through the IRA. For more information and to learn about energy-efficient upgrades available through Sears Home Improvement, visit

On my radar: Anjana Vasan’s cultural highlights

A Doll's House (Lyric Hammersmith, 2019) and Rebecca Frecknall's A Streetcar Named Desire (Almeida, 2022-23), for which she won an Olivier award and an Evening Standard theatre award. Vasan has been nominated for Baftas for her TV work in Japan: The Cookbook by Nancy Singleton Hachisu (Phaidon ) This book was a gift from my boyfriend. It's written by an American who has lived in Japan since the 1980s and is married to a Japanese man, and she's very much entrenched in the culture. Rather than a definitive expert on Japanese cooking, she presents herself as a conduit – she spent years getting to know not just chefs and experts, but grandmothers from different regions of Japan. I am quite intimidated by this book, but I've got my eye on the miso, aubergine and peppers recipe, and at some point I will attempt the udon noodles. 3. TV Incredible performances: Shōgun. Photograph: Courtesy of FX Networks This series on Gaza has been illuminating. It's very sobering and depressing reading, but also necessary and important. Isaac Chotiner is a very skilled interviewer, going deep behind the headlines to really understand the specific problems and challenges. The last one I read was about unexploded ordnance and mines – there are now more in Gaza than anywhere in the world since at least the second world war. I walked past a store in Marylebone and saw this ring that looked a lot like something I inherited from my grandmother when she passed. I don't own a lot of jewellery, but the few pieces I have, I like to feel I will keep them for ever. Kastur's jewellery is inspired by heirloom pieces, and there's a real range of prices – more high-end pieces but also a lot that are much more affordable. The two I bought are enamel: handpainted stud square earrings, and small golden pearl hoops. They feel like pieces you wish you'd inherited. I really loved this exhibition. There's something about the colours: I read a review that said they're colours you want to lick, and I agree – they're very vivid blues and greens and purples. For me, art can sometimes feel like a time capsule, but the art in this exhibition felt very alive, especially the portraits. Kandinsky is someone whose work I've seen online but never up close. I loved his Riding Couple, and some of the Robert Delaunay pieces. And what's lovely is that it's not just paintings – there's sculpture, photography and music. It was beautiful.

entertainment

On my radar: Anjana Vasan’s cultural highlights. A Doll's House (Lyric Hammersmith, 2019) and Rebecca Frecknall's A Streetcar Named Desire (Almeida, 2022-23), for which she won an Olivier award and an Evening Standard theatre award. Vasan has been nominated for Baftas for her TV work in Japan: The Cookbook by Nancy Singleton Hachisu (Phaidon ) This book was a gift from my boyfriend. It's written by an American who has lived in Japan since the 1980s and is married to a Japanese man, and she's very much entrenched in the culture. Rather than a definitive expert on Japanese cooking, she presents herself as a conduit – she spent years getting to know not just chefs and experts, but grandmothers from different regions of Japan. I am quite intimidated by this book, but I've got my eye on the miso, aubergine and peppers recipe, and at some point I will attempt the udon noodles. 3. TV Incredible performances: Shōgun. Photograph: Courtesy of FX Networks This series on Gaza has been illuminating. It's very sobering and depressing reading, but also necessary and important. Isaac Chotiner is a very skilled interviewer, going deep behind the headlines to really understand the specific problems and challenges. The last one I read was about unexploded ordnance and mines – there are now more in Gaza than anywhere in the world since at least the second world war. I walked past a store in Marylebone and saw this ring that looked a lot like something I inherited from my grandmother when she passed. I don't own a lot of jewellery, but the few pieces I have, I like to feel I will keep them for ever. Kastur's jewellery is inspired by heirloom pieces, and there's a real range of prices – more high-end pieces but also a lot that are much more affordable. The two I bought are enamel: handpainted stud square earrings, and small golden pearl hoops. They feel like pieces you wish you'd inherited. I really loved this exhibition. There's something about the colours: I read a review that said they're colours you want to lick, and I agree – they're very vivid blues and greens and purples. For me, art can sometimes feel like a time capsule, but the art in this exhibition felt very alive, especially the portraits. Kandinsky is someone whose work I've seen online but never up close. I loved his Riding Couple, and some of the Robert Delaunay pieces. And what's lovely is that it's not just paintings – there's sculpture, photography and music. It was beautiful.

Dogecoin, Bonk struggle to keep up as holders switch to new memecoin

Disclosure: This article does not represent investment advice. The content and materials featured on this page are for educational purposes only. Pepe, Floki surge while Dogecoin and Bonk lag. Investors turn to KangaMoon for market leadership. Some big names in the meme coin market, like Pepe and Floki, have been going off over the last few weeks. However, memecoin titans Dogecoin (DOGE) and Bonk (BONK) have failed to keep up with the rising momentum. As a result, many investors are switching to the new memecoin, KangaMoon (KANG), which has shown the potential to lead the market for the rest of the year. Dogecoin outpaced by Pepe and Floki, risk further rejection While Dogecoin remains the most recognizable name in the memecoin space, it has been outperformed by the likes of Pepe and Floki in the last few weeks. Over the last 60 days, the Dogecoin price has plunged by 25%, while those memecoin titans have recorded double-digit gains. It could become even worse for DOGE investors as the pseudonymous market analyst Credible has posted a warning. Based on Credible, the next big move in Bitcoin could very well cause the value of Dogecoin to fall. Another analyst has made conclusions similar to those of the first one, and according to Ali Martinez, the major level of interest in the DOGE is at $0.1700, which is a key resistance level. You might also like: Polkadot, Dogecoin eye new ATH while KangaMoon leads presale market Bonk momentum slows, loses 5th place After its hot start to the year, the price of Bonk (BONK) has been sluggish over the last three months compared to other top memecoins. The declining momentum of Bonk can be seen in the declining trading volume for the meme coin. With the uprising of top memecoins, Bonk has now lost its position as the fifth biggest memecoin. Bonk now has a market cap of $2.4 billion while priced at $0.000035. As BONK fails to keep up with the surging memecoin market, many investors have moved to the more promising new coin, KangaMoon. You might also like: Jasmy Coin and KangaMoon prices rise sharply following breakout KangaMoon, the new memecoin turning heads Unlike BONK and DOGE, KangaMoon has been one of the top memecoins to invest in over the last few months. While the price of KANG has surged by 400% this year to hit its current price of $0.025, KangaMoon has been attracting a lot of attention in the memecoin space for its unique new ecosystem. KangaMoon is doing things differently from conventional memecoins, fusing P2E, NFTs, metaverse, and GameFi into its ecosystem. The aim is to create a vibrant community like other top memecoins but give them an opportunity to earn passive income. Users can enter into daily, weekly, and monthly competitions to win KANG and other exciting prizes. To boost community engagement, KangaMoon has created a new protocol known as Social-Fi. With this, KangaMoon rewards its users based on their engagement and activity level on the platform. With the opportunities KangaMoon has onboarded over 32k users already. The growing recognition has also led to KANG being listed on top aggregator platforms, CoinGecko and CoinMarketCap. The leading centralized exchange, BitMart has also announced that it will list the KANG token very soon. The presale has raised over $7.5 million, which shows how much belief the memecoin community has in the KangaMoon initiative. As a result, crypto experts have forecasted that the price of KANG could surge from $0.025 to hit a 2024 high of $1, making it one of the top memecoins to invest in now. You might also like: Nvidia's record earnings signal potential impact on Cryptos Render and KangaMoon After dominating the memecoin market for different periods, Dogecoin and Bonk have seen their momentum drop over the last few months. This drop coincides with the rising interest in KangaMoon. KANG has emerged as one of the top memecoins to keep an eye on because of the unique ecosystem it brings that other established memecoin titans lack.

crypto

Dogecoin, Bonk struggle to keep up as holders switch to new memecoin. Disclosure: This article does not represent investment advice. The content and materials featured on this page are for educational purposes only. Pepe, Floki surge while Dogecoin and Bonk lag. Investors turn to KangaMoon for market leadership. Some big names in the meme coin market, like Pepe and Floki, have been going off over the last few weeks. However, memecoin titans Dogecoin (DOGE) and Bonk (BONK) have failed to keep up with the rising momentum. As a result, many investors are switching to the new memecoin, KangaMoon (KANG), which has shown the potential to lead the market for the rest of the year. Dogecoin outpaced by Pepe and Floki, risk further rejection While Dogecoin remains the most recognizable name in the memecoin space, it has been outperformed by the likes of Pepe and Floki in the last few weeks. Over the last 60 days, the Dogecoin price has plunged by 25%, while those memecoin titans have recorded double-digit gains. It could become even worse for DOGE investors as the pseudonymous market analyst Credible has posted a warning. Based on Credible, the next big move in Bitcoin could very well cause the value of Dogecoin to fall. Another analyst has made conclusions similar to those of the first one, and according to Ali Martinez, the major level of interest in the DOGE is at $0.1700, which is a key resistance level. You might also like: Polkadot, Dogecoin eye new ATH while KangaMoon leads presale market Bonk momentum slows, loses 5th place After its hot start to the year, the price of Bonk (BONK) has been sluggish over the last three months compared to other top memecoins. The declining momentum of Bonk can be seen in the declining trading volume for the meme coin. With the uprising of top memecoins, Bonk has now lost its position as the fifth biggest memecoin. Bonk now has a market cap of $2.4 billion while priced at $0.000035. As BONK fails to keep up with the surging memecoin market, many investors have moved to the more promising new coin, KangaMoon. You might also like: Jasmy Coin and KangaMoon prices rise sharply following breakout KangaMoon, the new memecoin turning heads Unlike BONK and DOGE, KangaMoon has been one of the top memecoins to invest in over the last few months. While the price of KANG has surged by 400% this year to hit its current price of $0.025, KangaMoon has been attracting a lot of attention in the memecoin space for its unique new ecosystem. KangaMoon is doing things differently from conventional memecoins, fusing P2E, NFTs, metaverse, and GameFi into its ecosystem. The aim is to create a vibrant community like other top memecoins but give them an opportunity to earn passive income. Users can enter into daily, weekly, and monthly competitions to win KANG and other exciting prizes. To boost community engagement, KangaMoon has created a new protocol known as Social-Fi. With this, KangaMoon rewards its users based on their engagement and activity level on the platform. With the opportunities KangaMoon has onboarded over 32k users already. The growing recognition has also led to KANG being listed on top aggregator platforms, CoinGecko and CoinMarketCap. The leading centralized exchange, BitMart has also announced that it will list the KANG token very soon. The presale has raised over $7.5 million, which shows how much belief the memecoin community has in the KangaMoon initiative. As a result, crypto experts have forecasted that the price of KANG could surge from $0.025 to hit a 2024 high of $1, making it one of the top memecoins to invest in now. You might also like: Nvidia's record earnings signal potential impact on Cryptos Render and KangaMoon After dominating the memecoin market for different periods, Dogecoin and Bonk have seen their momentum drop over the last few months. This drop coincides with the rising interest in KangaMoon. KANG has emerged as one of the top memecoins to keep an eye on because of the unique ecosystem it brings that other established memecoin titans lack.

Welcome To This Issue.

Not surprisingly, crew salaries have not dipped, and maintenance salaries are on the rise due to shortages. Speaking of maintenance, also in this issue you'll find Bill Carey and Fred George's assessment of SpaceX's Starlink satellite communications system for business aviation. The system—from installation to speed service—is receiving praise from users. However, do you think SpaceX will keep the costs low? For those flying in Europe this summer, airport parking could be problematic, At the European Business Aviation Convention & Exhibition in May, sustainability was a key topic, which isn't surprising. A group of young professionals and the European Business Aviation Association launched a program called Standards & Training for Aviation Responsibility and Sustainability (STARS). This practical program launched in Europe and will expand to the rest of the world in 2025.

aerospace

Welcome To This Issue.. Not surprisingly, crew salaries have not dipped, and maintenance salaries are on the rise due to shortages. Speaking of maintenance, also in this issue you'll find Bill Carey and Fred George's assessment of SpaceX's Starlink satellite communications system for business aviation. The system—from installation to speed service—is receiving praise from users. However, do you think SpaceX will keep the costs low? For those flying in Europe this summer, airport parking could be problematic, At the European Business Aviation Convention & Exhibition in May, sustainability was a key topic, which isn't surprising. A group of young professionals and the European Business Aviation Association launched a program called Standards & Training for Aviation Responsibility and Sustainability (STARS). This practical program launched in Europe and will expand to the rest of the world in 2025.

Fever's game plan comes under scrutiny over lack of Caitlin Clark shots as team squanders 15-point lead to Sky

Fox News Flash top sports headlines are here. Check out what's clicking on Foxnews.com. 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 Indiana Fever head coach Christie Sides' game plan as the team squandered a 15-point lead against the Chicago Sky on Sunday came under fire as the team lost a pivotal matchup. Clark had 17 points on 5-of-11 shooting – all of her made shots were from beyond the 3-point line. She also had a franchise-record 13 assists. However, Indiana Fever head coach Christie Sides talks with guard Caitlin Clark, #22, during the second half of a basketball game against the Chicago Sky at Wintrust Arena in Chicago on June 23, 2024. (Kamil Krzaczynski-USA Today Sports) The sharpshooting rookie did not attempt a shot in the final 2:19 of the game. Instead, second-year star Aliyah Boston attempted two long shots, making one of them. Kristy Wallace also got a shot off in the closing moments of the game. Indiana only scored five points in the final 6:38 of the game and were outscored 24-15 in the fourth quarter. expected Clark to be more aggressive in the closing moments of the game. Sky guard Marina Mabrey missed clutch free throws, and a loose ball got into the hands of Clark. Clark moved it up the floor quickly and passed it to Wallace, who made a valiant effort at a tough lay-up but missed the shot. "I never want her to not be aggressive and take shots," Sides told reporters, via the Indy Star. "I really thought when she went out in transition after that missed free throw I thought she was gonna take it to the rim or pull up right there. That would've been a great shot for her, a great shot for our team. But we were up 15 at the end of the third quarter, we've gotta do a better job at closing out games." Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark, #22, walks on the court during the second half of a basketball game against the Chicago Sky at Wintrust Arena in Chicago on June 23, 2024. (Kamil Krzaczynski-USA Today Sports) Former NFL players Robert Griffin III and Emmanuel Acho were among those who criticized the game plan in the final moments. "There is no way on God's green earth that Caitlin Clark shouldn't have taken the last shot or even a shot in the last 30 secs of the game," Griffin wrote on X. CAITLIN CLARK REVEALS SHE SUFFERED RUPTURED EARDRUM ON HARD SCREEN VS LIBERTY EARLIER THIS MONTH "Caitlin Clark should have taken the last shot. That's why you have her. For moments like that. Period," he added. Acho added, "Caitlin Clark has to start being a lot more selfish. Clark has to realize that her shooting a contested shot is more productive than her teammate shooting an uncontested shot. The 'right basketball play' on paper, ain't always the right one in real life."

sports

Fever's game plan comes under scrutiny over lack of Caitlin Clark shots as team squanders 15-point lead to Sky. Fox News Flash top sports headlines are here. Check out what's clicking on Foxnews.com. 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 Indiana Fever head coach Christie Sides' game plan as the team squandered a 15-point lead against the Chicago Sky on Sunday came under fire as the team lost a pivotal matchup. Clark had 17 points on 5-of-11 shooting – all of her made shots were from beyond the 3-point line. She also had a franchise-record 13 assists. However, Indiana Fever head coach Christie Sides talks with guard Caitlin Clark, #22, during the second half of a basketball game against the Chicago Sky at Wintrust Arena in Chicago on June 23, 2024. (Kamil Krzaczynski-USA Today Sports) The sharpshooting rookie did not attempt a shot in the final 2:19 of the game. Instead, second-year star Aliyah Boston attempted two long shots, making one of them. Kristy Wallace also got a shot off in the closing moments of the game. Indiana only scored five points in the final 6:38 of the game and were outscored 24-15 in the fourth quarter. expected Clark to be more aggressive in the closing moments of the game. Sky guard Marina Mabrey missed clutch free throws, and a loose ball got into the hands of Clark. Clark moved it up the floor quickly and passed it to Wallace, who made a valiant effort at a tough lay-up but missed the shot. "I never want her to not be aggressive and take shots," Sides told reporters, via the Indy Star. "I really thought when she went out in transition after that missed free throw I thought she was gonna take it to the rim or pull up right there. That would've been a great shot for her, a great shot for our team. But we were up 15 at the end of the third quarter, we've gotta do a better job at closing out games." Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark, #22, walks on the court during the second half of a basketball game against the Chicago Sky at Wintrust Arena in Chicago on June 23, 2024. (Kamil Krzaczynski-USA Today Sports) Former NFL players Robert Griffin III and Emmanuel Acho were among those who criticized the game plan in the final moments. "There is no way on God's green earth that Caitlin Clark shouldn't have taken the last shot or even a shot in the last 30 secs of the game," Griffin wrote on X. CAITLIN CLARK REVEALS SHE SUFFERED RUPTURED EARDRUM ON HARD SCREEN VS LIBERTY EARLIER THIS MONTH "Caitlin Clark should have taken the last shot. That's why you have her. For moments like that. Period," he added. Acho added, "Caitlin Clark has to start being a lot more selfish. Clark has to realize that her shooting a contested shot is more productive than her teammate shooting an uncontested shot. The 'right basketball play' on paper, ain't always the right one in real life."

More than 13,000 Transplants Completed as Tampa General Marks 50 Years of Its Nationally Recognized Transplant Institute

June 18, 1974, Tampa General performed its first kidney transplant. In the five decades since Tampa General completed its first transplant surgery, surgeons at the academic health system have been providing patients with the most advanced, comprehensive, compassionate and personalized care possible. Tampa General has celebrated many historic milestones and national accolades for the program, becoming one of the leading transplant centers in the nation. "The 50th anniversary is remarkable on its own, but consider the more than 13,000 lives saved by Tampa General's Transplant Institute over the last five decades," said John Couris, president and chief executive officer at Tampa General Hospital. "This anniversary is a tribute to the providers and their commitment to exceptional care. In the last few years, we've made tremendous progress in recruiting the best-in-class surgeons, adopting new technologies and advancing innovative techniques, and today, we're one of the nation's leading transplant centers. We're building on the first 50 years to ensure the next are even better." To date, Tampa General has performed more than 13,000 transplant surgeries, a milestone achieved by only a few dozen hospitals nationwide. In 2023, Tampa General was ranked among the top five hospitals in the nation for transplants by volume, with 756 performed last year. "As a national leader in transplant, we possess the proficiency and capability to manage patients with the most complex health conditions, and that has led to exceptional patient outcomes," said Dr. Kiran Dhanireddy, vice president and chief of the TGH Transplant Institute. "Our 50th year is an opportunity to reflect on our journey to become a world-class organization. Our program was founded by innovators, and we continue to innovate today." National recognitions earned in 2023 for the TGH Transplant Institute include: #1 living donor kidney transplant program in the state of Florida for the last five years #2 in the nation for kidney transplants #4 transplant center in the nation for all transplants by volume #4 in the nation for liver transplants by volume Tampa General is the only hospital in West Central Florida to offer all five organ transplants for adult patients: heart, lung, liver, kidney and pancreas. In 2023, Tampa General successfully completed its first living donor liver transplant, expanding access to patients needing a liver transplant. Last year, Tampa General completed a total of five living donor liver transplants. Through the adoption of technology, Tampa General's Transplant Institute is able to retrieve organs from a wider geographical area and ensure optimal organ condition before transplant procedures, increasing access to donor organs and shortening patient wait times. According to data from the Scientific Registry of Transplant Recipients, Tampa General historically has some of the shortest times to transplant in the country and in Florida. In 2027, Tampa General's Transplant Institute will move to the system's brand-new, state-of-the-art Taneja Surgical, Neuroscience & Transplant Tower, where patients will have access to best-in-class providers, the latest research therapies and modern technologies. The tower, which consists of a plaza level and 12 floors, will provide 144 patient beds, 32 operating suites and expanded intensive care unit (ICU) capacity. In addition, there will be space for education and training, and sterile processing, as well as two floors reserved for future growth. ABOUT TAMPA GENERAL HOSPITAL Tampa General Hospital, a 981-bed, not-for-profit, academic health system, is one of the largest hospitals in America and delivers world-class care as the region's only center for Level l trauma and comprehensive burn care. Tampa General Hospital is the highest-ranked hospital in the market in U.S. News & World Report's 2023-24 Best Hospitals, with six specialties ranking among the top 50 best hospital programs in the United States. Tampa General Hospital has been designated as a model of excellence by the 2022 Fortune/Merative 100 Top Hospitals list. The academic health system's commitment to growing and developing its team members is recognized by two prestigious Forbes magazine rankings – in the top 100 nationally in the 2023 America's Best Employers for Women and top 25 in Florida in the 2023 America's Best Employers by State. Tampa General is the safety net hospital for the region, caring for everyone regardless of their ability to pay, and in fiscal year 2022, provided a net community benefit of approximately $240.3 million in the form of health care for underinsured patients, community education, and financial support to community health organizations in Tampa Bay. It is one of the nation's busiest adult solid organ transplant centers and is the primary teaching hospital for the USF Health Morsani College of Medicine. With six medical helicopters, Tampa General Hospital transports critically injured or ill patients from 23 surrounding counties to receive the advanced care they need. Tampa General houses a nationally accredited comprehensive stroke center, and its 32-bed Neuroscience, Intensive Care Unit is the largest on the West Coast of Florida. It also is home to the Muma Children's Hospital at TGH, the Jennifer Leigh Muma 82-bed neonatal intensive care unit, and a nationally accredited rehabilitation center. Tampa General Hospital's footprint includes TGH North which is comprised of three hospitals and several outpatient locations in Citrus and Hernando counties, 17 Tampa General Medical Group Primary Care offices, TGH Family Care Center Kennedy, TGH Outpatient Center, TGH Virtual Health, and 21 TGH Imaging outpatient radiology centers throughout Tampa Bay area residents also receive world-class care from the TGH Urgent Care powered by Fast Track network of clinics. To see a medical care professional live anytime, anywhere on a smartphone, tablet or computer, visit Virtual Health | Tampa General Hospital (tgh.org). As one of the largest hospitals in the country, Tampa General Hospital is the first in Florida to partner with GE Healthcare and open a clinical command center that provides real-time situational awareness to improve and better coordinate patient care at a lower cost. For more information, go to

health

More than 13,000 Transplants Completed as Tampa General Marks 50 Years of Its Nationally Recognized Transplant Institute. June 18, 1974, Tampa General performed its first kidney transplant. In the five decades since Tampa General completed its first transplant surgery, surgeons at the academic health system have been providing patients with the most advanced, comprehensive, compassionate and personalized care possible. Tampa General has celebrated many historic milestones and national accolades for the program, becoming one of the leading transplant centers in the nation. "The 50th anniversary is remarkable on its own, but consider the more than 13,000 lives saved by Tampa General's Transplant Institute over the last five decades," said John Couris, president and chief executive officer at Tampa General Hospital. "This anniversary is a tribute to the providers and their commitment to exceptional care. In the last few years, we've made tremendous progress in recruiting the best-in-class surgeons, adopting new technologies and advancing innovative techniques, and today, we're one of the nation's leading transplant centers. We're building on the first 50 years to ensure the next are even better." To date, Tampa General has performed more than 13,000 transplant surgeries, a milestone achieved by only a few dozen hospitals nationwide. In 2023, Tampa General was ranked among the top five hospitals in the nation for transplants by volume, with 756 performed last year. "As a national leader in transplant, we possess the proficiency and capability to manage patients with the most complex health conditions, and that has led to exceptional patient outcomes," said Dr. Kiran Dhanireddy, vice president and chief of the TGH Transplant Institute. "Our 50th year is an opportunity to reflect on our journey to become a world-class organization. Our program was founded by innovators, and we continue to innovate today." National recognitions earned in 2023 for the TGH Transplant Institute include: #1 living donor kidney transplant program in the state of Florida for the last five years #2 in the nation for kidney transplants #4 transplant center in the nation for all transplants by volume #4 in the nation for liver transplants by volume Tampa General is the only hospital in West Central Florida to offer all five organ transplants for adult patients: heart, lung, liver, kidney and pancreas. In 2023, Tampa General successfully completed its first living donor liver transplant, expanding access to patients needing a liver transplant. Last year, Tampa General completed a total of five living donor liver transplants. Through the adoption of technology, Tampa General's Transplant Institute is able to retrieve organs from a wider geographical area and ensure optimal organ condition before transplant procedures, increasing access to donor organs and shortening patient wait times. According to data from the Scientific Registry of Transplant Recipients, Tampa General historically has some of the shortest times to transplant in the country and in Florida. In 2027, Tampa General's Transplant Institute will move to the system's brand-new, state-of-the-art Taneja Surgical, Neuroscience & Transplant Tower, where patients will have access to best-in-class providers, the latest research therapies and modern technologies. The tower, which consists of a plaza level and 12 floors, will provide 144 patient beds, 32 operating suites and expanded intensive care unit (ICU) capacity. In addition, there will be space for education and training, and sterile processing, as well as two floors reserved for future growth. ABOUT TAMPA GENERAL HOSPITAL Tampa General Hospital, a 981-bed, not-for-profit, academic health system, is one of the largest hospitals in America and delivers world-class care as the region's only center for Level l trauma and comprehensive burn care. Tampa General Hospital is the highest-ranked hospital in the market in U.S. News & World Report's 2023-24 Best Hospitals, with six specialties ranking among the top 50 best hospital programs in the United States. Tampa General Hospital has been designated as a model of excellence by the 2022 Fortune/Merative 100 Top Hospitals list. The academic health system's commitment to growing and developing its team members is recognized by two prestigious Forbes magazine rankings – in the top 100 nationally in the 2023 America's Best Employers for Women and top 25 in Florida in the 2023 America's Best Employers by State. Tampa General is the safety net hospital for the region, caring for everyone regardless of their ability to pay, and in fiscal year 2022, provided a net community benefit of approximately $240.3 million in the form of health care for underinsured patients, community education, and financial support to community health organizations in Tampa Bay. It is one of the nation's busiest adult solid organ transplant centers and is the primary teaching hospital for the USF Health Morsani College of Medicine. With six medical helicopters, Tampa General Hospital transports critically injured or ill patients from 23 surrounding counties to receive the advanced care they need. Tampa General houses a nationally accredited comprehensive stroke center, and its 32-bed Neuroscience, Intensive Care Unit is the largest on the West Coast of Florida. It also is home to the Muma Children's Hospital at TGH, the Jennifer Leigh Muma 82-bed neonatal intensive care unit, and a nationally accredited rehabilitation center. Tampa General Hospital's footprint includes TGH North which is comprised of three hospitals and several outpatient locations in Citrus and Hernando counties, 17 Tampa General Medical Group Primary Care offices, TGH Family Care Center Kennedy, TGH Outpatient Center, TGH Virtual Health, and 21 TGH Imaging outpatient radiology centers throughout Tampa Bay area residents also receive world-class care from the TGH Urgent Care powered by Fast Track network of clinics. To see a medical care professional live anytime, anywhere on a smartphone, tablet or computer, visit Virtual Health | Tampa General Hospital (tgh.org). As one of the largest hospitals in the country, Tampa General Hospital is the first in Florida to partner with GE Healthcare and open a clinical command center that provides real-time situational awareness to improve and better coordinate patient care at a lower cost. For more information, go to

Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes ‘Raw Cut’ shows the movie pre-VFX

20th Century Studios Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes ’ stunning visual effects are nothing short of astounding, but for the film’s upcoming home release, 20th Century Studios is giving you the ability to see the motion capture performances that were key in bringing the talking apes to life. Though Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes will be available to download on Amazon Prime, Apple TV, and Fandango at Home starting on July 9th, you might want to wait until the movie’s physical release on August 27th when the 4K Ultra HD featuring Inside the Lens: The Raw Cut is in stores. Image: 20th Century Studios In an announcement about The Raw Cut , 20th Century Studios described it as a full-length, split-screen alternative cut that will allow viewers to see what the film looks like before its VFX are finished. In addition to spotlighting actors’ performances beneath the film’s VFX, The Raw Cut will also include optional commentary tracks from director Wes Ball, editor Dan Zimmerman, and VFX supervisor Erik Winquist. Unfortunately, it seems like The Raw Cut won’t be included on Blu-ray and DVD copies of Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes (which will also be out on August 27th), but if it’s something you need to see, now might be the time to hop on the UHD bandwagon .

tech,entertainment

Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes ‘Raw Cut’ shows the movie pre-VFX. 20th Century Studios Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes ’ stunning visual effects are nothing short of astounding, but for the film’s upcoming home release, 20th Century Studios is giving you the ability to see the motion capture performances that were key in bringing the talking apes to life. Though Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes will be available to download on Amazon Prime, Apple TV, and Fandango at Home starting on July 9th, you might want to wait until the movie’s physical release on August 27th when the 4K Ultra HD featuring Inside the Lens: The Raw Cut is in stores. Image: 20th Century Studios In an announcement about The Raw Cut , 20th Century Studios described it as a full-length, split-screen alternative cut that will allow viewers to see what the film looks like before its VFX are finished. In addition to spotlighting actors’ performances beneath the film’s VFX, The Raw Cut will also include optional commentary tracks from director Wes Ball, editor Dan Zimmerman, and VFX supervisor Erik Winquist. Unfortunately, it seems like The Raw Cut won’t be included on Blu-ray and DVD copies of Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes (which will also be out on August 27th), but if it’s something you need to see, now might be the time to hop on the UHD bandwagon .

A signature Biden law aimed to boost renewable energy. It also helped a solar company reap billions

One of President Joe Biden's signature laws aimed to invigorate renewable energy manufacturing in the U.S. It will also help a solar panel company reap billions of dollars FILE - President Joe Biden speaks in the East Room at the White House in Washington, June 4, 2024. One of Biden's signature laws aimed to invigorate renewable energy manufacturing in the U.S. It will also helped a solar panel company reap billions of dollars. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon, File) WASHINGTON -- As he campaigned for the presidency, Joe Biden promised to spend billions of dollars to "save the world" from climate change. One of the largest players in the solar industry was ready. Executives, officials and major investors in First Solar, the largest domestic maker of solar panels, donated at least $2 million to Democrats in 2020, including $1.5 million to Biden's successful bid for the White House. After he won, the company spent $2.8 million more lobbying his administration and Congress, records show — an effort that included high-level meetings with top administration officials. The strategy was a dramatic departure from the Arizona-based company's posture under then-President Donald Trump, whom corporate officials publicly called out as hostile toward renewable energy. It has also paid massive dividends as First Solar became perhaps the biggest beneficiary of an estimated $1 trillion in environmental spending enacted under the Inflation Reduction Act, a major piece of legislation Biden signed into law in 2022 after it cleared Congress solely with Democratic votes. Since then, First Solar's stock price has doubled and its profits have soared thanks to new federal subsidies that could be worth as much as $10 billion over a decade. The success has also delivered a massive windfall to a small group of Democratic donors who invested heavily in the company. Ahead of what is shaping up to be a tight race for the White House this year, Biden and his fellow Democrats point to the sprawling legislation as an example of investing in alternative energy in ways that will help the environment and lift the economy. But First Solar offers an example of how the same piece of legislation, shaped by a team of lobbyists and potentially influenced by a flood of campaign cash, can yield mammoth returns for the well-connected. First Solar's top lobbyist, Samantha Sloan, offered a revealing glimpse of the company's reach after a bill signing celebration. "Those of us who've worked on this know that none of this would have been possible without the dedication and collaboration of a group of Congressional staffers who worked long hours" to ensure that the law would "deliver as intended," she posted on LinkedIn alongside a photo of herself beaming on the White House South Lawn. Angelo Fernández Hernández, a White House spokesperson, did not directly address First Solar's efforts to curry favor with the Biden administration. "President Biden has led and delivered on the most ambitious climate agenda in history, restoring America's climate leadership at home and abroad," Fernández Hernández said in a statement. "The White House regularly engages with industry leaders across all sectors, including clean energy manufacturers and gas and oil producers." In a statement, First Solar CEO Mark Widmar said the new subsidies have helped build the company's domestic footprint. He also took a swipe at some of First Solar's rivals with ties to China, which dominates the industry. "Unlike others who routinely spend substantially more lobbying on behalf of Chinese companies that circumvent US laws and deepen strategic vulnerabilities, our interests lie in a diverse, competitive domestic solar manufacturing base supporting American jobs, economic value, and energy security," Widmar said. Founded in 1999 by a private equity group that included a Walmart fortune heir, First Solar went public in 2006, the same year former Vice President Al Gore's movie "An Inconvenient Truth" helped raise consciousness about the threat of climate change. Company officials cultivated a constituency with Democrats during Barack Obama's administration, which in turn subsidized their industry — and First Solar — through billions of dollars in government-backed loans. When the Biden administration started writing rules to implement the Democrats' new law, First Solar executives and lobbyists met at least four times in late 2022 and 2023 with administration officials, including John Podesta, who oversaw the measure's environmental provisions. One of the more intimate gatherings was attended by Podesta, Widmar and Sloan, as well as First Solar's contract lobbyist, Claudia James, an old friend of Podesta's who worked for decades at a lobbying firm run by Podesta's brother, Tony, records show. Widmar and Sloan also attended a September 2022 celebration at the White House, according to records and social media posts, with Sloan praising the new law as "one of the most consequential pieces of legislation of our lifetimes." The law has been consequential for First Solar. The company will benefit from billions of dollars in lucrative tax credits for domestic clean energy manufacturers — a policy aimed at putting the U.S. on a more competitive footing with green energy giant China. Though intended to reward clean energy businesses, the credits can also be sold on the open market to companies that have little to do with fighting climate change. Last December, First Solar agreed to sell roughly $650 million of these credits to a tech company — providing a massive influx of cash, courtesy of the U.S. government. Investors in the company, including a handful of major Democratic donors, have also benefited as First Solar's share price soars. Farhad "Fred" Ebrahimi, co-founder of the software company Quark, was added to Forbes billionaires list in 2023 thanks to the skyrocketing value of his roughly 5% stake in First Solar, financial disclosures show. Ebrahimi, along with his wife and family, contributed at least $1 million to Biden's 2020 election effort, according to campaign finance disclosures. Lukas T. Walton, an heir to the Walmart fortune, held a 4.9% interest in the company, according to financial disclosures from 2020. Walton donated $360,000 to Biden's 2020 campaign, as well as $100,000 to his 2021 inauguration, campaign finance records show. For a period, there were real doubts about whether Democrats could reach a consensus and approve the bill, which had stalled in the Senate in late 2021. A breakthrough came the following July when Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer of New York and holdout Sen. Joe Manchin of West Virginia began secret negotiations in hopes of reviving it. A day after the two lawmakers began meeting, Democratic megadonor Jim Simons, an enthusiastic backer of the party's green energy efforts, gave $2.5 million to Schumer's super PAC, which spends tens of millions of dollars each election season supporting Senate Democrats. Renaissance Technologies, a hedge fund founded by Simons, also started buying First Solar shares. The hedge fund purchased 60,000 shares between July, when Schumer was privately negotiating with Manchin, and September, when Biden held a celebration after signing the bill, financial filings show. The fund eventually increased its position to 1.5 million shares, which it sold in 2023 after the company's stock price price shot up. Simons, who died in May, was no ordinary donor. His family contributed $25 million to Democrats in 2022, records show. And in the past, he had said that he helped Schumer craft legislation and called the New York Democrat as "a pretty good friend of mine," according to a 2020 oral history interview with the American Institute of Physics. A spokesperson for Schumer said the Senate leader did not speak with Simons about the negotiations. "At Sen. Manchin's request no one outside of Sen. Schumer's staff or Sen. Manchin's staff was told about the negotiations," the spokesperson said. A Manchin spokesperson did not respond to a request for comment. A representative for Renaissance Strategies said the hedge fund uses computer-based trading strategies that "do not involve human stock-picking." Democrats' investments in alternative energy companies have not always panned out. The 2011 bankruptcy of Solyndra, which had received a $500 million government-backed loan, became a rallying cry for Republicans. It also drew a spotlight to First Solar, whose chairman was called to testify before the GOP-controlled House Oversight Committee in 2012, when he was grilled about strong-arm tactics used to secure over $2 billion in loans from the Obama administration for projects First Solar was involved with. In an email turned over to House Republicans, a First Solar executive pressured the Department of Energy for the financing, suggesting that otherwise a Mesa, Arizona, factory that Obama administration officials were eager to tout may not be built. "A failure to receive" approval could "jeopardize construction" and "frankly, undermine the rationale for a new manufacturing center in Arizona," the former executive wrote in 2011. The loans were granted. The factory, however, was never completed. First Solar spokesman Reuven Proenca said the decision was driven by a solar industry downturn and the company also shuttered a factory in Germany. More recently, the company paid $350 million to settle a securities fraud lawsuit — an agreement announced shortly before the case was set to go to trial. The company denied wrongdoing and the settlement in 2020 included no admission of liability. Details included in the case file offer a damning portrait. Investors accused company officials of lying about the scope of a defect that caused panels to fail prematurely, court records state. It was a decision, investors argued, driven by company executives' desire to preserve First Solar's stock price. But while First Solar officials downplayed the extent of the problem, some of them dumped personally held stock, according to court records. Mark Ahearn, the company's founder and chairman, alone sold off more than $427 million in shares before the extent of the defect was made public and the stock tumbled. The ordeal ultimately cost the company $260 million to fix, court records state. Proenca, the First Solar spokesman, said the company settled the case to "focus on driving the business forward." Because First Solar is the biggest U.S.-based solar manufacturer, green energy advocates say Biden faces no other choice than subsidizing the company if he wants to meet his ambitious climate goals while becoming more competitive with China. "Hopefully they've reformed," said Pat Parenteau, an emeritus professor at Vermont Law School and a senior fellow at the Environmental Law Center. "They may be an imperfect vehicle. But the reality is we desperately need them."

politics

A signature Biden law aimed to boost renewable energy. It also helped a solar company reap billions. One of President Joe Biden's signature laws aimed to invigorate renewable energy manufacturing in the U.S. It will also help a solar panel company reap billions of dollars FILE - President Joe Biden speaks in the East Room at the White House in Washington, June 4, 2024. One of Biden's signature laws aimed to invigorate renewable energy manufacturing in the U.S. It will also helped a solar panel company reap billions of dollars. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon, File) WASHINGTON -- As he campaigned for the presidency, Joe Biden promised to spend billions of dollars to "save the world" from climate change. One of the largest players in the solar industry was ready. Executives, officials and major investors in First Solar, the largest domestic maker of solar panels, donated at least $2 million to Democrats in 2020, including $1.5 million to Biden's successful bid for the White House. After he won, the company spent $2.8 million more lobbying his administration and Congress, records show — an effort that included high-level meetings with top administration officials. The strategy was a dramatic departure from the Arizona-based company's posture under then-President Donald Trump, whom corporate officials publicly called out as hostile toward renewable energy. It has also paid massive dividends as First Solar became perhaps the biggest beneficiary of an estimated $1 trillion in environmental spending enacted under the Inflation Reduction Act, a major piece of legislation Biden signed into law in 2022 after it cleared Congress solely with Democratic votes. Since then, First Solar's stock price has doubled and its profits have soared thanks to new federal subsidies that could be worth as much as $10 billion over a decade. The success has also delivered a massive windfall to a small group of Democratic donors who invested heavily in the company. Ahead of what is shaping up to be a tight race for the White House this year, Biden and his fellow Democrats point to the sprawling legislation as an example of investing in alternative energy in ways that will help the environment and lift the economy. But First Solar offers an example of how the same piece of legislation, shaped by a team of lobbyists and potentially influenced by a flood of campaign cash, can yield mammoth returns for the well-connected. First Solar's top lobbyist, Samantha Sloan, offered a revealing glimpse of the company's reach after a bill signing celebration. "Those of us who've worked on this know that none of this would have been possible without the dedication and collaboration of a group of Congressional staffers who worked long hours" to ensure that the law would "deliver as intended," she posted on LinkedIn alongside a photo of herself beaming on the White House South Lawn. Angelo Fernández Hernández, a White House spokesperson, did not directly address First Solar's efforts to curry favor with the Biden administration. "President Biden has led and delivered on the most ambitious climate agenda in history, restoring America's climate leadership at home and abroad," Fernández Hernández said in a statement. "The White House regularly engages with industry leaders across all sectors, including clean energy manufacturers and gas and oil producers." In a statement, First Solar CEO Mark Widmar said the new subsidies have helped build the company's domestic footprint. He also took a swipe at some of First Solar's rivals with ties to China, which dominates the industry. "Unlike others who routinely spend substantially more lobbying on behalf of Chinese companies that circumvent US laws and deepen strategic vulnerabilities, our interests lie in a diverse, competitive domestic solar manufacturing base supporting American jobs, economic value, and energy security," Widmar said. Founded in 1999 by a private equity group that included a Walmart fortune heir, First Solar went public in 2006, the same year former Vice President Al Gore's movie "An Inconvenient Truth" helped raise consciousness about the threat of climate change. Company officials cultivated a constituency with Democrats during Barack Obama's administration, which in turn subsidized their industry — and First Solar — through billions of dollars in government-backed loans. When the Biden administration started writing rules to implement the Democrats' new law, First Solar executives and lobbyists met at least four times in late 2022 and 2023 with administration officials, including John Podesta, who oversaw the measure's environmental provisions. One of the more intimate gatherings was attended by Podesta, Widmar and Sloan, as well as First Solar's contract lobbyist, Claudia James, an old friend of Podesta's who worked for decades at a lobbying firm run by Podesta's brother, Tony, records show. Widmar and Sloan also attended a September 2022 celebration at the White House, according to records and social media posts, with Sloan praising the new law as "one of the most consequential pieces of legislation of our lifetimes." The law has been consequential for First Solar. The company will benefit from billions of dollars in lucrative tax credits for domestic clean energy manufacturers — a policy aimed at putting the U.S. on a more competitive footing with green energy giant China. Though intended to reward clean energy businesses, the credits can also be sold on the open market to companies that have little to do with fighting climate change. Last December, First Solar agreed to sell roughly $650 million of these credits to a tech company — providing a massive influx of cash, courtesy of the U.S. government. Investors in the company, including a handful of major Democratic donors, have also benefited as First Solar's share price soars. Farhad "Fred" Ebrahimi, co-founder of the software company Quark, was added to Forbes billionaires list in 2023 thanks to the skyrocketing value of his roughly 5% stake in First Solar, financial disclosures show. Ebrahimi, along with his wife and family, contributed at least $1 million to Biden's 2020 election effort, according to campaign finance disclosures. Lukas T. Walton, an heir to the Walmart fortune, held a 4.9% interest in the company, according to financial disclosures from 2020. Walton donated $360,000 to Biden's 2020 campaign, as well as $100,000 to his 2021 inauguration, campaign finance records show. For a period, there were real doubts about whether Democrats could reach a consensus and approve the bill, which had stalled in the Senate in late 2021. A breakthrough came the following July when Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer of New York and holdout Sen. Joe Manchin of West Virginia began secret negotiations in hopes of reviving it. A day after the two lawmakers began meeting, Democratic megadonor Jim Simons, an enthusiastic backer of the party's green energy efforts, gave $2.5 million to Schumer's super PAC, which spends tens of millions of dollars each election season supporting Senate Democrats. Renaissance Technologies, a hedge fund founded by Simons, also started buying First Solar shares. The hedge fund purchased 60,000 shares between July, when Schumer was privately negotiating with Manchin, and September, when Biden held a celebration after signing the bill, financial filings show. The fund eventually increased its position to 1.5 million shares, which it sold in 2023 after the company's stock price price shot up. Simons, who died in May, was no ordinary donor. His family contributed $25 million to Democrats in 2022, records show. And in the past, he had said that he helped Schumer craft legislation and called the New York Democrat as "a pretty good friend of mine," according to a 2020 oral history interview with the American Institute of Physics. A spokesperson for Schumer said the Senate leader did not speak with Simons about the negotiations. "At Sen. Manchin's request no one outside of Sen. Schumer's staff or Sen. Manchin's staff was told about the negotiations," the spokesperson said. A Manchin spokesperson did not respond to a request for comment. A representative for Renaissance Strategies said the hedge fund uses computer-based trading strategies that "do not involve human stock-picking." Democrats' investments in alternative energy companies have not always panned out. The 2011 bankruptcy of Solyndra, which had received a $500 million government-backed loan, became a rallying cry for Republicans. It also drew a spotlight to First Solar, whose chairman was called to testify before the GOP-controlled House Oversight Committee in 2012, when he was grilled about strong-arm tactics used to secure over $2 billion in loans from the Obama administration for projects First Solar was involved with. In an email turned over to House Republicans, a First Solar executive pressured the Department of Energy for the financing, suggesting that otherwise a Mesa, Arizona, factory that Obama administration officials were eager to tout may not be built. "A failure to receive" approval could "jeopardize construction" and "frankly, undermine the rationale for a new manufacturing center in Arizona," the former executive wrote in 2011. The loans were granted. The factory, however, was never completed. First Solar spokesman Reuven Proenca said the decision was driven by a solar industry downturn and the company also shuttered a factory in Germany. More recently, the company paid $350 million to settle a securities fraud lawsuit — an agreement announced shortly before the case was set to go to trial. The company denied wrongdoing and the settlement in 2020 included no admission of liability. Details included in the case file offer a damning portrait. Investors accused company officials of lying about the scope of a defect that caused panels to fail prematurely, court records state. It was a decision, investors argued, driven by company executives' desire to preserve First Solar's stock price. But while First Solar officials downplayed the extent of the problem, some of them dumped personally held stock, according to court records. Mark Ahearn, the company's founder and chairman, alone sold off more than $427 million in shares before the extent of the defect was made public and the stock tumbled. The ordeal ultimately cost the company $260 million to fix, court records state. Proenca, the First Solar spokesman, said the company settled the case to "focus on driving the business forward." Because First Solar is the biggest U.S.-based solar manufacturer, green energy advocates say Biden faces no other choice than subsidizing the company if he wants to meet his ambitious climate goals while becoming more competitive with China. "Hopefully they've reformed," said Pat Parenteau, an emeritus professor at Vermont Law School and a senior fellow at the Environmental Law Center. "They may be an imperfect vehicle. But the reality is we desperately need them."

MeetRecord Raises $2.7 Million to Enhance Revenue Automation for Service Businesses

June 19, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- MeetRecord, a leading Revenue Automation Platform specifically designed for the service sector, today announced it has successfully secured Sales Coaching Automation using AI MeetRecord's innovative platform utilizes AI to analyze conversation data across various communication channels, such as emails and calls. This allows the company to offer personalized coaching programs and implement automated call-scoring systems that have proven to save time and improve efficiency significantly. "Service businesses, including law firms, financial advisory services, fitness consultants, and homecare providers, have been looking for tailored solutions that cater to their unique needs. Unlike other platforms that target the enterprise or tech-centric markets, MeetRecord provides a customized experience that effectively addresses the gap in the service industry," stated Snehal Nimje, Co-founder & CEO MeetRecord. One of the notable advantages of MeetRecord's platform is its deal intelligence capability, which delivers distinct insights to Chief Revenue Officers (CROs). "These insights include monitoring market trends, analyzing competitor perceptions, and identifying successful patterns to expedite deal closure," said Sachin Sinha, the sales head at MeetRecord. According to Chris Collins from TopDogLaw, "The automated scoring system has cut down the time managers spent by 90%, enabling more effective call monitoring and coaching." MeetRecord's technology is also highly regarded by its clients for ensuring standard adherence and managing timelines efficiently during customer interactions. Alex Harmozi, from GymLaunch, shared that "MeetRecord is integral for their team of over 40 members, enhancing process compliance and customer engagement." "We expect strong growth in the conversation intelligence market as companies aim to enhance their sales efficiency. MeetRecord, with its innovative focus on revenue automation, has developed a top-tier product that delivers significant value. We are confident in their path to market leadership and are excited to support their continued growth." - Tuck Lye Koh, Founding Partner, SWC Global

business,tech

MeetRecord Raises $2.7 Million to Enhance Revenue Automation for Service Businesses. June 19, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- MeetRecord, a leading Revenue Automation Platform specifically designed for the service sector, today announced it has successfully secured Sales Coaching Automation using AI MeetRecord's innovative platform utilizes AI to analyze conversation data across various communication channels, such as emails and calls. This allows the company to offer personalized coaching programs and implement automated call-scoring systems that have proven to save time and improve efficiency significantly. "Service businesses, including law firms, financial advisory services, fitness consultants, and homecare providers, have been looking for tailored solutions that cater to their unique needs. Unlike other platforms that target the enterprise or tech-centric markets, MeetRecord provides a customized experience that effectively addresses the gap in the service industry," stated Snehal Nimje, Co-founder & CEO MeetRecord. One of the notable advantages of MeetRecord's platform is its deal intelligence capability, which delivers distinct insights to Chief Revenue Officers (CROs). "These insights include monitoring market trends, analyzing competitor perceptions, and identifying successful patterns to expedite deal closure," said Sachin Sinha, the sales head at MeetRecord. According to Chris Collins from TopDogLaw, "The automated scoring system has cut down the time managers spent by 90%, enabling more effective call monitoring and coaching." MeetRecord's technology is also highly regarded by its clients for ensuring standard adherence and managing timelines efficiently during customer interactions. Alex Harmozi, from GymLaunch, shared that "MeetRecord is integral for their team of over 40 members, enhancing process compliance and customer engagement." "We expect strong growth in the conversation intelligence market as companies aim to enhance their sales efficiency. MeetRecord, with its innovative focus on revenue automation, has developed a top-tier product that delivers significant value. We are confident in their path to market leadership and are excited to support their continued growth." - Tuck Lye Koh, Founding Partner, SWC Global

Israel approves three settlement outposts, thousands of homes in West Bank

Israel's government has approved 5,295 new housing units in a host of illegal settlements across the occupied West Bank, as well as recognising three new settlement outposts in the Palestinian territory, according to a watchdog group. Israeli NGO Peace Now reported the move on Thursday, a day after the group said Israel's government has approved the largest West Bank land seizure in more than three decades. Keep reading end of list The construction of Israeli settlements in Palestinian territory is illegal under international law and settlement expansion is seen as a major hindrance to the viability of a future Palestinian state. The new approvals are all but assured to further stoke tensions at a time when Palestinians across the occupied West Bank are facing increased raids by Israeli forces and settlers amid Israel's continuing war in Gaza. "Our government continues to change the rules of the game in the occupied West Bank, leading to irreversible harm," Peace Now said in a statement on Thursday, in which it condemned Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich. Smotrich, himself a settler, has overseen a major escalation in settler expansion under Netanyahu's leadership. He is also among the far-right politicians the prime minister has come to rely on for political survival. "This annexationist government severely undermines the security and future of both Israelis and Palestinians, and the cost of this recklessness will be paid for generations to come," said Peace Now, which also condemned the appointment of Smotrich's key allies to the body that approves settlements. More than 500,000 Israeli citizens live in more than 100 settlements across the West Bank. Their existence remains a major roadblock to since-halted plans outlined in the Oslo Accords that promised the gradual transfer of Israeli-controlled areas to Palestinians. Peace Now said the latest approved settlements, all of which have existed since the late 2010s as unofficial outposts, were Givat Hanan, Kedem Arava, and Machane Gadi in the Jordan Valley. Israel's Higher Planning Council (HPC) justified the approval by saying the outposts were existing "neighbourhoods" of existing settlements, despite being physically separated from those settlements, the group said. The watchdog added that the new settlements were distinct from five other new settlements approved by the cabinet last week. 'Totally unacceptable' The approval of the new settlements comes just a day after Peace Now reported that Israel had declared about 23.7sq km (9.15sq miles) of land in the occupied West Bank its own so far this year, a rate the group said was unprecedented. That included the approval of the seizure of 12.7sq km (4.9sq miles) of land in the Jordan Valley late last month. On Thursday, Norway's minister of foreign affairs, Espen Barth Eide, called the latest actions "totally unacceptable". "Norway condemns these decisions, and we call on the Government of Israel to immediately reverse them," he said in a statement, in which he decried the goverment's policy of "dispossession, land confiscation and establishing illegal settlements". Norway joined Spain and Ireland in May in becoming the latest countries to formally recognise a Palestinian state. Settlements have also been a rare area where the US has been willing to directly confront its "ironclad" ally Israel, although critics have said Washington has neglected to use the levers at its disposal to pressure Israel. On Tuesday, US State Department spokesman Vedant Patel said "unilateral actions like settlement expansion and legalisation of outposts" were "detrimental to a two-state solution". "So we'll continue to use the tools at our disposal to expose and promote accountability for those who threaten peace and stability in the region," he said. Both Israeli military and settler violence in the occupied West Bank has surged since Israel's war in Gaza began. About three three million Palestinians in the territory are subjected to Israeli military rule. Since October, at least 553 Palestinians have been killed in the occupied West Bank, with 9,510 detained, according to Palestinian officials.

world

Israel approves three settlement outposts, thousands of homes in West Bank. Israel's government has approved 5,295 new housing units in a host of illegal settlements across the occupied West Bank, as well as recognising three new settlement outposts in the Palestinian territory, according to a watchdog group. Israeli NGO Peace Now reported the move on Thursday, a day after the group said Israel's government has approved the largest West Bank land seizure in more than three decades. Keep reading end of list The construction of Israeli settlements in Palestinian territory is illegal under international law and settlement expansion is seen as a major hindrance to the viability of a future Palestinian state. The new approvals are all but assured to further stoke tensions at a time when Palestinians across the occupied West Bank are facing increased raids by Israeli forces and settlers amid Israel's continuing war in Gaza. "Our government continues to change the rules of the game in the occupied West Bank, leading to irreversible harm," Peace Now said in a statement on Thursday, in which it condemned Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich. Smotrich, himself a settler, has overseen a major escalation in settler expansion under Netanyahu's leadership. He is also among the far-right politicians the prime minister has come to rely on for political survival. "This annexationist government severely undermines the security and future of both Israelis and Palestinians, and the cost of this recklessness will be paid for generations to come," said Peace Now, which also condemned the appointment of Smotrich's key allies to the body that approves settlements. More than 500,000 Israeli citizens live in more than 100 settlements across the West Bank. Their existence remains a major roadblock to since-halted plans outlined in the Oslo Accords that promised the gradual transfer of Israeli-controlled areas to Palestinians. Peace Now said the latest approved settlements, all of which have existed since the late 2010s as unofficial outposts, were Givat Hanan, Kedem Arava, and Machane Gadi in the Jordan Valley. Israel's Higher Planning Council (HPC) justified the approval by saying the outposts were existing "neighbourhoods" of existing settlements, despite being physically separated from those settlements, the group said. The watchdog added that the new settlements were distinct from five other new settlements approved by the cabinet last week. 'Totally unacceptable' The approval of the new settlements comes just a day after Peace Now reported that Israel had declared about 23.7sq km (9.15sq miles) of land in the occupied West Bank its own so far this year, a rate the group said was unprecedented. That included the approval of the seizure of 12.7sq km (4.9sq miles) of land in the Jordan Valley late last month. On Thursday, Norway's minister of foreign affairs, Espen Barth Eide, called the latest actions "totally unacceptable". "Norway condemns these decisions, and we call on the Government of Israel to immediately reverse them," he said in a statement, in which he decried the goverment's policy of "dispossession, land confiscation and establishing illegal settlements". Norway joined Spain and Ireland in May in becoming the latest countries to formally recognise a Palestinian state. Settlements have also been a rare area where the US has been willing to directly confront its "ironclad" ally Israel, although critics have said Washington has neglected to use the levers at its disposal to pressure Israel. On Tuesday, US State Department spokesman Vedant Patel said "unilateral actions like settlement expansion and legalisation of outposts" were "detrimental to a two-state solution". "So we'll continue to use the tools at our disposal to expose and promote accountability for those who threaten peace and stability in the region," he said. Both Israeli military and settler violence in the occupied West Bank has surged since Israel's war in Gaza began. About three three million Palestinians in the territory are subjected to Israeli military rule. Since October, at least 553 Palestinians have been killed in the occupied West Bank, with 9,510 detained, according to Palestinian officials.

New bridge between New Brunswick and Maine may not revive battered cross-border relations

Every day, a handful of curious Edmundston retirees gather near the Canada Border Services Agency building on the St. John River. They've been watching with fascination as a new international bridge has taken shape over the last three years. Now that the bridge is finished and open — mostly — they're waiting to see the old bridge, opened in 1921, dismantled this summer. The project has been the talk of this northwest New Brunswick city and of the American town of Madawaska, Maine, across the river — two communities that have shared a bond for almost two and a half centuries. "It's pretty much my whole life. I spent my life spanning the bridge," says Don Levesque, an American and the retired publisher of a weekly newspaper on the U.S. side who lives in Edmundston. Don Levesque says he's crossed the international bridge many times over the course of his life. (Jacques Poitras/CBC) Locals on both sides tell stories of frequent trips across the border to shop, to go to movies, to play baseball or basketball, or to visit relatives or go on dates. "I remember crossing the old bridge on my bike with three T-shirts and a couple of coats, because we were smuggling," says Nicole Lang, a retired professor of history at the Université de Moncton campus in Edmundston. WATCH | 'We live in a borderland': New bridge, historical connections: New bridge between New Brunswick and Maine now open A new span linking Edmundston, N.B. and Madawaska, Maine, may not be enough to revive frayed border links. Concealing a few purchases from the U.S. side was common practice for Canadians looking to avoid paying duty — and they usually got away with it. "We stopped at the customs, but they saw us on bikes and [said] 'You go ahead,'" says Lang. "And we didn't need a passport back then." Between 2,200 and 2,500 cars per day used the old bridge to cross the border here in the years before COVID-19 shutdowns, according to both the Maine and New Brunswick governments. Nicole Lang remembers crossing the bridge on her bike when she was a child. (Jacques Poitras/CBC) But the old steel-truss bridge was deteriorating. In 2017 the two governments imposed weight restrictions that forced trucks to detour to other international bridges 25 minutes upriver or 35 minutes downriver. The new bridge cost about $135-million Cdn and features two lanes for vehicle traffic and room for ATVs and snowmobiles. A U.S. federal infrastructure fund covered a large portion of the expense, with the Maine and New Brunswick governments splitting the rest. New Brunswick's share was about $35 million, according to spokesperson Bruce Macfarlane. The new bridge cost about $135 million Cdn and features two lanes for vehicle traffic and room for ATVs and snowmobiles. (Michael Heenan/CBC) The bridge opened to car traffic June 6, with an official ceremony planned for August. Truckers will have to wait a while longer to cross it. The old bridge has to be partly dismantled where it reaches the Canadian shore before the new bridge lane leading to the customs checkpoint can be widened for trucks. At the U.S. end of the bridge is a sculpture of a large yellow star — a tribute to the shared francophone Acadian roots of the two communities. The star and new bridge are modern manifestations of links dating back to 1785, when Acadian settlers who lived in what's now Fredericton moved upriver in the wake of the Deportation and the arrival of Loyalists fleeing the American Revolution. The old steel-truss bridge opened in 1921. (Jacques Poitras/CBC) The settlement was a single community, living in peaceful, jurisdictional ambiguity until a geopolitical rivalry over access to timber almost led to a war between Great Britain and the U.S. The British wanted the line drawn south of here, allowing them access to more of the white pine used to build ships. The U.S. wanted it farther north, near the St. Lawrence River, in part to be closer to the waterway in the event of a military conflict. A compromise struck in 1842 split the difference, with a treaty drawing the border down the middle of the St. John River. "In effect it divided up one homogeneous population into two countries and two languages and two different systems of government," says Lise Pelletier, the New Brunswick-born former director of the Acadian Archives at the University of Maine at Fort Kent. At the U.S. end of the bridge is a sculpture of a large yellow star — a tribute to the shared francophone Acadian roots of the two communities. (Jacques Poitras/CBC) Despite the border, the relationship between the two newly created towns remained "really fluid" for a century and a half. "When I was a teenager during in the 1970s, we crossed by bike, by car, and we stopped at the border, of course," Pelletier says. "And they used to ask a few questions, but it was not really strict. It was a border, but not very hard to cross." Lise Pelletier, who was born in New Brunswick but married an American, has worked for decades promoting the Franco-American culture on the U.S. side. (Jacques Poitras/CBC) The Sept. 11, 2001, attacks changed that, leading to the creation of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and a more rigid American approach to enforcing the boundary. That has meant longer delays and more intrusive searches, to the point that some Edmundston residents cross less frequently now, if they go at all. "It's an obstacle. It's a barrier. It's not a pleasant thing like it was in the past," says Lang. "Some still do cross and some cross daily. Some people go get their milk on the American side. Some people will go get their gas on the American side. "But people like me who crossed occasionally, once every two weeks, 2-3 times a month, I have a tendency now to go less and less." The new U.S. Customs building on the U.S. side of the new bridge. Post-Sept. 11 U.S. security regulations require any new Customs and Border Patrol building to meet strict size and capacity standards. (Michael Heenan/CBC) The tougher security regime in the U.S. also explains the odd configuration of the new bridge, which crosses the river diagonally and, at 570 metres, is approximately twice as long as the old span. New post-Sept. 11 security regulations in the U.S. require any new Customs and Border Patrol building to meet strict size and capacity standards. That would have been too large for the tiny footprint at the American end of the old bridge, tucked between the river and the Twin Rivers Paper Company's massive U.S. mill complex. So the building had to go elsewhere — and thus so did the bridge. The old U.S. Customs building is now abandoned, resembling a dystopian relic. The old bridge is closed to traffic, blocked off by large barriers. The smaller U.S. Customs building sits at the base of the old bridge. (Michael Heenan/CBC) Whether the new bridge breathes new life into the cross-border relationship remains to be seen. "I do hope that people will continue to cross from Maine into New Brunswick and vice versa, because we're border communities," says Pelletier. Pelletier, who was born in New Brunswick but married an American, has worked for decades promoting the Franco-American culture on the U.S. side. Now, as a Maine resident, she crosses into Canada frequently to teach French as a second language to people who have recently moved to the Lac Baker area of New Brunswick. "We live in a borderland. We depend enormously on each other," she says.

canada

New bridge between New Brunswick and Maine may not revive battered cross-border relations. Every day, a handful of curious Edmundston retirees gather near the Canada Border Services Agency building on the St. John River. They've been watching with fascination as a new international bridge has taken shape over the last three years. Now that the bridge is finished and open — mostly — they're waiting to see the old bridge, opened in 1921, dismantled this summer. The project has been the talk of this northwest New Brunswick city and of the American town of Madawaska, Maine, across the river — two communities that have shared a bond for almost two and a half centuries. "It's pretty much my whole life. I spent my life spanning the bridge," says Don Levesque, an American and the retired publisher of a weekly newspaper on the U.S. side who lives in Edmundston. Don Levesque says he's crossed the international bridge many times over the course of his life. (Jacques Poitras/CBC) Locals on both sides tell stories of frequent trips across the border to shop, to go to movies, to play baseball or basketball, or to visit relatives or go on dates. "I remember crossing the old bridge on my bike with three T-shirts and a couple of coats, because we were smuggling," says Nicole Lang, a retired professor of history at the Université de Moncton campus in Edmundston. WATCH | 'We live in a borderland': New bridge, historical connections: New bridge between New Brunswick and Maine now open A new span linking Edmundston, N.B. and Madawaska, Maine, may not be enough to revive frayed border links. Concealing a few purchases from the U.S. side was common practice for Canadians looking to avoid paying duty — and they usually got away with it. "We stopped at the customs, but they saw us on bikes and [said] 'You go ahead,'" says Lang. "And we didn't need a passport back then." Between 2,200 and 2,500 cars per day used the old bridge to cross the border here in the years before COVID-19 shutdowns, according to both the Maine and New Brunswick governments. Nicole Lang remembers crossing the bridge on her bike when she was a child. (Jacques Poitras/CBC) But the old steel-truss bridge was deteriorating. In 2017 the two governments imposed weight restrictions that forced trucks to detour to other international bridges 25 minutes upriver or 35 minutes downriver. The new bridge cost about $135-million Cdn and features two lanes for vehicle traffic and room for ATVs and snowmobiles. A U.S. federal infrastructure fund covered a large portion of the expense, with the Maine and New Brunswick governments splitting the rest. New Brunswick's share was about $35 million, according to spokesperson Bruce Macfarlane. The new bridge cost about $135 million Cdn and features two lanes for vehicle traffic and room for ATVs and snowmobiles. (Michael Heenan/CBC) The bridge opened to car traffic June 6, with an official ceremony planned for August. Truckers will have to wait a while longer to cross it. The old bridge has to be partly dismantled where it reaches the Canadian shore before the new bridge lane leading to the customs checkpoint can be widened for trucks. At the U.S. end of the bridge is a sculpture of a large yellow star — a tribute to the shared francophone Acadian roots of the two communities. The star and new bridge are modern manifestations of links dating back to 1785, when Acadian settlers who lived in what's now Fredericton moved upriver in the wake of the Deportation and the arrival of Loyalists fleeing the American Revolution. The old steel-truss bridge opened in 1921. (Jacques Poitras/CBC) The settlement was a single community, living in peaceful, jurisdictional ambiguity until a geopolitical rivalry over access to timber almost led to a war between Great Britain and the U.S. The British wanted the line drawn south of here, allowing them access to more of the white pine used to build ships. The U.S. wanted it farther north, near the St. Lawrence River, in part to be closer to the waterway in the event of a military conflict. A compromise struck in 1842 split the difference, with a treaty drawing the border down the middle of the St. John River. "In effect it divided up one homogeneous population into two countries and two languages and two different systems of government," says Lise Pelletier, the New Brunswick-born former director of the Acadian Archives at the University of Maine at Fort Kent. At the U.S. end of the bridge is a sculpture of a large yellow star — a tribute to the shared francophone Acadian roots of the two communities. (Jacques Poitras/CBC) Despite the border, the relationship between the two newly created towns remained "really fluid" for a century and a half. "When I was a teenager during in the 1970s, we crossed by bike, by car, and we stopped at the border, of course," Pelletier says. "And they used to ask a few questions, but it was not really strict. It was a border, but not very hard to cross." Lise Pelletier, who was born in New Brunswick but married an American, has worked for decades promoting the Franco-American culture on the U.S. side. (Jacques Poitras/CBC) The Sept. 11, 2001, attacks changed that, leading to the creation of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and a more rigid American approach to enforcing the boundary. That has meant longer delays and more intrusive searches, to the point that some Edmundston residents cross less frequently now, if they go at all. "It's an obstacle. It's a barrier. It's not a pleasant thing like it was in the past," says Lang. "Some still do cross and some cross daily. Some people go get their milk on the American side. Some people will go get their gas on the American side. "But people like me who crossed occasionally, once every two weeks, 2-3 times a month, I have a tendency now to go less and less." The new U.S. Customs building on the U.S. side of the new bridge. Post-Sept. 11 U.S. security regulations require any new Customs and Border Patrol building to meet strict size and capacity standards. (Michael Heenan/CBC) The tougher security regime in the U.S. also explains the odd configuration of the new bridge, which crosses the river diagonally and, at 570 metres, is approximately twice as long as the old span. New post-Sept. 11 security regulations in the U.S. require any new Customs and Border Patrol building to meet strict size and capacity standards. That would have been too large for the tiny footprint at the American end of the old bridge, tucked between the river and the Twin Rivers Paper Company's massive U.S. mill complex. So the building had to go elsewhere — and thus so did the bridge. The old U.S. Customs building is now abandoned, resembling a dystopian relic. The old bridge is closed to traffic, blocked off by large barriers. The smaller U.S. Customs building sits at the base of the old bridge. (Michael Heenan/CBC) Whether the new bridge breathes new life into the cross-border relationship remains to be seen. "I do hope that people will continue to cross from Maine into New Brunswick and vice versa, because we're border communities," says Pelletier. Pelletier, who was born in New Brunswick but married an American, has worked for decades promoting the Franco-American culture on the U.S. side. Now, as a Maine resident, she crosses into Canada frequently to teach French as a second language to people who have recently moved to the Lac Baker area of New Brunswick. "We live in a borderland. We depend enormously on each other," she says.

These endangered snails were thought to have disappeared from most of Canada — until now

These endangered snails were thought to have disappeared from most of Canada — until now Endangered shagreen snails have been found by a biologist in the Snake Woods Nature Preserve near Woodstock, Ont. says the Upper Thames River Conservation Authority. Biologist Scott Gillingwater credits a citizen science app in helping identify shagreen snails near Woodstock Posted: May 21, 2024 6:49 PM EDT | Last Updated: May 22 This live shagreen snail was found by Scott Gillingwater, biologist with the Upper Thames River Conservation Authority, in Snake Woods Nature Preserve near Woodstock in 2023. (Scott Gillingwater) Social Sharing An endangered snail species thought to have disappeared from many parts of Canada has been discovered in the Upper Thames River watershed, according to a biologist with the Upper Thames River Conservation Authority (UTRCA). Shagreens are a terrestrial snail listed as endangered provincially and federally but recently, they have been confirmed sightings in southwestern Ontario. "Not only are they rare in Canada, but the last mainland population may now be gone, making this newly found population the only one in mainland Canada," said Scott Gillingwater, the UTRCA's species at risk biologist. Gillingwater says he saw two shagreen snails between April 2023 and April 2024 in Snake Woods Nature Preserve, near Woodstock, an area they've never been recorded in before. Mollusk experts have also confirmed the two sightings as legitimate. Shagreens used to be found in two sites near Leamington, Ont., and on five islands in Lake Erie. More recently, it was thought they only existed on Pelee Island and Middle Island due to habitat loss. Snails were misidentified initially The snail's off-brown colour shell and tooth-like protrusions where the body exits the shell are features shared by other local species, but the shagreen lacks a hole on their bottom side. The similarities are one reason Gillingwater said he at first misidentified a live shagreen he found when he posted his sighting on the citizen science platform iNaturalist in late April 2023. "I had assumed it was a northern threetooth, so shagreen wasn't even on my radar because it's so far south and they share characteristics," Gillingwater said. That's an identification that stood unchallenged until one month ago, when an iNaturalist user suggested the snail might be a shagreen. "We contacted Canadian experts. they were able to confirm that it was shagreen and that it is now the most northerly representation of the species in Canada, and potentially the last mainland population," said Gillingwater. Scott Gillingwater, species at risk biologist with the UTRCA, says he found two shagreen snail specimens roughly one year apart. (Submitted) One year after the first sighting, Gillingwater saw another shagreen snail in the Woodstock area, this time of a dead specimen. The fact that snails don't move long distances on their own, and the only known populations to this point were waterlocked, means it's likely shagreen snails have been living in the area all along, he said. "It's likely that when southwestern Ontario, especially the Carolinian region, was completely forested from one end to the other, before European settlement, these animals were probably in larger populations. At Snake Woods, we have an intact protected forest that has been protected for a long time." Now that the snails have been found, the work of finding the scope of the newly discovered population, and working to protect them, begins, Gillingwater said. More scientists will be in the area in the near future, taking stock of the shagreen snail population in and around Snake Woods. That research with be important in making sure the snails are protected from existential threats — the most pressing of which could be climate change and the weather extremes it brings, Gillingwater said, adding that the snails require particular levels of moisture that could become harder to come by with climate change. Gillingwater also said the discovery is a testament to the power of citizen-driven, collaborative science on platforms like iNaturalist, where people can record and discuss their findings throughout the world. "If it weren't for the individual that corrected my mistake, this snail could have fallen through the cracks and we may have never known it was there."

tech

These endangered snails were thought to have disappeared from most of Canada — until now. These endangered snails were thought to have disappeared from most of Canada — until now Endangered shagreen snails have been found by a biologist in the Snake Woods Nature Preserve near Woodstock, Ont. says the Upper Thames River Conservation Authority. Biologist Scott Gillingwater credits a citizen science app in helping identify shagreen snails near Woodstock Posted: May 21, 2024 6:49 PM EDT | Last Updated: May 22 This live shagreen snail was found by Scott Gillingwater, biologist with the Upper Thames River Conservation Authority, in Snake Woods Nature Preserve near Woodstock in 2023. (Scott Gillingwater) Social Sharing An endangered snail species thought to have disappeared from many parts of Canada has been discovered in the Upper Thames River watershed, according to a biologist with the Upper Thames River Conservation Authority (UTRCA). Shagreens are a terrestrial snail listed as endangered provincially and federally but recently, they have been confirmed sightings in southwestern Ontario. "Not only are they rare in Canada, but the last mainland population may now be gone, making this newly found population the only one in mainland Canada," said Scott Gillingwater, the UTRCA's species at risk biologist. Gillingwater says he saw two shagreen snails between April 2023 and April 2024 in Snake Woods Nature Preserve, near Woodstock, an area they've never been recorded in before. Mollusk experts have also confirmed the two sightings as legitimate. Shagreens used to be found in two sites near Leamington, Ont., and on five islands in Lake Erie. More recently, it was thought they only existed on Pelee Island and Middle Island due to habitat loss. Snails were misidentified initially The snail's off-brown colour shell and tooth-like protrusions where the body exits the shell are features shared by other local species, but the shagreen lacks a hole on their bottom side. The similarities are one reason Gillingwater said he at first misidentified a live shagreen he found when he posted his sighting on the citizen science platform iNaturalist in late April 2023. "I had assumed it was a northern threetooth, so shagreen wasn't even on my radar because it's so far south and they share characteristics," Gillingwater said. That's an identification that stood unchallenged until one month ago, when an iNaturalist user suggested the snail might be a shagreen. "We contacted Canadian experts. they were able to confirm that it was shagreen and that it is now the most northerly representation of the species in Canada, and potentially the last mainland population," said Gillingwater. Scott Gillingwater, species at risk biologist with the UTRCA, says he found two shagreen snail specimens roughly one year apart. (Submitted) One year after the first sighting, Gillingwater saw another shagreen snail in the Woodstock area, this time of a dead specimen. The fact that snails don't move long distances on their own, and the only known populations to this point were waterlocked, means it's likely shagreen snails have been living in the area all along, he said. "It's likely that when southwestern Ontario, especially the Carolinian region, was completely forested from one end to the other, before European settlement, these animals were probably in larger populations. At Snake Woods, we have an intact protected forest that has been protected for a long time." Now that the snails have been found, the work of finding the scope of the newly discovered population, and working to protect them, begins, Gillingwater said. More scientists will be in the area in the near future, taking stock of the shagreen snail population in and around Snake Woods. That research with be important in making sure the snails are protected from existential threats — the most pressing of which could be climate change and the weather extremes it brings, Gillingwater said, adding that the snails require particular levels of moisture that could become harder to come by with climate change. Gillingwater also said the discovery is a testament to the power of citizen-driven, collaborative science on platforms like iNaturalist, where people can record and discuss their findings throughout the world. "If it weren't for the individual that corrected my mistake, this snail could have fallen through the cracks and we may have never known it was there."

Omnicom Named World's Most Effective Holding Group

OMC ) has been named the Most Effective Holding Group in the 2023 Effie Index®, the 13th annual ranking of the companies behind the world's most effective marketing initiatives. This is the second time within the past three years that Omnicom has received the coveted global title. As part of Omnicom's strong performance, two of its agency networks placed in the top five of the Most Effective Agency Network category, with DDB Worldwide coming in second and BBDO Worldwide in fourth. AlmapBBDO (São Paulo) came out on top as the #1 Most Effective Agency Office globally. At the regional level, Omnicom was named the #1 Holding Group in both Latin America, coming in the top three for North America and APAC. In Latin America, BBDO Worldwide and DDB Worldwide secured the top two spots for agency network and AlmapBBDO took the #1 spot for agency office. "Creativity is always at our core, but to be extremely effective in today's world, you must find bold ways to marry that with the latest data and technology. Winning this title is a testament to our people and clients around the world who are willing to try innovative ideas that push the industry forward and lead to strong results," said John Wren, Chairman and CEO, Omnicom. "I want to thank our people across all regions for their commitment to effectiveness and for creating work that drives intelligent outcomes for our clients." The Effie Index identifies and ranks the most effective agencies, marketers, brands, networks, and holding companies by analyzing more than 4,750 finalist and winning entries from eligible global, regional, and national Effie Awards competitions around the world. Announced annually, it is the most comprehensive global ranking of marketing effectiveness. "Successful marketing is built on a culture of effectiveness, and this effectiveness is at the core of the Global Effie Index," said Traci Alford, Global CEO, Effie Worldwide. "The companies and agencies included in this year's rankings have demonstrated continued agility and creativity in delivering success for their brands across the globe. Omnicom secured its position with strong performances worldwide, achieving a top 3 ranking across Europe and LATAM, North America and APAC Regions. I would like to congratulate all the agency networks and teams involved for their dedication to delivering ideas that work." This ranking comes on the heels of several other 2023 industry accolades for Omnicom, including being named Holding Company of the Year by Ad Age, Cannes Lions, Gerety, MediaPost and The One Show. To learn more about the 2023 Effie Index®, visit Omnicom (NYSE: OMC ) is a leading provider of data-inspired, creative marketing and sales solutions. Omnicom's iconic agency brands are home to the industry's most innovative communications specialists who are focused on driving intelligent business outcomes for their clients. The company offers a wide range of services in advertising, strategic media planning and buying, precision marketing, retail and digital commerce, branding, experiential, public relations, healthcare marketing and other specialty marketing services to over 5,000 clients in more than 70 countries. For more information, visit www.omnicomgroup.com. About Effie ® Effie leads, inspires and champions the practice and practitioners of marketing effectiveness globally. We work across 125 markets to deliver smart leadership, applicable insights, and the largest, most prestigious marketing effectiveness awards in the world. Winning an Effie has been a globally recognized symbol of outstanding achievement for over 50 years. We recognize the most effective brands, marketers, and agencies globally, regionally, and locally through our coveted effectiveness rankings, the Effie Index. Our ambition is to equip marketers everywhere with the tools, knowledge, and inspiration they need to succeed.

entertainment

Omnicom Named World's Most Effective Holding Group. OMC ) has been named the Most Effective Holding Group in the 2023 Effie Index®, the 13th annual ranking of the companies behind the world's most effective marketing initiatives. This is the second time within the past three years that Omnicom has received the coveted global title. As part of Omnicom's strong performance, two of its agency networks placed in the top five of the Most Effective Agency Network category, with DDB Worldwide coming in second and BBDO Worldwide in fourth. AlmapBBDO (São Paulo) came out on top as the #1 Most Effective Agency Office globally. At the regional level, Omnicom was named the #1 Holding Group in both Latin America, coming in the top three for North America and APAC. In Latin America, BBDO Worldwide and DDB Worldwide secured the top two spots for agency network and AlmapBBDO took the #1 spot for agency office. "Creativity is always at our core, but to be extremely effective in today's world, you must find bold ways to marry that with the latest data and technology. Winning this title is a testament to our people and clients around the world who are willing to try innovative ideas that push the industry forward and lead to strong results," said John Wren, Chairman and CEO, Omnicom. "I want to thank our people across all regions for their commitment to effectiveness and for creating work that drives intelligent outcomes for our clients." The Effie Index identifies and ranks the most effective agencies, marketers, brands, networks, and holding companies by analyzing more than 4,750 finalist and winning entries from eligible global, regional, and national Effie Awards competitions around the world. Announced annually, it is the most comprehensive global ranking of marketing effectiveness. "Successful marketing is built on a culture of effectiveness, and this effectiveness is at the core of the Global Effie Index," said Traci Alford, Global CEO, Effie Worldwide. "The companies and agencies included in this year's rankings have demonstrated continued agility and creativity in delivering success for their brands across the globe. Omnicom secured its position with strong performances worldwide, achieving a top 3 ranking across Europe and LATAM, North America and APAC Regions. I would like to congratulate all the agency networks and teams involved for their dedication to delivering ideas that work." This ranking comes on the heels of several other 2023 industry accolades for Omnicom, including being named Holding Company of the Year by Ad Age, Cannes Lions, Gerety, MediaPost and The One Show. To learn more about the 2023 Effie Index®, visit Omnicom (NYSE: OMC ) is a leading provider of data-inspired, creative marketing and sales solutions. Omnicom's iconic agency brands are home to the industry's most innovative communications specialists who are focused on driving intelligent business outcomes for their clients. The company offers a wide range of services in advertising, strategic media planning and buying, precision marketing, retail and digital commerce, branding, experiential, public relations, healthcare marketing and other specialty marketing services to over 5,000 clients in more than 70 countries. For more information, visit www.omnicomgroup.com. About Effie ® Effie leads, inspires and champions the practice and practitioners of marketing effectiveness globally. We work across 125 markets to deliver smart leadership, applicable insights, and the largest, most prestigious marketing effectiveness awards in the world. Winning an Effie has been a globally recognized symbol of outstanding achievement for over 50 years. We recognize the most effective brands, marketers, and agencies globally, regionally, and locally through our coveted effectiveness rankings, the Effie Index. Our ambition is to equip marketers everywhere with the tools, knowledge, and inspiration they need to succeed.

NASA Winding Down Phase 1 Of HyTEC Engine Research Project

NASA announced this week it is “winding down” the three-year Phase 1 of its Hybrid Thermally Efficient Core (HyTEC) project. And according to the illustration accompanying the announcement, the new engine technology could include an unducted open-fan configuration. Phase 1 has focused on selecting component technologies for reducing the core size of the HyTEC concept engine. Phase 2 will involve testing and demonstrating the core. Working in conjunction with industry, the NASA program’s goal is to develop airliner-scale hybrid-electric engines with reduced-size cores and greatly increased bypass ratios. The project’s target is to increase fuel efficiency by 10% compared with current-generation high-bypass turbofan engines. Reducing the size of the key core components such as the high-pressure compressor (HPC), the combustor section, and the high-pressure turbine (HPT) necessitate working with new materials that can withstand higher temperatures and improving aerodynamic performance within the core. The illustration accompanying the NASA announcement includes an artist’s conception of the HyTEC small-core components incorporated into GE’s developmental CFM RISE engine, expected to enter service in 2030. The RISE research team currently view the open fan (uncowled) as “the most efficient and sustainable option” for improving engine emissions without compromising performance. Anthony Nerone, head of the HyTEC team at NASA’s Glenn Research Center in Cleveland, said, “Phase 1 of HyTEC is winding down and we are ramping up Phase 2. This phase will culminate in a core demonstration test that proves the technology so it can transition to industry.” The HyTEC program is part of NASA’s Sustainable Flight National Partnership to work toward “the next generation of ultra-efficient airliners.” The post NASA Winding Down Phase 1 Of HyTEC Engine Research Project appeared first on AVweb .

aerospace

NASA Winding Down Phase 1 Of HyTEC Engine Research Project. NASA announced this week it is “winding down” the three-year Phase 1 of its Hybrid Thermally Efficient Core (HyTEC) project. And according to the illustration accompanying the announcement, the new engine technology could include an unducted open-fan configuration. Phase 1 has focused on selecting component technologies for reducing the core size of the HyTEC concept engine. Phase 2 will involve testing and demonstrating the core. Working in conjunction with industry, the NASA program’s goal is to develop airliner-scale hybrid-electric engines with reduced-size cores and greatly increased bypass ratios. The project’s target is to increase fuel efficiency by 10% compared with current-generation high-bypass turbofan engines. Reducing the size of the key core components such as the high-pressure compressor (HPC), the combustor section, and the high-pressure turbine (HPT) necessitate working with new materials that can withstand higher temperatures and improving aerodynamic performance within the core. The illustration accompanying the NASA announcement includes an artist’s conception of the HyTEC small-core components incorporated into GE’s developmental CFM RISE engine, expected to enter service in 2030. The RISE research team currently view the open fan (uncowled) as “the most efficient and sustainable option” for improving engine emissions without compromising performance. Anthony Nerone, head of the HyTEC team at NASA’s Glenn Research Center in Cleveland, said, “Phase 1 of HyTEC is winding down and we are ramping up Phase 2. This phase will culminate in a core demonstration test that proves the technology so it can transition to industry.” The HyTEC program is part of NASA’s Sustainable Flight National Partnership to work toward “the next generation of ultra-efficient airliners.” The post NASA Winding Down Phase 1 Of HyTEC Engine Research Project appeared first on AVweb .

KLM Cityhopper May Add More Seats On Its E2s And Take Options Earlier.

aerospace

KLM Cityhopper May Add More Seats On Its E2s And Take Options Earlier..

What does Trump’s Supreme Court immunity decision mean?

Dissenting Justice Sotomayor warns of 'nightmare' scenarios after Trump ruling that grants presidential, presumptive immunity. ruled that Donald Trump is immune from prosecution for acts he committed within his constitutional powers as president. The ruling applies to anyone who holds the position of US president. However, a president can be prosecuted for acts committed in a personal capacity. Keep reading list of 4 items How Supreme Court's immunity ruling 'transforms' US presidency US Supreme Court rules partial immunity for Donald Trump The Take: The art of the debate – What the Biden-Trump face-off was missing end of list While questions of presidential immunity have arisen before, such as during Richard Nixon's Watergate scandal and Bill Clinton's sexual assault lawsuit, this is the first time a former US president has been indicted on criminal charges. The latest ruling further delays the Washington criminal case against Trump on charges that he was involved in attempting to overturn his 2020 presidential election loss and inciting the US Capitol riots on January 6, 2021. The case had been referred to the Supreme Court to determine the issue of immunity. It will now return to the lower court. This is the first time the SCOTUS has formally ruled that former presidents may be protected from criminal charges. Described by Trump as a "BIG WIN" on Truth Social, a social media platform owned by the Republican leader, but as a "dangerous precedent" by President Joe Biden, here is more about the historic 6-3 SCOTUS ruling on immunity: What does the Supreme Court's Trump immunity verdict say? Six Supreme Court justices – all appointed by Republican presidents – of nine agreed that if the president takes any action within the powers granted to him through the constitution, he cannot be prosecuted. The US Constitution grants the president powers, including the ability to issue pardons, veto or sign bills, nominate high officials including cabinet members and Supreme Court justices, and direct the military after a congressional declaration of war on a foreign nation. The verdict additionally grants presidents presumptive immunity "from criminal prosecution for a President's acts within the outer perimeter of his official responsibility", meaning a president is presumed to enjoy immunity from prosecution if his action pertains even just a small amount to his official status. Furthermore, the court ruled that if a president is prosecuted for an act carried out in a personal capacity, the prosecution cannot refer to the president's official actions in evidence. Who dissented in the Trump immunity case? Three justices – Sonia Sotomayor, Ketanji Brown Jackson and Elena Kagan – disagreed with the SCOTUS opinion, issuing a 29-page dissent. Led by Sotomayor, the dissent said, "With fear for our democracy, I dissent." Does this verdict grant full immunity to a US president? The immunity verdict does not technically place Trump above the law, because he (and any former president) can still be prosecuted for unofficial acts not pertaining to his presidential capacity. However, critics argue that, in practice, it could grant a former president complete immunity. The SCOTUS opinion grants presumptive immunity, making it difficult to discern between acts committed in a personal or presidential capacity. Many critics say it will be too difficult to differentiate actions by a president in their "personal" capacity from those in their "official" capacity. "Under this Court's opinion, the only thing that will stop a president from abusing their power is their own sense of restraint and people in the executive branch who may not follow their orders," Chris Edelson, an assistant professor of government at American University, told Al Jazeera. "We face the imminent prospect that a would-be dictator could take office if Trump wins the election this fall." What does this mean for Trump's election subversion case? Likely, Trump cannot be prosecuted over allegations that he pressured Vice President Mike Pence to reject certification of Biden's win on January 6, 2021. This allegation forms part of the Washington case against Trump. Moreover, he cannot be prosecuted for seeking to pressure the Department of Justice to investigate unfounded claims of election fraud, which also formed part of the case. What happens next in the election subversion case? Trump's election subversion case goes back to District Judge Tanya Chutkan of the lower court in Washington, DC to determine which acts Trump should be prosecuted for. Contrary to Trump's wishes, SCOTUS did not dismiss his indictment that alleges he illegally schemed to cling to power after losing the election. The indictment was filed in August 2023 by Special Counsel Jack Smith. It accuses Trump of four felonies, some punishable with up to 20 years in prison. Besides granting Trump presumptive immunity for pressuring Pence, the conservative SCOTUS justices also truncated the allegation that Trump tried to use the investigative power of the Department of Justice to overturn election results. Judge Chutkan now needs to analyse and determine whether other actions cited in the indictment fall under official conduct for which Trump would be immune from prosecution. Trump's communications to his supporters which the case alleges incited the January 6, 2021 Capitol riots will also be analysed to determine whether they fall under official conduct. This includes his posts on X and a speech he made. It is currently uncertain what far-reaching consequences the SCOTUS opinion will have for the lower courts in the longer term. What sorts of acts could a US president get away with now? The opinion issued by the three dissenting justices lists "nightmare" scenarios in which presidents could misuse immunity, such as organising a military coup to hold on to power or ordering the assassination of a political rival. "In every use of official power, the President is now a king above the law," Justice Sotomayor wrote in her part of the dissenting opinion. 'This new official-acts immunity now "lies about like a loaded weapon" for any president to place his own interests….above the interests of the nation." Sonia Sotomayor's dissent is among the most strongly-worded and chilling in Supreme Court history. pic.twitter.com/64dCXJaJvy — Nick Bryant (@NickBryantNY) July 1, 2024 Could Trump have convictions overturned or dismiss other cases against him? With the ruling, Trump could achieve his legal strategy – delay the case proceedings until the election is over. A trial before the election is now highly unlikely. If Trump wins the election, he could potentially order a pardon for himself or seek the dismissal of the case and the other cases against him by appointing an attorney general who is sympathetic to him. Trump's legal team has already applied for his conviction in a New York court of 34 felony counts of falsifying business records relating to a hush money payment to adult film star Stormy Daniels to be overturned. The defence team has also requested that his sentencing hearing, originally scheduled for July 11, be delayed. Trump's lawyers say some of the evidence used in this case – such as those relating to public statements made by Trump – is now excluded by the Supreme Court's immunity ruling and, therefore, should not have been used at trial. Whether Trump's legal arguments are upheld has yet to be seen. How have been the reactions to the Supreme Court immunity verdict? Donald Trump celebrated the ruling in a post on Truth Social. Shortly after the decision, he wrote: "BIG WIN FOR OUR CONSTITUTION AND DEMOCRACY. PROUD TO BE AN AMERICAN!" Joe Biden blasted the ruling in a White House video message on Monday saying: "No one is above the law. Not even the President of United States. But with today's Supreme Court decision on presidential immunity that fundamentally changed." He warned that the ruling sets a "dangerous precedent because the power of the office will no longer be constrained by the law, even including the Supreme Court of the United States. The only limits will be self-imposed by the president alone". Hillary Clinton, the Democratic nominee in the 2016 presidential race, posted on X referring to the assenting justices as the "MAGA wing of the Supreme Court". I agree with Justice Sotomayor about the immunity ruling from the MAGA wing of the Supreme Court: "With fear for our democracy, I dissent." It will be up to the American people this November to hold Donald Trump accountable. — Hillary Clinton (@HillaryClinton) Mike Johnson, Republican House speaker, lauded the ruling in an X post on Monday saying: "Today's ruling by the court is a victory for former President Trump and all future presidents, and another defeat for President Biden's weaponised Department of Justice and Jack Smith." He was referring to what some Republicans say is the use of the court system against Trump by Democrats in an act of "lawfare". Today's ruling by the Court is a victory for former President Trump and all future presidents, and another defeat for President Biden's weaponized Department of Justice and Jack Smith. The Court clearly stated that presidents are entitled to immunity for their official acts.… — Speaker Mike Johnson (@SpeakerJohnson) Chuck Schumer, Democratic Senate leader, posted several times on X condemning the ruling, calling the Court "MAGA SCOTUS", a reference to Trump's Make America Great Again (MAGA) campaign. "Treason or incitement of an insurrection should not be considered a core constitutional power afforded to a president," he wrote. He also shared an excerpt from the justices' dissent. This disgraceful decision by the MAGA SCOTUS—which is comprised of 3 justices appointed by Trump himself—enables the former President to weaken our democracy by breaking the law. It undermines SCOTUS's credibility and suggests political influence trumps all in our courts today.

world

What does Trump’s Supreme Court immunity decision mean?. Dissenting Justice Sotomayor warns of 'nightmare' scenarios after Trump ruling that grants presidential, presumptive immunity. ruled that Donald Trump is immune from prosecution for acts he committed within his constitutional powers as president. The ruling applies to anyone who holds the position of US president. However, a president can be prosecuted for acts committed in a personal capacity. Keep reading list of 4 items How Supreme Court's immunity ruling 'transforms' US presidency US Supreme Court rules partial immunity for Donald Trump The Take: The art of the debate – What the Biden-Trump face-off was missing end of list While questions of presidential immunity have arisen before, such as during Richard Nixon's Watergate scandal and Bill Clinton's sexual assault lawsuit, this is the first time a former US president has been indicted on criminal charges. The latest ruling further delays the Washington criminal case against Trump on charges that he was involved in attempting to overturn his 2020 presidential election loss and inciting the US Capitol riots on January 6, 2021. The case had been referred to the Supreme Court to determine the issue of immunity. It will now return to the lower court. This is the first time the SCOTUS has formally ruled that former presidents may be protected from criminal charges. Described by Trump as a "BIG WIN" on Truth Social, a social media platform owned by the Republican leader, but as a "dangerous precedent" by President Joe Biden, here is more about the historic 6-3 SCOTUS ruling on immunity: What does the Supreme Court's Trump immunity verdict say? Six Supreme Court justices – all appointed by Republican presidents – of nine agreed that if the president takes any action within the powers granted to him through the constitution, he cannot be prosecuted. The US Constitution grants the president powers, including the ability to issue pardons, veto or sign bills, nominate high officials including cabinet members and Supreme Court justices, and direct the military after a congressional declaration of war on a foreign nation. The verdict additionally grants presidents presumptive immunity "from criminal prosecution for a President's acts within the outer perimeter of his official responsibility", meaning a president is presumed to enjoy immunity from prosecution if his action pertains even just a small amount to his official status. Furthermore, the court ruled that if a president is prosecuted for an act carried out in a personal capacity, the prosecution cannot refer to the president's official actions in evidence. Who dissented in the Trump immunity case? Three justices – Sonia Sotomayor, Ketanji Brown Jackson and Elena Kagan – disagreed with the SCOTUS opinion, issuing a 29-page dissent. Led by Sotomayor, the dissent said, "With fear for our democracy, I dissent." Does this verdict grant full immunity to a US president? The immunity verdict does not technically place Trump above the law, because he (and any former president) can still be prosecuted for unofficial acts not pertaining to his presidential capacity. However, critics argue that, in practice, it could grant a former president complete immunity. The SCOTUS opinion grants presumptive immunity, making it difficult to discern between acts committed in a personal or presidential capacity. Many critics say it will be too difficult to differentiate actions by a president in their "personal" capacity from those in their "official" capacity. "Under this Court's opinion, the only thing that will stop a president from abusing their power is their own sense of restraint and people in the executive branch who may not follow their orders," Chris Edelson, an assistant professor of government at American University, told Al Jazeera. "We face the imminent prospect that a would-be dictator could take office if Trump wins the election this fall." What does this mean for Trump's election subversion case? Likely, Trump cannot be prosecuted over allegations that he pressured Vice President Mike Pence to reject certification of Biden's win on January 6, 2021. This allegation forms part of the Washington case against Trump. Moreover, he cannot be prosecuted for seeking to pressure the Department of Justice to investigate unfounded claims of election fraud, which also formed part of the case. What happens next in the election subversion case? Trump's election subversion case goes back to District Judge Tanya Chutkan of the lower court in Washington, DC to determine which acts Trump should be prosecuted for. Contrary to Trump's wishes, SCOTUS did not dismiss his indictment that alleges he illegally schemed to cling to power after losing the election. The indictment was filed in August 2023 by Special Counsel Jack Smith. It accuses Trump of four felonies, some punishable with up to 20 years in prison. Besides granting Trump presumptive immunity for pressuring Pence, the conservative SCOTUS justices also truncated the allegation that Trump tried to use the investigative power of the Department of Justice to overturn election results. Judge Chutkan now needs to analyse and determine whether other actions cited in the indictment fall under official conduct for which Trump would be immune from prosecution. Trump's communications to his supporters which the case alleges incited the January 6, 2021 Capitol riots will also be analysed to determine whether they fall under official conduct. This includes his posts on X and a speech he made. It is currently uncertain what far-reaching consequences the SCOTUS opinion will have for the lower courts in the longer term. What sorts of acts could a US president get away with now? The opinion issued by the three dissenting justices lists "nightmare" scenarios in which presidents could misuse immunity, such as organising a military coup to hold on to power or ordering the assassination of a political rival. "In every use of official power, the President is now a king above the law," Justice Sotomayor wrote in her part of the dissenting opinion. 'This new official-acts immunity now "lies about like a loaded weapon" for any president to place his own interests….above the interests of the nation." Sonia Sotomayor's dissent is among the most strongly-worded and chilling in Supreme Court history. pic.twitter.com/64dCXJaJvy — Nick Bryant (@NickBryantNY) July 1, 2024 Could Trump have convictions overturned or dismiss other cases against him? With the ruling, Trump could achieve his legal strategy – delay the case proceedings until the election is over. A trial before the election is now highly unlikely. If Trump wins the election, he could potentially order a pardon for himself or seek the dismissal of the case and the other cases against him by appointing an attorney general who is sympathetic to him. Trump's legal team has already applied for his conviction in a New York court of 34 felony counts of falsifying business records relating to a hush money payment to adult film star Stormy Daniels to be overturned. The defence team has also requested that his sentencing hearing, originally scheduled for July 11, be delayed. Trump's lawyers say some of the evidence used in this case – such as those relating to public statements made by Trump – is now excluded by the Supreme Court's immunity ruling and, therefore, should not have been used at trial. Whether Trump's legal arguments are upheld has yet to be seen. How have been the reactions to the Supreme Court immunity verdict? Donald Trump celebrated the ruling in a post on Truth Social. Shortly after the decision, he wrote: "BIG WIN FOR OUR CONSTITUTION AND DEMOCRACY. PROUD TO BE AN AMERICAN!" Joe Biden blasted the ruling in a White House video message on Monday saying: "No one is above the law. Not even the President of United States. But with today's Supreme Court decision on presidential immunity that fundamentally changed." He warned that the ruling sets a "dangerous precedent because the power of the office will no longer be constrained by the law, even including the Supreme Court of the United States. The only limits will be self-imposed by the president alone". Hillary Clinton, the Democratic nominee in the 2016 presidential race, posted on X referring to the assenting justices as the "MAGA wing of the Supreme Court". I agree with Justice Sotomayor about the immunity ruling from the MAGA wing of the Supreme Court: "With fear for our democracy, I dissent." It will be up to the American people this November to hold Donald Trump accountable. — Hillary Clinton (@HillaryClinton) Mike Johnson, Republican House speaker, lauded the ruling in an X post on Monday saying: "Today's ruling by the court is a victory for former President Trump and all future presidents, and another defeat for President Biden's weaponised Department of Justice and Jack Smith." He was referring to what some Republicans say is the use of the court system against Trump by Democrats in an act of "lawfare". Today's ruling by the Court is a victory for former President Trump and all future presidents, and another defeat for President Biden's weaponized Department of Justice and Jack Smith. The Court clearly stated that presidents are entitled to immunity for their official acts.… — Speaker Mike Johnson (@SpeakerJohnson) Chuck Schumer, Democratic Senate leader, posted several times on X condemning the ruling, calling the Court "MAGA SCOTUS", a reference to Trump's Make America Great Again (MAGA) campaign. "Treason or incitement of an insurrection should not be considered a core constitutional power afforded to a president," he wrote. He also shared an excerpt from the justices' dissent. This disgraceful decision by the MAGA SCOTUS—which is comprised of 3 justices appointed by Trump himself—enables the former President to weaken our democracy by breaking the law. It undermines SCOTUS's credibility and suggests political influence trumps all in our courts today.

More than 270 people arrested in antigovernment rallies in Kenya

Kenyan police have arrested more than 270 people who they said were masquerading as protesters and suspected of going on a criminal rampage during antigovernment rallies in the country. "Security forces across the country singled out suspects found engaging in criminal activities in the guise of protesting and took them to custody," the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) said in a statement posted on X late on Tuesday. Keep reading It said 204 suspects were arrested in Nairobi, the capital, and another 68 in other areas of the country. "The DCI has further deployed scrupulous investigators across the affected regions to pursue suspects captured on CCTV cameras and mobile phone recordings violently robbing, stealing and destroying properties and businesses of innocent citizens," the statement added. During today's demonstrations that saw massive properties destroyed by various criminal elements, security forces across the country singled out suspects found engaging in criminal activities in the guise of protesting, and took them to custody. In Nairobi and its environs, 204… pic.twitter.com/pHEbGvjggo — DCI KENYA (@DCI_Kenya) July 2, 2024 Interior Cabinet Secretary Kithure Kindiki also condemned the protests, describing them as an "orgy of violence", warning that the government would take action against anyone engaging in "anarchic chaos and cruel plunder". "This reign of terror against the people of Kenya and the impunity of dangerous criminal gangs must end at whatever cost," he said. Riot police used tear gas and charged at stone-throwing protesters in central Nairobi and across Kenya on Tuesday in widespread unrest since at least two dozen protesters died in clashes last week. The demonstrations began against a controversial finance bill that contained new taxes, adding to the hardships of people already suffering a cost-of-living crisis. While President William Ruto later abandoned the measure, protesters have since called for his resignation in a wider campaign against his rule, using the hashtag "RutoMustGo". They have also rejected his calls for dialogue. The Kenya National Commission on Human Rights (KNCHR) said 39 people had been killed and 361 injured during two weeks of rallies, with the worst violence occurring in Nairobi on June 25. The KNCHR on Monday also condemned the use of force against demonstrators as "excessive and disproportionate". In Mombasa, Milan Waudo told the Reuters news agency, "People are dying in the streets, and the only thing he can talk about is money. We are not money. We are people. We are human beings. "He [Ruto] needs to care about his people, because if he can't care about his people then we don't need him in that chair." Reporting from Nairobi, Al Jazeera's Zein Brasravi said the rallies are a "reflection" of the anger that people are feeling after the deaths of protesters. "Protesters here say that they feel that their voices are still not heard and the government still doesn't understand why they're coming out and protesting," he said on Wednesday. Activists blamed Tuesday's violence on infiltrators they said had been unleashed by the government to discredit their movement and said it was now time to disperse.

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More than 270 people arrested in antigovernment rallies in Kenya. Kenyan police have arrested more than 270 people who they said were masquerading as protesters and suspected of going on a criminal rampage during antigovernment rallies in the country. "Security forces across the country singled out suspects found engaging in criminal activities in the guise of protesting and took them to custody," the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) said in a statement posted on X late on Tuesday. Keep reading It said 204 suspects were arrested in Nairobi, the capital, and another 68 in other areas of the country. "The DCI has further deployed scrupulous investigators across the affected regions to pursue suspects captured on CCTV cameras and mobile phone recordings violently robbing, stealing and destroying properties and businesses of innocent citizens," the statement added. During today's demonstrations that saw massive properties destroyed by various criminal elements, security forces across the country singled out suspects found engaging in criminal activities in the guise of protesting, and took them to custody. In Nairobi and its environs, 204… pic.twitter.com/pHEbGvjggo — DCI KENYA (@DCI_Kenya) July 2, 2024 Interior Cabinet Secretary Kithure Kindiki also condemned the protests, describing them as an "orgy of violence", warning that the government would take action against anyone engaging in "anarchic chaos and cruel plunder". "This reign of terror against the people of Kenya and the impunity of dangerous criminal gangs must end at whatever cost," he said. Riot police used tear gas and charged at stone-throwing protesters in central Nairobi and across Kenya on Tuesday in widespread unrest since at least two dozen protesters died in clashes last week. The demonstrations began against a controversial finance bill that contained new taxes, adding to the hardships of people already suffering a cost-of-living crisis. While President William Ruto later abandoned the measure, protesters have since called for his resignation in a wider campaign against his rule, using the hashtag "RutoMustGo". They have also rejected his calls for dialogue. The Kenya National Commission on Human Rights (KNCHR) said 39 people had been killed and 361 injured during two weeks of rallies, with the worst violence occurring in Nairobi on June 25. The KNCHR on Monday also condemned the use of force against demonstrators as "excessive and disproportionate". In Mombasa, Milan Waudo told the Reuters news agency, "People are dying in the streets, and the only thing he can talk about is money. We are not money. We are people. We are human beings. "He [Ruto] needs to care about his people, because if he can't care about his people then we don't need him in that chair." Reporting from Nairobi, Al Jazeera's Zein Brasravi said the rallies are a "reflection" of the anger that people are feeling after the deaths of protesters. "Protesters here say that they feel that their voices are still not heard and the government still doesn't understand why they're coming out and protesting," he said on Wednesday. Activists blamed Tuesday's violence on infiltrators they said had been unleashed by the government to discredit their movement and said it was now time to disperse.

Prosecutors in classified files case to urge judge to bar Trump from inflammatory comments about FBI

FILE - Special counsel Jack Smith speaks to the media about an indictment of former President Donald Trump, Aug. 1, 2023, in Washington. The federal judge presiding over Trump's classified documents prosecution is hearing arguments Monday, June 24, 2024, on whether to bar the former president from public comments that prosecutors say could endanger the lives of FBI agents working on the case. Smith's team says the restrictions are necessary in light of Trump's false comments that the FBI agents who searched his Mar-a-Lago estate were out to kill him and his family. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite, File) The Associated Press FORT PIERCE, Fla. -- The federal judge presiding over the classified documents prosecution of Donald Trump is hearing arguments Monday on whether to bar the former president from public comments that prosecutors say could endanger the lives of FBI agents working on the case. Special counsel Jack Smith's team says the restrictions are necessary in light of Trump's false comments that the FBI agents who searched his Mar-a-Lago estate in August 2022 for classified documents were out to kill him and his family. Trump's lawyers say any gag order would improperly silence Trump in the heat of a presidential campaign in which he is the presumptive Republican nominee. It was not immediately clear when U.S. District Judge Aileen Cannon, a Trump appointee whose handling of the case has been closely scrutinized, might rule. Before turning her attention to the limited gag order sought by prosecutors, she is scheduled to hear additional arguments Monday morning related to the Justice Department's appointment and funding of Smith, whose team brought the charges. The arguments are part of a three-day hearing that began Friday to deal with several of the many unresolved legal issues that have piled up in a case that had been set for trial last month but has been snarled by delays and a plodding pace. Cannon indefinitely postponed the trial, and it's all but guaranteed that it will not take place before the November presidential election. Trump faces dozens of felony charges accusing him of illegally hoarding top-secret records at Mar-a-Lago and obstructing the FBI's efforts to get them back. Given the breadth of evidence that prosecutors have put forward, many legal experts have regarded the case as the most straightforward of the four prosecutions against Trump, who has pleaded not guilty. But Cannon has been slow to rule on numerous motions and has proved willing to entertain defense requests that prosecutors say are meritless. Smith's team objected last month after Trump claimed that the FBI was prepared to kill him while executing a court-authorized search warrant of Mar-a-Lago on Aug. 8, 2022. He was referencing boilerplate language from FBI policy that prohibits the use of deadly force except when the officer conducting the search has a reasonable belief that the "subject of such force poses an imminent danger of death or serious physical injury to the officer or to another person." Trump falsely claimed in a fundraising email that the FBI was "locked & loaded ready to take me out & put my family in danger." Prosecutors say such comments pose a significant foreseeable risk to law enforcement, citing as examples an attempted attack on an FBI office in Ohio three days after the Mar-a-Lago search and the more recent arrest of a Trump supporter accused of threatening an FBI agent who investigated President Joe Biden's son, Hunter. "Deploying such knowingly false and inflammatory language in the combustible atmosphere that Trump has created poses an imminent danger to law enforcement that must be addressed before more violence occurs," prosecutors wrote in a court filing on Friday. Trump's lawyers say they've failed to show that his comments have directly endangered any FBI official who participated in the Mar-a-Lago search. "Fundamentally, the motion is based on the fact that President Trump criticized the Mar-a-Lago raid based on evidence from publicly filed motions in this case, as part of his constitutionally protected campaign speech, in a manner that someone in the government disagreed with and does not like," they said.

politics

Prosecutors in classified files case to urge judge to bar Trump from inflammatory comments about FBI. FILE - Special counsel Jack Smith speaks to the media about an indictment of former President Donald Trump, Aug. 1, 2023, in Washington. The federal judge presiding over Trump's classified documents prosecution is hearing arguments Monday, June 24, 2024, on whether to bar the former president from public comments that prosecutors say could endanger the lives of FBI agents working on the case. Smith's team says the restrictions are necessary in light of Trump's false comments that the FBI agents who searched his Mar-a-Lago estate were out to kill him and his family. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite, File) The Associated Press FORT PIERCE, Fla. -- The federal judge presiding over the classified documents prosecution of Donald Trump is hearing arguments Monday on whether to bar the former president from public comments that prosecutors say could endanger the lives of FBI agents working on the case. Special counsel Jack Smith's team says the restrictions are necessary in light of Trump's false comments that the FBI agents who searched his Mar-a-Lago estate in August 2022 for classified documents were out to kill him and his family. Trump's lawyers say any gag order would improperly silence Trump in the heat of a presidential campaign in which he is the presumptive Republican nominee. It was not immediately clear when U.S. District Judge Aileen Cannon, a Trump appointee whose handling of the case has been closely scrutinized, might rule. Before turning her attention to the limited gag order sought by prosecutors, she is scheduled to hear additional arguments Monday morning related to the Justice Department's appointment and funding of Smith, whose team brought the charges. The arguments are part of a three-day hearing that began Friday to deal with several of the many unresolved legal issues that have piled up in a case that had been set for trial last month but has been snarled by delays and a plodding pace. Cannon indefinitely postponed the trial, and it's all but guaranteed that it will not take place before the November presidential election. Trump faces dozens of felony charges accusing him of illegally hoarding top-secret records at Mar-a-Lago and obstructing the FBI's efforts to get them back. Given the breadth of evidence that prosecutors have put forward, many legal experts have regarded the case as the most straightforward of the four prosecutions against Trump, who has pleaded not guilty. But Cannon has been slow to rule on numerous motions and has proved willing to entertain defense requests that prosecutors say are meritless. Smith's team objected last month after Trump claimed that the FBI was prepared to kill him while executing a court-authorized search warrant of Mar-a-Lago on Aug. 8, 2022. He was referencing boilerplate language from FBI policy that prohibits the use of deadly force except when the officer conducting the search has a reasonable belief that the "subject of such force poses an imminent danger of death or serious physical injury to the officer or to another person." Trump falsely claimed in a fundraising email that the FBI was "locked & loaded ready to take me out & put my family in danger." Prosecutors say such comments pose a significant foreseeable risk to law enforcement, citing as examples an attempted attack on an FBI office in Ohio three days after the Mar-a-Lago search and the more recent arrest of a Trump supporter accused of threatening an FBI agent who investigated President Joe Biden's son, Hunter. "Deploying such knowingly false and inflammatory language in the combustible atmosphere that Trump has created poses an imminent danger to law enforcement that must be addressed before more violence occurs," prosecutors wrote in a court filing on Friday. Trump's lawyers say they've failed to show that his comments have directly endangered any FBI official who participated in the Mar-a-Lago search. "Fundamentally, the motion is based on the fact that President Trump criticized the Mar-a-Lago raid based on evidence from publicly filed motions in this case, as part of his constitutionally protected campaign speech, in a manner that someone in the government disagreed with and does not like," they said.

Jury deliberates in state case against man who attacked Nancy Pelosi's husband with hammer

FILE - Gypsy Taub, who has two children with David DePape, speaks with reporters outside the Phillip Burton Federal Building and U.S. Courthouse where DePape's federal trial is underway in San Francisco, Nov. 9, 2023. Taub, the former partner of the conspiracy theorist charged with breaking into former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's home in 2022, has been banned from the public gallery Tuesday, June 18, 2024, as DePape's state trial wrapped up.(AP Photo/Noah Berger, File) The Associated Press SAN FRANCISCO -- A judge on Tuesday expelled from court the former partner of the conspiracy theorist charged with breaking into former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's home in 2022, banning her from the public gallery as the man's state trial wrapped up. Gypsy Taub, who has two children with defendant David DePape, was also barred from the second floor of the San Francisco courthouse because the judge said she was trying to tamper with the jury. On Monday and Tuesday, Taub, a well-known pro-nudity activist in the Bay Area, handed out pieces of paper outside the courtroom with the address of a website she runs that promotes conspiracy theories. On Tuesday, graffiti of the website's address was discovered in a women's bathroom near the courtroom. "You have been trying to corruptly influence one or more jury members," San Francisco Superior Court Judge Harry Dorfman said sternly before asking two bailiffs to escort Taub out of the courtroom. The judge's decision came before DePape's attorney, San Francisco Public Defender Adam Lipson, presented his closing arguments to the jury, saying DePape had been living a solitary life and had gone "down the rabbit hole of propaganda and conspiracy theories" when he broke into the Pelosis' home on Oct. 28, 2022. DePape faces charges of attempting to sway a witness, false imprisonment, residential burglary, threatening a family member of a public official and aggravated kidnapping. Lipson told the jury DePape was guilty of three of the charges but that prosecutors had not presented evidence to convict him on threatening a family member of a public official and aggravated kidnapping. "There is not much of a dispute to the facts of the case," Lipson said. "But there is a tremendous dispute as to what charges apply and what don't." DePape, 44, was convicted last month in federal court of assaulting a federal official's family member and attempting to kidnap a federal official. He was sentenced to 30 years in federal prison. He will likely be deported back to Canada after he completes his punishment. Lipson earlier in the trial argued the state trial represents double jeopardy following the federal conviction. Even though the criminal counts are not exactly the same, the two cases stem from the same act, he argued. The judge agreed and dismissed the state charges of attempted murder, elder abuse and assault with a deadly weapon. Another judge upheld the decision on appeal. Lipson told the jury that prosecutors did not prove DePape kidnapped Paul Pelosi, who was 82 at the time, with the intent "to exact from another person money or something valuable." In this case, the valuable thing DePape wanted from the kidnapping was to create a video of Nancy Pelosi confessing to crimes he believed she had committed, prosecutors said. Lipson argued the video didn't exist and if it did, it would not have had any value. "When he broke into the Pelosis' home his intent was to confront and potentially hurt and assault Nancy Pelosi. That was his intent at that time, that has nothing to do with Mr. Pelosi," he said. In her rebuttal, Assistant District Attorney Phoebe Maffei pointed out DePape told a detective he planned to get a video of Nancy Pelosi confessing to crimes and post it on the internet. "There is inherent value in a video of the Speaker of the House confessing to crimes in her own home," Maffei said. On Monday, Maffei told the jury DePape unleashed a "reign of terror" on Paul Pelosi before bludgeoning him with a hammer as part of a plan he put together over months. "The plain facts of this case are terrifying by themselves without embellishment," Maffei said. "David DePape broke into the home of an 82-year-old man while he slept, entered his bedroom, held him hostage with a hammer, threatened him, threatened his wife, and attempted to kill him." DePape admitted during his federal trial testimony that he planned to hold Nancy Pelosi hostage, interrogate her and "break her kneecaps" if she did not admit to the lies he said she told about "Russiagate," a reference to the investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 presidential campaign. The attack on Paul Pelosi was captured on police body camera video just days before the 2022 midterm elections and

politics

Jury deliberates in state case against man who attacked Nancy Pelosi's husband with hammer. FILE - Gypsy Taub, who has two children with David DePape, speaks with reporters outside the Phillip Burton Federal Building and U.S. Courthouse where DePape's federal trial is underway in San Francisco, Nov. 9, 2023. Taub, the former partner of the conspiracy theorist charged with breaking into former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's home in 2022, has been banned from the public gallery Tuesday, June 18, 2024, as DePape's state trial wrapped up.(AP Photo/Noah Berger, File) The Associated Press SAN FRANCISCO -- A judge on Tuesday expelled from court the former partner of the conspiracy theorist charged with breaking into former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's home in 2022, banning her from the public gallery as the man's state trial wrapped up. Gypsy Taub, who has two children with defendant David DePape, was also barred from the second floor of the San Francisco courthouse because the judge said she was trying to tamper with the jury. On Monday and Tuesday, Taub, a well-known pro-nudity activist in the Bay Area, handed out pieces of paper outside the courtroom with the address of a website she runs that promotes conspiracy theories. On Tuesday, graffiti of the website's address was discovered in a women's bathroom near the courtroom. "You have been trying to corruptly influence one or more jury members," San Francisco Superior Court Judge Harry Dorfman said sternly before asking two bailiffs to escort Taub out of the courtroom. The judge's decision came before DePape's attorney, San Francisco Public Defender Adam Lipson, presented his closing arguments to the jury, saying DePape had been living a solitary life and had gone "down the rabbit hole of propaganda and conspiracy theories" when he broke into the Pelosis' home on Oct. 28, 2022. DePape faces charges of attempting to sway a witness, false imprisonment, residential burglary, threatening a family member of a public official and aggravated kidnapping. Lipson told the jury DePape was guilty of three of the charges but that prosecutors had not presented evidence to convict him on threatening a family member of a public official and aggravated kidnapping. "There is not much of a dispute to the facts of the case," Lipson said. "But there is a tremendous dispute as to what charges apply and what don't." DePape, 44, was convicted last month in federal court of assaulting a federal official's family member and attempting to kidnap a federal official. He was sentenced to 30 years in federal prison. He will likely be deported back to Canada after he completes his punishment. Lipson earlier in the trial argued the state trial represents double jeopardy following the federal conviction. Even though the criminal counts are not exactly the same, the two cases stem from the same act, he argued. The judge agreed and dismissed the state charges of attempted murder, elder abuse and assault with a deadly weapon. Another judge upheld the decision on appeal. Lipson told the jury that prosecutors did not prove DePape kidnapped Paul Pelosi, who was 82 at the time, with the intent "to exact from another person money or something valuable." In this case, the valuable thing DePape wanted from the kidnapping was to create a video of Nancy Pelosi confessing to crimes he believed she had committed, prosecutors said. Lipson argued the video didn't exist and if it did, it would not have had any value. "When he broke into the Pelosis' home his intent was to confront and potentially hurt and assault Nancy Pelosi. That was his intent at that time, that has nothing to do with Mr. Pelosi," he said. In her rebuttal, Assistant District Attorney Phoebe Maffei pointed out DePape told a detective he planned to get a video of Nancy Pelosi confessing to crimes and post it on the internet. "There is inherent value in a video of the Speaker of the House confessing to crimes in her own home," Maffei said. On Monday, Maffei told the jury DePape unleashed a "reign of terror" on Paul Pelosi before bludgeoning him with a hammer as part of a plan he put together over months. "The plain facts of this case are terrifying by themselves without embellishment," Maffei said. "David DePape broke into the home of an 82-year-old man while he slept, entered his bedroom, held him hostage with a hammer, threatened him, threatened his wife, and attempted to kill him." DePape admitted during his federal trial testimony that he planned to hold Nancy Pelosi hostage, interrogate her and "break her kneecaps" if she did not admit to the lies he said she told about "Russiagate," a reference to the investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 presidential campaign. The attack on Paul Pelosi was captured on police body camera video just days before the 2022 midterm elections and

Bill would allow retroactive Purple Heart vets to transfer GI benefits

A new bill introduced in Congress would permit retroactive Purple Heart recipients who served on or after Sept. 11, 2001, to transfer their education benefits to one or more dependents. (Staff Sgt. Timothy Koster/Army) When a Purple Heart recipient named Pat reached out to U.S. Sen. Patty Murray in November to inform her that he couldn't transfer his GI bill benefits to his children, he wasn't expecting congressional action to solve the problem. He simply just wanted to let the Washington state Democrat know, he told States Newsroom in an exclusive interview. With a child about to head to college, Pat, who didn't want his last name used, had recently been told by the Army that he couldn't transfer his education benefits to them because he received the Purple Heart after he was medically discharged. This rule does not apply to those who receive the medal while still in service. Murray and Thom Tillis, a North Carolina Republican, introduced a bipartisan bill Thursday aimed at closing that loophole. The legislation, titled the Purple Heart Veterans Education Act, would permit retroactive award recipients who served on or after Sept. 11, 2001, to transfer their education benefits to one or more dependents. It was unveiled just ahead of Memorial Day, when the nation honors its deceased service members. "As the daughter of a Purple Heart recipient, I've seen firsthand the enormous sacrifices Purple Heart veterans make to defend our freedoms, and I feel strongly that we should be doing absolutely everything we can to help all veterans and their families thrive," Murray said in a statement Thursday. "It doesn't make any sense that service members who are awarded a Purple Heart after their service can't transfer their GI benefits to their dependents, while those who receive it during their service can — and I am grateful to Pat, my constituent in Washington state who brought this gap in the law to my attention," continued Murray, a senior member of the Senate Committee on Veterans Affairs. "Our legislation will close this loophole and allow more children of Purple Heart veterans to further their education. I want to thank Senator Tillis for joining me on this legislation and I'll be working hard to get it passed into law." Glitch in education benefits Pat was medically discharged from the U.S. Army and retroactively received a Purple Heart for his actions during Iran's retaliatory missile barrage in January 2020 on an Iraq airbase, after a U.S. drone strike killed Iranian Gen. Qassem Soleimani. The Army later approved 39 Purple Hearts for service members who experienced the attack, according to a December 2021 report by Army Times. As his teenager looks to enroll at Central Washington University next year, Pat found out that by law his education benefits would only be available for transfer if he had received the award while still in service. "My thought was, 'I doubt that legislators would have done that intentionally.' I just thought, you know, people probably just didn't think about how that happens — that some people are going to get retroactive Purple Hearts, or for whatever reason in evaluating them, they're delayed. So it's not like an unusual thing," Pat said in a phone interview. "I wasn't thinking much was going to happen, but I just wanted to write Senator Murray, who is my local senator, and let her know the issue. They responded by saying, 'That's an oversight on our part, and we want to make good on that.'" Pat said he's "grateful for Sen. Murray" and hopes his action is able to help other Purple Heart veterans. For now, his family is moving forward with the college enrollment process for his child, he said. Benefits and dependents Among the provisions in the legislation, Murray and Tillis' bill would also allow veterans to split up 36 months worth of benefits to each of their dependents. For example, they could transfer 20 months to one and 16 months to another. The bill, if enacted, would also prohibit the benefits from being treated as marital property or a marital estate asset. And, the bill would permit dependents to access unused benefits if their veteran family member has died. "Purple Heart recipients are heroes who honorably served our country at great costs, and this oversight that prevents service members who received this distinguished award after their service from transferring their GI bill benefits to their dependents needs to be corrected immediately," Tillis said in a statement Thursday. "I am proud to co-introduce this commonsense legislation with Senator Murray to close this loophole and ensure every Purple Heart recipient and dependents are able to further their education," continued Tillis, who also sits on the Senate's Veterans' Affairs Committee. The number of veterans who retroactively received the Purple Heart after their post-9/11 service is unclear. The bill is estimated to cost $500,000 in mandatory spending over 10 years, according to an informal analysis provided to Murray's office by the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office. The bill has received praise from veterans groups, including the Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America. "Unfortunately, not every veteran's service and sacrifice on behalf of the United States of America is fully recognized while they're still in uniform," IAVA CEO and Iraq War veteran Allison Jaslow said in a statement Thursday. "The Purple Heart Veterans Education Act ensures that those veterans who've endured bodily harm on behalf of our nation, but weren't recognized for it until their service concluded, are able to turn that recognition into an investment in the education of their loved ones." More Purple Heart recipients The wars in Afghanistan and Iraq have "greatly increased" the number of Purple Heart recipients as the Department of Defense has added some traumatic brain injuries as a recognized condition for the award, according to the nonpartisan Congressional Research Service. It wasn't until a 2017 law that Purple Heart recipients were able to receive full post-9/11 GI Bill benefits regardless of their length of service. Previously, the recipients had to have 36 months of active service. The Department of Defense does not maintain a record of the number of recipients, according to the CRS, but by law they do maintain a publicly accessible list with the permission of the veteran or next of kin. Military historians and the National Purple Heart Hall of Honor estimate about 1.8 million Purple Hearts have been awarded since 1932. The Army Historical Foundation estimated as of 2016 that 30,000 Purple Hearts had been awarded since 2001. The CRS cited this statistic. Washington State Standard is part of States Newsroom, a nonprofit news network supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. Washington State Standard maintains editorial independence. Contact Editor Bill Lucia for questions: This article originally published on Washington State Standard as "As Memorial Day arrives, bill unveiled in Congress to assist Purple Heart recipients." Military Times has edited the headline. In Other News Junior enlisted pay bump to cost as much as two new aircraft carriers A plan to boost young troops' pay by an extra 15% next year will cost more than $24 billion over the next five years, officials said. Patton's Prayer: Discussing the famed general with author Alex Kershaw Kershaw spoke about his newest book, how faith and ego intertwined that winter in 1944, and how the Battle of the Bulge became an American triumph. Military spouses can recoup up to $1,000 in business costs after moves Spouses in most military branches can now apply for reimbursement of business costs related to PCS moves. Senators take up defense bill work this week, but out of public view Defense and veterans hearings for the week of June 10, 2024. Vets group recruiting poll workers says next few months are 'critical'

politics,military

Bill would allow retroactive Purple Heart vets to transfer GI benefits. A new bill introduced in Congress would permit retroactive Purple Heart recipients who served on or after Sept. 11, 2001, to transfer their education benefits to one or more dependents. (Staff Sgt. Timothy Koster/Army) When a Purple Heart recipient named Pat reached out to U.S. Sen. Patty Murray in November to inform her that he couldn't transfer his GI bill benefits to his children, he wasn't expecting congressional action to solve the problem. He simply just wanted to let the Washington state Democrat know, he told States Newsroom in an exclusive interview. With a child about to head to college, Pat, who didn't want his last name used, had recently been told by the Army that he couldn't transfer his education benefits to them because he received the Purple Heart after he was medically discharged. This rule does not apply to those who receive the medal while still in service. Murray and Thom Tillis, a North Carolina Republican, introduced a bipartisan bill Thursday aimed at closing that loophole. The legislation, titled the Purple Heart Veterans Education Act, would permit retroactive award recipients who served on or after Sept. 11, 2001, to transfer their education benefits to one or more dependents. It was unveiled just ahead of Memorial Day, when the nation honors its deceased service members. "As the daughter of a Purple Heart recipient, I've seen firsthand the enormous sacrifices Purple Heart veterans make to defend our freedoms, and I feel strongly that we should be doing absolutely everything we can to help all veterans and their families thrive," Murray said in a statement Thursday. "It doesn't make any sense that service members who are awarded a Purple Heart after their service can't transfer their GI benefits to their dependents, while those who receive it during their service can — and I am grateful to Pat, my constituent in Washington state who brought this gap in the law to my attention," continued Murray, a senior member of the Senate Committee on Veterans Affairs. "Our legislation will close this loophole and allow more children of Purple Heart veterans to further their education. I want to thank Senator Tillis for joining me on this legislation and I'll be working hard to get it passed into law." Glitch in education benefits Pat was medically discharged from the U.S. Army and retroactively received a Purple Heart for his actions during Iran's retaliatory missile barrage in January 2020 on an Iraq airbase, after a U.S. drone strike killed Iranian Gen. Qassem Soleimani. The Army later approved 39 Purple Hearts for service members who experienced the attack, according to a December 2021 report by Army Times. As his teenager looks to enroll at Central Washington University next year, Pat found out that by law his education benefits would only be available for transfer if he had received the award while still in service. "My thought was, 'I doubt that legislators would have done that intentionally.' I just thought, you know, people probably just didn't think about how that happens — that some people are going to get retroactive Purple Hearts, or for whatever reason in evaluating them, they're delayed. So it's not like an unusual thing," Pat said in a phone interview. "I wasn't thinking much was going to happen, but I just wanted to write Senator Murray, who is my local senator, and let her know the issue. They responded by saying, 'That's an oversight on our part, and we want to make good on that.'" Pat said he's "grateful for Sen. Murray" and hopes his action is able to help other Purple Heart veterans. For now, his family is moving forward with the college enrollment process for his child, he said. Benefits and dependents Among the provisions in the legislation, Murray and Tillis' bill would also allow veterans to split up 36 months worth of benefits to each of their dependents. For example, they could transfer 20 months to one and 16 months to another. The bill, if enacted, would also prohibit the benefits from being treated as marital property or a marital estate asset. And, the bill would permit dependents to access unused benefits if their veteran family member has died. "Purple Heart recipients are heroes who honorably served our country at great costs, and this oversight that prevents service members who received this distinguished award after their service from transferring their GI bill benefits to their dependents needs to be corrected immediately," Tillis said in a statement Thursday. "I am proud to co-introduce this commonsense legislation with Senator Murray to close this loophole and ensure every Purple Heart recipient and dependents are able to further their education," continued Tillis, who also sits on the Senate's Veterans' Affairs Committee. The number of veterans who retroactively received the Purple Heart after their post-9/11 service is unclear. The bill is estimated to cost $500,000 in mandatory spending over 10 years, according to an informal analysis provided to Murray's office by the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office. The bill has received praise from veterans groups, including the Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America. "Unfortunately, not every veteran's service and sacrifice on behalf of the United States of America is fully recognized while they're still in uniform," IAVA CEO and Iraq War veteran Allison Jaslow said in a statement Thursday. "The Purple Heart Veterans Education Act ensures that those veterans who've endured bodily harm on behalf of our nation, but weren't recognized for it until their service concluded, are able to turn that recognition into an investment in the education of their loved ones." More Purple Heart recipients The wars in Afghanistan and Iraq have "greatly increased" the number of Purple Heart recipients as the Department of Defense has added some traumatic brain injuries as a recognized condition for the award, according to the nonpartisan Congressional Research Service. It wasn't until a 2017 law that Purple Heart recipients were able to receive full post-9/11 GI Bill benefits regardless of their length of service. Previously, the recipients had to have 36 months of active service. The Department of Defense does not maintain a record of the number of recipients, according to the CRS, but by law they do maintain a publicly accessible list with the permission of the veteran or next of kin. Military historians and the National Purple Heart Hall of Honor estimate about 1.8 million Purple Hearts have been awarded since 1932. The Army Historical Foundation estimated as of 2016 that 30,000 Purple Hearts had been awarded since 2001. The CRS cited this statistic. Washington State Standard is part of States Newsroom, a nonprofit news network supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. Washington State Standard maintains editorial independence. Contact Editor Bill Lucia for questions: This article originally published on Washington State Standard as "As Memorial Day arrives, bill unveiled in Congress to assist Purple Heart recipients." Military Times has edited the headline. In Other News Junior enlisted pay bump to cost as much as two new aircraft carriers A plan to boost young troops' pay by an extra 15% next year will cost more than $24 billion over the next five years, officials said. Patton's Prayer: Discussing the famed general with author Alex Kershaw Kershaw spoke about his newest book, how faith and ego intertwined that winter in 1944, and how the Battle of the Bulge became an American triumph. Military spouses can recoup up to $1,000 in business costs after moves Spouses in most military branches can now apply for reimbursement of business costs related to PCS moves. Senators take up defense bill work this week, but out of public view Defense and veterans hearings for the week of June 10, 2024. Vets group recruiting poll workers says next few months are 'critical'

BDA ACQUIRES EUROPE'S LEADING SPORTS MERCHANDISE PROVIDER, THE GREAT BRANDING COMPANY

Bensussen Deutsch & Associates, LLC (BDA), the world's leading Merchandise Agency™ and premier activation and launch partner for major sports leagues and teams including Major League Baseball, the National Football League, the National Basketball Association, The National Hockey League, FIFA, Manchester United, Arsenal, and The French Football Federation, today announced it has completed the acquisition of UK-based sports, events, and promotional products provider, The Great Branding Company. The acquisition will broaden BDA's reach in EMEA by strengthening the company's sports portfolio and expanding its retail services for new and existing clients. The deal comes a year after the company's acquisition of The Great Branding Company Logo The Great Branding Company is a prominent merchandise provider in the world of European sports. Over the last 20 years, the company has served many prominent leagues, sponsors, and clubs, including Manchester City, Inter Milan, and UEFA Champions League finalists Real Madrid and Borussia Dortmund. These organizations rely on The Great Branding Company for both promotional and retail merchandise that inspires and engages fans during games and long after a season is over. With over 20 years of sports licensing expertise, The Great Branding Company is uniquely positioned to maximize sports merchandise across the European marketplace. The company offers an end-to-end service for bespoke, quick solution and quality retail products, backed by a strong supply chain and access to extensive product stock. With the acquisition, clients will benefit from BDA's extensive operations and full scope of agency services, including innovative product development, robust e-commerce and expanded retail solutions, award winning creative, deep supply chain expertise, and global distribution network. "I want to extend a warm welcome to Pino and the entire team to the BDA family! Joining forces with The Great Branding Company was a no-brainer for BDA; we see numerous synergies with our culture, values, and customer-centric approach to delivering incredible curated and bespoke products," said Jay Deutsch, CEO and Co-founder of BDA. "They have regional expertise that will be invaluable to our organization as we double down on our operations across EMEA. This acquisition further expands our retail infrastructure in Europe as they have tremendous clients and licenses and will enable us to take both our promotional and retail sports merchandise solutions to the next level." "BDA has been on our radar for years as a fierce competitor and best in class merchandise provider. We jumped at the opportunity to unite with BDA and look forward to leveraging their global footprint and vast resources to expand our service offerings for clients," said Pino Grillo, CEO and Co-Founder of The Great Branding Company. "We are very proud of what we've accomplished as a standalone company and look forward to delivering even more GREAT creativity and innovation in branded merchandise as part of BDA." BDA currently operates offices in the UK, Germany, and will integrate The Great Branding Company's UK and German teams into existing BDA operations. About BDA Bensussen Deutsch & Associates, LLC (BDA), is an award-winning modern Merchandise Agency™ for iconic brands, providing customized marketing, merchandising, e-commerce, and fulfillment solutions for major sports and entertainment properties and Fortune 1000 enterprises. An international firm with over 40 years of experience, BDA's operations span the globe with over 100 locations in 50 cities worldwide. Clients like Dell, ExxonMobil, The Home Depot, Johnson & Johnson, and Major League Baseball rely on BDA to activate, motivate, and promote their events, employees, and brands. For more information on the power of merchandise, visit

sports

BDA ACQUIRES EUROPE'S LEADING SPORTS MERCHANDISE PROVIDER, THE GREAT BRANDING COMPANY. Bensussen Deutsch & Associates, LLC (BDA), the world's leading Merchandise Agency™ and premier activation and launch partner for major sports leagues and teams including Major League Baseball, the National Football League, the National Basketball Association, The National Hockey League, FIFA, Manchester United, Arsenal, and The French Football Federation, today announced it has completed the acquisition of UK-based sports, events, and promotional products provider, The Great Branding Company. The acquisition will broaden BDA's reach in EMEA by strengthening the company's sports portfolio and expanding its retail services for new and existing clients. The deal comes a year after the company's acquisition of The Great Branding Company Logo The Great Branding Company is a prominent merchandise provider in the world of European sports. Over the last 20 years, the company has served many prominent leagues, sponsors, and clubs, including Manchester City, Inter Milan, and UEFA Champions League finalists Real Madrid and Borussia Dortmund. These organizations rely on The Great Branding Company for both promotional and retail merchandise that inspires and engages fans during games and long after a season is over. With over 20 years of sports licensing expertise, The Great Branding Company is uniquely positioned to maximize sports merchandise across the European marketplace. The company offers an end-to-end service for bespoke, quick solution and quality retail products, backed by a strong supply chain and access to extensive product stock. With the acquisition, clients will benefit from BDA's extensive operations and full scope of agency services, including innovative product development, robust e-commerce and expanded retail solutions, award winning creative, deep supply chain expertise, and global distribution network. "I want to extend a warm welcome to Pino and the entire team to the BDA family! Joining forces with The Great Branding Company was a no-brainer for BDA; we see numerous synergies with our culture, values, and customer-centric approach to delivering incredible curated and bespoke products," said Jay Deutsch, CEO and Co-founder of BDA. "They have regional expertise that will be invaluable to our organization as we double down on our operations across EMEA. This acquisition further expands our retail infrastructure in Europe as they have tremendous clients and licenses and will enable us to take both our promotional and retail sports merchandise solutions to the next level." "BDA has been on our radar for years as a fierce competitor and best in class merchandise provider. We jumped at the opportunity to unite with BDA and look forward to leveraging their global footprint and vast resources to expand our service offerings for clients," said Pino Grillo, CEO and Co-Founder of The Great Branding Company. "We are very proud of what we've accomplished as a standalone company and look forward to delivering even more GREAT creativity and innovation in branded merchandise as part of BDA." BDA currently operates offices in the UK, Germany, and will integrate The Great Branding Company's UK and German teams into existing BDA operations. About BDA Bensussen Deutsch & Associates, LLC (BDA), is an award-winning modern Merchandise Agency™ for iconic brands, providing customized marketing, merchandising, e-commerce, and fulfillment solutions for major sports and entertainment properties and Fortune 1000 enterprises. An international firm with over 40 years of experience, BDA's operations span the globe with over 100 locations in 50 cities worldwide. Clients like Dell, ExxonMobil, The Home Depot, Johnson & Johnson, and Major League Baseball rely on BDA to activate, motivate, and promote their events, employees, and brands. For more information on the power of merchandise, visit

Father of Alaska woman killed in murder-for-hire plot dies in memorial motorcycle ride

The father of an Alaska woman killed in a 2019 murder-for-hire-plot died over the weekend during a memorial motorcycle ride commemorating the fifth anniversary of her death. The Anchorage Daily News reported that Timothy Hoffman, 58, lost control of his motorcycle on Sunday near Wasilla and was later pronounced dead, according to Alaska State Troopers. His wife, Barbara "Jeanie" Hoffman, was riding on the back of the motorcycle and seriously injured, Tanya Chaison, who is engaged to Timothy Hoffman's brother, the newspaper said. Cynthia Hoffman, the couple's 19-year-old daughter, was killed in a catfish scheme involving Denali Brehmer, a woman Hoffman considered to be her best friend. Brehmer began an online relationship with an Indiana man, Darin Schilmiller, who claimed to be a millionaire from Kansas, when he promised to pay her $9 million to kill someone and send him photos and videos of it, prosecutors said. ALASKAN TEENS CHARGED WITH MURDER AFTER PHONY MULTI-MILLIONAIRE OFFERS $9M FOR PROOF OF SLAYING Timothy Hoffman places a photo of his daughter, Cynthia Hoffman, at his side in court Jan. 9, 2024, in Anchorage, Alaska, during the sentencing Darin Schilmiller, who pleaded guilty to soliciting the murder of Cynthia. Timothy Hoffman died, Sunday, June 2, during a weekend memorial motorcycle ride commemorating the fifth anniversary of Cynthia's death. (Marc Lester/Anchorage Daily News via AP) Hoffman's body was found on the Eklutna River in Chugiak on June 2, 2019. She was shot and killed and later found bound with duct tape. Brehmer sent photos and video footage of the killing to Schilmiller, authorities said. She allegedly recruited four friends, including Kayden McIntosh, Caleb Leyland and two juveniles, to help her carry out the killing. They lured Hoffman into thinking she was meeting up for a hiking trip at ​​Thunderbird Falls trail when she was killed. Brehmer was sentenced earlier this year to 99 years in prison. Schilmiller of New Salisbury, Indiana, also received a 99-year sentence for his role in Hoffman's death. Schilmiller admitted to federal agents and the Indiana State Police that he chose Hoffman as the victim and told Brehmer to kill her, court documents said. Sentencing for two others in connection with the case is set for later this year. 911 CALL REVEALS SHOCKING SUBURBAN HOME INVASION WITH ARMED BANDITS TYING UP FAMILY IN BROAD DAYLIGHT Cynthia Hoffman, 19, was killed in 2019 as part of a "catfish" murder-for-hire plot where an Indiana man dangled fake millions for a video of someone's murder. Alaskan teens took the bait. (Family Handout) During court hearings, Timothy Hoffman often wore a black leather motorcycle jacket and carried his small support dog, Diego. Patrick McKay, who was a lead prosecutor on some of the criminal cases related to Cynthia Hoffman's killing, called Timothy Hoffman a "zealous advocate" for his daughter and said his sudden death was "almost too unbelievable to be true." Denali Brehmer, 18, left, Kayden McIntosh, 16, Caleb Leyland, 19, and two other unnamed juveniles were arraigned in an Alaskan courtroom for the June 2, 2019, slaying of 19-year-old Cynthia Hoffman.

usa

Father of Alaska woman killed in murder-for-hire plot dies in memorial motorcycle ride. The father of an Alaska woman killed in a 2019 murder-for-hire-plot died over the weekend during a memorial motorcycle ride commemorating the fifth anniversary of her death. The Anchorage Daily News reported that Timothy Hoffman, 58, lost control of his motorcycle on Sunday near Wasilla and was later pronounced dead, according to Alaska State Troopers. His wife, Barbara "Jeanie" Hoffman, was riding on the back of the motorcycle and seriously injured, Tanya Chaison, who is engaged to Timothy Hoffman's brother, the newspaper said. Cynthia Hoffman, the couple's 19-year-old daughter, was killed in a catfish scheme involving Denali Brehmer, a woman Hoffman considered to be her best friend. Brehmer began an online relationship with an Indiana man, Darin Schilmiller, who claimed to be a millionaire from Kansas, when he promised to pay her $9 million to kill someone and send him photos and videos of it, prosecutors said. ALASKAN TEENS CHARGED WITH MURDER AFTER PHONY MULTI-MILLIONAIRE OFFERS $9M FOR PROOF OF SLAYING Timothy Hoffman places a photo of his daughter, Cynthia Hoffman, at his side in court Jan. 9, 2024, in Anchorage, Alaska, during the sentencing Darin Schilmiller, who pleaded guilty to soliciting the murder of Cynthia. Timothy Hoffman died, Sunday, June 2, during a weekend memorial motorcycle ride commemorating the fifth anniversary of Cynthia's death. (Marc Lester/Anchorage Daily News via AP) Hoffman's body was found on the Eklutna River in Chugiak on June 2, 2019. She was shot and killed and later found bound with duct tape. Brehmer sent photos and video footage of the killing to Schilmiller, authorities said. She allegedly recruited four friends, including Kayden McIntosh, Caleb Leyland and two juveniles, to help her carry out the killing. They lured Hoffman into thinking she was meeting up for a hiking trip at ​​Thunderbird Falls trail when she was killed. Brehmer was sentenced earlier this year to 99 years in prison. Schilmiller of New Salisbury, Indiana, also received a 99-year sentence for his role in Hoffman's death. Schilmiller admitted to federal agents and the Indiana State Police that he chose Hoffman as the victim and told Brehmer to kill her, court documents said. Sentencing for two others in connection with the case is set for later this year. 911 CALL REVEALS SHOCKING SUBURBAN HOME INVASION WITH ARMED BANDITS TYING UP FAMILY IN BROAD DAYLIGHT Cynthia Hoffman, 19, was killed in 2019 as part of a "catfish" murder-for-hire plot where an Indiana man dangled fake millions for a video of someone's murder. Alaskan teens took the bait. (Family Handout) During court hearings, Timothy Hoffman often wore a black leather motorcycle jacket and carried his small support dog, Diego. Patrick McKay, who was a lead prosecutor on some of the criminal cases related to Cynthia Hoffman's killing, called Timothy Hoffman a "zealous advocate" for his daughter and said his sudden death was "almost too unbelievable to be true." Denali Brehmer, 18, left, Kayden McIntosh, 16, Caleb Leyland, 19, and two other unnamed juveniles were arraigned in an Alaskan courtroom for the June 2, 2019, slaying of 19-year-old Cynthia Hoffman.

Kikkoman breaks ground on $560 million new Wisconsin production facility

June 12, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- To the sound of massive Japanese taiko drums and a traditional Shinto ceremony, Kikkoman, the world's leading manufacturer of traditionally brewed soy sauce, ushered in a new chapter in the company's history at a groundbreaking ceremony for a major new production facility in the rural community of Jefferson Mayor Dale Oppermann; Jefferson County Administrator Ben Wehmeier; Secretary Missy Hughes, CEO, WEDC; Former Governor of Wisconsin Tommy Thompson; Governor of Wisconsin Tony Evers; Mr. Yuzaburo Mogi, Honorary CEO and Chairman of the Board of Kikkoman Corporation; Mr. Jun Yanagi, Consult General of Japan in Chicago; Mr. Noriaki Horikiri, Chairman of Kikkoman Corporation; Mr. Osamu Mogi, Representative Director, Senior Executive CO, pictured at shovel demonstration at the groundbreaking event Kikkoman has played a vital role in the Wisconsin economy for more than half a century. In 1973 with the opening of Kikkoman Foods, Inc. (KFI), in Walworth, Wisconsin, the company transformed farm fields into what has now become the highest-producing soy sauce facility in the western world. Since that time, Kikkoman has forged partnerships and friendships within the Walworth community, celebrating shared cultural values like hard work, respect, cooperation, and a commitment to excellence – and contributing more than $17 million to charitable causes in the local community and beyond. Now, the company is investing at least Jefferson facility, as well as expansion initiatives at its Walworth plant—an investment that will create 83 new jobs over 12 years. After several years of careful consideration and a nationwide search for a site, Kikkoman came back to Wisconsin, choosing the community of Jefferson from among 64 Midwestern locations. Set on a 100-acre lot at the heart of what will be the 200-acre Food and Beverage Innovation Campus, the new 240,000-square-foot KFI Jefferson facility will be a model of state-of-the-art food manufacturing. The plant will be fully integrated and highly automated using cutting-edge mobile technology. It has been designed for flexibility, speed, efficiency, and scalability, with the ability to make smaller or larger batch sizes as needed. And in keeping with Kikkoman's commitment to sustainability and stewardship, the facility will reduce CO2 emissions by installing energy-efficient equipment, minimizing waste, and proactively using renewable energy. $15.5 million in performance-based tax credits to assist KFI. "Today's events are a watershed moment in Wisconsin's relationship with a global brand like Kikkoman," said Gov. Evers. "As one of the state's largest trade partners, the strong connection between Wisconsin and Japanese businesses like Kikkoman has been instrumental in driving Wisconsin's economic growth, bolstering innovation, and creating valuable employment opportunities for communities and families across the state. Now, we are adding Kikkoman's new facility here in Jefferson to the growing footprint of leading Japanese businesses in Wisconsin, and I'm proud about the promise this relationship continues to hold for Wisconsinites and the future of our state." Also in attendance were Mr. Yuzaburo Mogi, Kikkoman's honorary CEO, chairman of the board, Kikkoman Corporation; Mr. Noriaki Horikiri, Chairman, Kikkoman Corporation; Mr. Osamu Mogi, Representative Director; Senior Executive Corporate Officer, Kikkoman Corporation; Secretary

business,lifestyle

Kikkoman breaks ground on $560 million new Wisconsin production facility. June 12, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- To the sound of massive Japanese taiko drums and a traditional Shinto ceremony, Kikkoman, the world's leading manufacturer of traditionally brewed soy sauce, ushered in a new chapter in the company's history at a groundbreaking ceremony for a major new production facility in the rural community of Jefferson Mayor Dale Oppermann; Jefferson County Administrator Ben Wehmeier; Secretary Missy Hughes, CEO, WEDC; Former Governor of Wisconsin Tommy Thompson; Governor of Wisconsin Tony Evers; Mr. Yuzaburo Mogi, Honorary CEO and Chairman of the Board of Kikkoman Corporation; Mr. Jun Yanagi, Consult General of Japan in Chicago; Mr. Noriaki Horikiri, Chairman of Kikkoman Corporation; Mr. Osamu Mogi, Representative Director, Senior Executive CO, pictured at shovel demonstration at the groundbreaking event Kikkoman has played a vital role in the Wisconsin economy for more than half a century. In 1973 with the opening of Kikkoman Foods, Inc. (KFI), in Walworth, Wisconsin, the company transformed farm fields into what has now become the highest-producing soy sauce facility in the western world. Since that time, Kikkoman has forged partnerships and friendships within the Walworth community, celebrating shared cultural values like hard work, respect, cooperation, and a commitment to excellence – and contributing more than $17 million to charitable causes in the local community and beyond. Now, the company is investing at least Jefferson facility, as well as expansion initiatives at its Walworth plant—an investment that will create 83 new jobs over 12 years. After several years of careful consideration and a nationwide search for a site, Kikkoman came back to Wisconsin, choosing the community of Jefferson from among 64 Midwestern locations. Set on a 100-acre lot at the heart of what will be the 200-acre Food and Beverage Innovation Campus, the new 240,000-square-foot KFI Jefferson facility will be a model of state-of-the-art food manufacturing. The plant will be fully integrated and highly automated using cutting-edge mobile technology. It has been designed for flexibility, speed, efficiency, and scalability, with the ability to make smaller or larger batch sizes as needed. And in keeping with Kikkoman's commitment to sustainability and stewardship, the facility will reduce CO2 emissions by installing energy-efficient equipment, minimizing waste, and proactively using renewable energy. $15.5 million in performance-based tax credits to assist KFI. "Today's events are a watershed moment in Wisconsin's relationship with a global brand like Kikkoman," said Gov. Evers. "As one of the state's largest trade partners, the strong connection between Wisconsin and Japanese businesses like Kikkoman has been instrumental in driving Wisconsin's economic growth, bolstering innovation, and creating valuable employment opportunities for communities and families across the state. Now, we are adding Kikkoman's new facility here in Jefferson to the growing footprint of leading Japanese businesses in Wisconsin, and I'm proud about the promise this relationship continues to hold for Wisconsinites and the future of our state." Also in attendance were Mr. Yuzaburo Mogi, Kikkoman's honorary CEO, chairman of the board, Kikkoman Corporation; Mr. Noriaki Horikiri, Chairman, Kikkoman Corporation; Mr. Osamu Mogi, Representative Director; Senior Executive Corporate Officer, Kikkoman Corporation; Secretary

Trump, Biden nearly tied as general election kicks off: poll

Join Fox News for access to this content Plus special access to select articles and other premium content with your account - free of charge. 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. Former President Donald Trump holds a slim advantage over President Biden after the two candidates secured their parties' nominations, a new poll shows. The two politicians unofficially secured their respective parties' nominations on Tuesday after both passed the required threshold of delegates. The USA Today poll – conducted in partnership with Suffolk University – found that 40% of respondents favored Trump, compared to 38% for Biden. LOCKING IT UP: TRUMP CLINCHES 2024 REPUBLICAN PRESIDENTIAL NOMINATION DURING TUESDAY'S PRIMARIES Former President Donald Trump speaks during a campaign event in Greensboro, North Carolina. registered voters who are open to changing their minds. Approximately 25% of those surveyed said they would consider switching their vote between now and the election – 14% of likely Biden voters and 15% of likely Trump voters. Among those polled, 15% of respondents reported disliking both candidates, according to USA Today. Approximately 25% of these individuals leaned toward Trump, 18% toward Biden and 44% of them reported intending to vote for third-party candidates. LOCKING IT UP: BIDEN CLINCHES 2024 DEMOCRAT PRESIDENTIAL NOMINATION DURING TUESDAY'S PRIMARIES President Biden speaks during his State of the Union address Thursday at the U.S. Capitol. crossing the necessary threshold of delegates to all but guarantee their nominations on Tuesday, the public is expecting a 2020 rematch. Both candidates have proven exceptionally unpopular with voters, and their presidencies have experienced similar tepidity in approval polls. It was conducted from March 8 to 11 and reports a margin of error of +/- 3.1%.

politics

Trump, Biden nearly tied as general election kicks off: poll. Join Fox News for access to this content Plus special access to select articles and other premium content with your account - free of charge. 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. Former President Donald Trump holds a slim advantage over President Biden after the two candidates secured their parties' nominations, a new poll shows. The two politicians unofficially secured their respective parties' nominations on Tuesday after both passed the required threshold of delegates. The USA Today poll – conducted in partnership with Suffolk University – found that 40% of respondents favored Trump, compared to 38% for Biden. LOCKING IT UP: TRUMP CLINCHES 2024 REPUBLICAN PRESIDENTIAL NOMINATION DURING TUESDAY'S PRIMARIES Former President Donald Trump speaks during a campaign event in Greensboro, North Carolina. registered voters who are open to changing their minds. Approximately 25% of those surveyed said they would consider switching their vote between now and the election – 14% of likely Biden voters and 15% of likely Trump voters. Among those polled, 15% of respondents reported disliking both candidates, according to USA Today. Approximately 25% of these individuals leaned toward Trump, 18% toward Biden and 44% of them reported intending to vote for third-party candidates. LOCKING IT UP: BIDEN CLINCHES 2024 DEMOCRAT PRESIDENTIAL NOMINATION DURING TUESDAY'S PRIMARIES President Biden speaks during his State of the Union address Thursday at the U.S. Capitol. crossing the necessary threshold of delegates to all but guarantee their nominations on Tuesday, the public is expecting a 2020 rematch. Both candidates have proven exceptionally unpopular with voters, and their presidencies have experienced similar tepidity in approval polls. It was conducted from March 8 to 11 and reports a margin of error of +/- 3.1%.

UNESCO finds Islamic State group-era bombs in Mosul mosque walls, years after the defeat of IS

BAGHDAD -- The U.N. cultural agency has discovered five bombs hidden within the walls of the historic al-Nouri Mosque in the city of Mosul in northern Iraq, a remnant of the Islamic State militant group's rule over the area, UNESCO said in a statement Saturday. The mosque, famous for its 12th-century leaning minaret, was destroyed by IS in 2017 and has been a focal point of UNESCO's restoration efforts since 2020. The U.N. agency said that five large-scale explosive devices, designed for significant destruction, were found inside the southern wall of the Prayer Hall on Tuesday. "These explosive devices were concealed within a specially rebuilt section of the wall," the statement said. "Iraqi authorities were promptly notified, secured the area, and the situation is now fully under control." It added that "one bomb has been defused and removed, while the remaining four are interconnected and will be safely disposed of in the coming days." Iraqi authorities have requested that UNESCO halt all reconstruction operations at al-Nouri mosque and evacuate the entire complex until the devices are disarmed. IS leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi declared an Islamic caliphate from the mosque a decade ago on June 29, 2014, leading to its destruction when extremists blew it up during the battle to liberate Mosul in 2017. The discovery of these bombs underscores ongoing challenges in clearing Mosul of explosives and revitalizing its devastated urban areas. International efforts, supported by the United Nations, focus on mine clearance and aiding in the city's recovery. Despite progress, much of Mosul's old city remains in ruins, marked by minefield warning signs, highlighting the complexity of post-conflict reconstruction. UNESCO aims to complete the full reconstruction of al-Nouri Mosque by December, "finally erasing the stigma of the Daesh occupation," the statement said, using the Arabic acronym for the Islamic State group's name. A decade after the Islamic State group declared its caliphate in large parts of Iraq and Syria, the extremists no longer control any land, have lost many prominent leaders and are mostly out of the world news headlines. Still, the group continues to recruit members and claim responsibility for deadly attacks around the world, including lethal operations in Iran and Russia earlier this year that left scores dead. Its sleeper cells in Syria and Iraq still carry out attacks against government forces in both countries as well as U.S.-backed Syrian fighters, at a time when Iraq's government is negotiating with Washington over a possible withdrawal of U.S. troops.

world

UNESCO finds Islamic State group-era bombs in Mosul mosque walls, years after the defeat of IS. BAGHDAD -- The U.N. cultural agency has discovered five bombs hidden within the walls of the historic al-Nouri Mosque in the city of Mosul in northern Iraq, a remnant of the Islamic State militant group's rule over the area, UNESCO said in a statement Saturday. The mosque, famous for its 12th-century leaning minaret, was destroyed by IS in 2017 and has been a focal point of UNESCO's restoration efforts since 2020. The U.N. agency said that five large-scale explosive devices, designed for significant destruction, were found inside the southern wall of the Prayer Hall on Tuesday. "These explosive devices were concealed within a specially rebuilt section of the wall," the statement said. "Iraqi authorities were promptly notified, secured the area, and the situation is now fully under control." It added that "one bomb has been defused and removed, while the remaining four are interconnected and will be safely disposed of in the coming days." Iraqi authorities have requested that UNESCO halt all reconstruction operations at al-Nouri mosque and evacuate the entire complex until the devices are disarmed. IS leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi declared an Islamic caliphate from the mosque a decade ago on June 29, 2014, leading to its destruction when extremists blew it up during the battle to liberate Mosul in 2017. The discovery of these bombs underscores ongoing challenges in clearing Mosul of explosives and revitalizing its devastated urban areas. International efforts, supported by the United Nations, focus on mine clearance and aiding in the city's recovery. Despite progress, much of Mosul's old city remains in ruins, marked by minefield warning signs, highlighting the complexity of post-conflict reconstruction. UNESCO aims to complete the full reconstruction of al-Nouri Mosque by December, "finally erasing the stigma of the Daesh occupation," the statement said, using the Arabic acronym for the Islamic State group's name. A decade after the Islamic State group declared its caliphate in large parts of Iraq and Syria, the extremists no longer control any land, have lost many prominent leaders and are mostly out of the world news headlines. Still, the group continues to recruit members and claim responsibility for deadly attacks around the world, including lethal operations in Iran and Russia earlier this year that left scores dead. Its sleeper cells in Syria and Iraq still carry out attacks against government forces in both countries as well as U.S.-backed Syrian fighters, at a time when Iraq's government is negotiating with Washington over a possible withdrawal of U.S. troops.

Hot heads: 13 unwritten rules for spice lovers

They say that variety is the spice of life but, as all spice lovers know, spice is the way to add variety to your life – or at least your meals. Another thing all serious chilli connoisseurs know is that being part of the club comes with certain dos and don'ts. Here are 13 rules that spice lovers will instantly understand. 1. A restaurant without hot sauce is a no-no Chilli sauce should be a standard table-top condiment, and we won't hear a word otherwise. As we can't always rely on the chef to perfectly season our food, we at least need the option to add some heat at the table. 2. True connoisseurs carry a bottle of hot sauce with them at (almost) all times If this is you, you're in good company. From Beyoncé to Naomi Campbell and, unexpectedly, Hillary Clinton, the "I got hot sauce in my bag" crew is elite. 3. Finding new ways to add spice to your life is an ongoing pursuit Case in point: I recently discovered Encona 's brand new range of chilli jams and, let me tell you, its Mexican smoked chilli jam makes an inspired glaze for pulled beef (you can thank me later). It doesn't have to be about heat – spices can add flavour to marinades or a tang to a chilli jam. Photograph: Stocksy United 5. Owning just one type of hot sauce is sacrilege If you claim to be a spice enthusiast but possess just one lonely bottle of hot sauce, it's clear you're not playing in the same league as true aficionados. 6. It's always a competition When someone boasts about their spice tolerance, it's imperative to put it to the test. Im-pe-ra-tive. 7. You don't always need to go hot, hot, hot We know that spice isn't just about heat. From the fruity tang of an Indian mango chilli sauce to the sweet kick of Canadian maple chilli jam, chilli-infused condiments have myriad different flavour profiles – and we love them all. 8. You know the benefits that come with eating spicy foods Unlike typical addictions, an insatiable appetite for spice comes with a range of possible health benefits. Compounds in spicy foods have been linked to reduced blood pressure, weight management, and even increased life expectancy. Now that's our kind of wellness! 9. You know exactly how to cool things down Even spice enthusiasts sometimes go too far. From reaching for a glass of milk to indulging in acidic beverages such as lemonade or tomato-based snacks, we know how to relieve the burn. 10. You don't outwardly judge others It's not always easy to hide our disdain when someone describes their dish as "super spicy", when it contains a mere sprinkle of chilli flakes or dash of sweet chilli sauce – but we do try our best. 11. Spice is as good as a hug For us, spice is synonymous with comfort. There's nothing quite like the warmth of a sizzlingly hot meal on a cold winter's night or after a long day at work, or when you're feeling under the weather … You get the picture. 12. You have a shelf in your cupboard dedicated to spicy condiments In the world of social media, "shelfies" are a big trend. While others showcase skincare or books, ours would undoubtedly feature the shelf in our cupboard filled with a vast array of spicy condiments. You could say, it's our pride and joy. 13. Educating people who 'don't like spice' is God's work There are few greater joys in life – for a spice lover, at least – than helping a novice find a heat they can handle. We know that there really is a chilli-infused condiment for everyone and, goddammit, we're going to help people find theirs whether they like it or not! From its "hotter than hot" South Carolina reaper sauce to its mild and sweet Canadian maple chilli jam, Encona's sauces, marinades and newly launched chilli jams are inspired by flavours from all over the world, and are the perfect way to spice up your life. Discover the full range at

lifestyle

Hot heads: 13 unwritten rules for spice lovers. They say that variety is the spice of life but, as all spice lovers know, spice is the way to add variety to your life – or at least your meals. Another thing all serious chilli connoisseurs know is that being part of the club comes with certain dos and don'ts. Here are 13 rules that spice lovers will instantly understand. 1. A restaurant without hot sauce is a no-no Chilli sauce should be a standard table-top condiment, and we won't hear a word otherwise. As we can't always rely on the chef to perfectly season our food, we at least need the option to add some heat at the table. 2. True connoisseurs carry a bottle of hot sauce with them at (almost) all times If this is you, you're in good company. From Beyoncé to Naomi Campbell and, unexpectedly, Hillary Clinton, the "I got hot sauce in my bag" crew is elite. 3. Finding new ways to add spice to your life is an ongoing pursuit Case in point: I recently discovered Encona 's brand new range of chilli jams and, let me tell you, its Mexican smoked chilli jam makes an inspired glaze for pulled beef (you can thank me later). It doesn't have to be about heat – spices can add flavour to marinades or a tang to a chilli jam. Photograph: Stocksy United 5. Owning just one type of hot sauce is sacrilege If you claim to be a spice enthusiast but possess just one lonely bottle of hot sauce, it's clear you're not playing in the same league as true aficionados. 6. It's always a competition When someone boasts about their spice tolerance, it's imperative to put it to the test. Im-pe-ra-tive. 7. You don't always need to go hot, hot, hot We know that spice isn't just about heat. From the fruity tang of an Indian mango chilli sauce to the sweet kick of Canadian maple chilli jam, chilli-infused condiments have myriad different flavour profiles – and we love them all. 8. You know the benefits that come with eating spicy foods Unlike typical addictions, an insatiable appetite for spice comes with a range of possible health benefits. Compounds in spicy foods have been linked to reduced blood pressure, weight management, and even increased life expectancy. Now that's our kind of wellness! 9. You know exactly how to cool things down Even spice enthusiasts sometimes go too far. From reaching for a glass of milk to indulging in acidic beverages such as lemonade or tomato-based snacks, we know how to relieve the burn. 10. You don't outwardly judge others It's not always easy to hide our disdain when someone describes their dish as "super spicy", when it contains a mere sprinkle of chilli flakes or dash of sweet chilli sauce – but we do try our best. 11. Spice is as good as a hug For us, spice is synonymous with comfort. There's nothing quite like the warmth of a sizzlingly hot meal on a cold winter's night or after a long day at work, or when you're feeling under the weather … You get the picture. 12. You have a shelf in your cupboard dedicated to spicy condiments In the world of social media, "shelfies" are a big trend. While others showcase skincare or books, ours would undoubtedly feature the shelf in our cupboard filled with a vast array of spicy condiments. You could say, it's our pride and joy. 13. Educating people who 'don't like spice' is God's work There are few greater joys in life – for a spice lover, at least – than helping a novice find a heat they can handle. We know that there really is a chilli-infused condiment for everyone and, goddammit, we're going to help people find theirs whether they like it or not! From its "hotter than hot" South Carolina reaper sauce to its mild and sweet Canadian maple chilli jam, Encona's sauces, marinades and newly launched chilli jams are inspired by flavours from all over the world, and are the perfect way to spice up your life. Discover the full range at

French president postpones July visit to N.B.

French President Emmanuel Macron will not travel to New Brunswick next month as planned. Posted: Jun 27, 2024 12:49 PM EDT | Last Updated: 3 hours ago French President Emmanuel Macron was expected to visit New Brunswick next month, but that visit has now been postponed. (Stephane Mahe/Reuters) Social Sharing French President Emmanuel Macron will not travel to New Brunswick next month as planned. "The province was notified by the French Consulate earlier this week that the visit has been postponed," said Bruce Macfarlane, a spokesperson for Premier Blaine Higgs's cabinet, in a statement. A spokesperson for Macron confirmed the delay to Radio-Canada. "The visit will not take place in July," Marie Tausig said by email. Earlier this month, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said that Macron would visit the province "for the first Canada-France Joint Council of Ministers in order to deepen the bilateral relationship between the two countries and promote shared priorities." But the makeup of Macron's cabinet could change based on the outcome of legislative elections being held in two rounds on June 30 and July 7. On June 6, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said that Macron would visit New Brunswick 'for the first Canada-France Joint Council of Ministers in order to deepen the bilateral relationship between the two countries and promote shared priorities.' (Sean Kilpatrick/The Canadian Press) Macron called those elections after his party suffered losses in European parliamentary elections. France's acting consul-general in Moncton said on June 6 that Macron's visit would be to that city. The idea of a visit by Macron was first raised in 2021 when he named acclaimed Acadian author Antonine Maillet a commander of the French Legion of Honour during a visit to France by an Acadian delegation. Two French presidents have visited New Brunswick previously. François Mitterrand made a brief stop in the province as part of a Canadian visit in 1987, and Jacques Chirac attended the Francophonie Summit in Moncton in 1999. Jacques Poitras has been CBC's provincial affairs reporter in New Brunswick since 2000. He grew up in Moncton and covered Parliament in Ottawa for the New Brunswick Telegraph-Journal. He has reported on every New Brunswick election since 1995 and won awards from the Radio Television Digital News Association, the National Newspaper Awards and Amnesty International. He is also the author of five non-fiction books about New Brunswick politics and history.

politics

French president postpones July visit to N.B.. French President Emmanuel Macron will not travel to New Brunswick next month as planned. Posted: Jun 27, 2024 12:49 PM EDT | Last Updated: 3 hours ago French President Emmanuel Macron was expected to visit New Brunswick next month, but that visit has now been postponed. (Stephane Mahe/Reuters) Social Sharing French President Emmanuel Macron will not travel to New Brunswick next month as planned. "The province was notified by the French Consulate earlier this week that the visit has been postponed," said Bruce Macfarlane, a spokesperson for Premier Blaine Higgs's cabinet, in a statement. A spokesperson for Macron confirmed the delay to Radio-Canada. "The visit will not take place in July," Marie Tausig said by email. Earlier this month, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said that Macron would visit the province "for the first Canada-France Joint Council of Ministers in order to deepen the bilateral relationship between the two countries and promote shared priorities." But the makeup of Macron's cabinet could change based on the outcome of legislative elections being held in two rounds on June 30 and July 7. On June 6, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said that Macron would visit New Brunswick 'for the first Canada-France Joint Council of Ministers in order to deepen the bilateral relationship between the two countries and promote shared priorities.' (Sean Kilpatrick/The Canadian Press) Macron called those elections after his party suffered losses in European parliamentary elections. France's acting consul-general in Moncton said on June 6 that Macron's visit would be to that city. The idea of a visit by Macron was first raised in 2021 when he named acclaimed Acadian author Antonine Maillet a commander of the French Legion of Honour during a visit to France by an Acadian delegation. Two French presidents have visited New Brunswick previously. François Mitterrand made a brief stop in the province as part of a Canadian visit in 1987, and Jacques Chirac attended the Francophonie Summit in Moncton in 1999. Jacques Poitras has been CBC's provincial affairs reporter in New Brunswick since 2000. He grew up in Moncton and covered Parliament in Ottawa for the New Brunswick Telegraph-Journal. He has reported on every New Brunswick election since 1995 and won awards from the Radio Television Digital News Association, the National Newspaper Awards and Amnesty International. He is also the author of five non-fiction books about New Brunswick politics and history.

NTSB castigates Boeing for sharing non-public info to media on door plug probe

The National Transport Safety Board (NTSB) has castigated Boeing after discovering officials disclosed non-public information regarding the Alaska Airlines 737 MAX 9 plug door investigation to members of the media. According to a statement by the NTSB on June 27, 2024, Boeing “blatantly violated” investigative regulations and an agreement signed by the planemaker not to share information privy to the probe or speculate about causes of the 737-9 door plug blowout on January 5, 2024. The NTSB said that on June 25, 2024, Boeing held a media briefing at its facility in Renton to talk about quality improvements but during the event a company executive “provided investigative information” and gave an “analysis of factual information already previously released”. “Both of these actions are prohibited by the party agreement that Boeing signed when it was offered party status by the NTSB at the start of the investigation. As a party to many NTSB investigations over the past decades, few entities know the rules better than Boeing,” the NTSB wrote in a scathing statement. The NTSB added that during the media briefing Boeing portrayed the NTSB investigation as a “search to locate the individual responsible for the door plug work”. ‘Few entities know the rules better than Boeing’ The NTSB has been at pains to ensure employees at Boeing know that it is not a witch-hunt and that it is only focused on the “probable cause” of the accident without placing blame on any individual. After the NTSB learned of the violation, Boeing provided a transcript of the media briefing which revealed that the executive had shared information that the safety board had not “verified or authorized for release”. “Boeing offered opinions and analysis on factors it suggested were casual to the accident,” the NTSB said in its statement. Following the disclosure, the NTSB announced several restrictions and sanctions against Boeing. The NTSB said that Boeing will retain its party status but will “no longer have access to the investigative information the NTSB produces as it develops the factual record of the accident”. “The NTSB will also subpoena the company to appear at an investigative hearing into the case scheduled for Aug 6 and 7 in Washington, DC. Unlike the other parties in the hearing, Boeing will not be allowed to ask questions of other participants,” the NTSB said. The NTSB confirmed that it will advise the Department of Justice (DOJ) about the unauthorized disclosure. “Given that Boeing is under investigation by the U.S. Department of Justice in relation to its Deferred Prosecution Agreement stemming from Boeing’s interactions with the FAA prior to the Boeing 737 MAX fatalities, the NTSB will be coordinating with the DOJ Fraud Division to provide details about Boeing’s recent unauthorized investigative information releases in the 737 MAX 9 door plug investigation,” the safety board said. Boeing is waiting to hear what punishment it will face from the DOJ for violating its 2021 deferred prosecution agreement put in place following the 737 MAX fatal crashes in 2018 and 2019. Boeing proposes using stock to buyout Spirit AeroSystems as talks near end Aircraft Aviation Economics & Finance by Ian Molyneaux 2024-06-25 The post NTSB castigates Boeing for sharing non-public info to media on door plug probe appeared first on AeroTime .

aerospace

NTSB castigates Boeing for sharing non-public info to media on door plug probe. The National Transport Safety Board (NTSB) has castigated Boeing after discovering officials disclosed non-public information regarding the Alaska Airlines 737 MAX 9 plug door investigation to members of the media. According to a statement by the NTSB on June 27, 2024, Boeing “blatantly violated” investigative regulations and an agreement signed by the planemaker not to share information privy to the probe or speculate about causes of the 737-9 door plug blowout on January 5, 2024. The NTSB said that on June 25, 2024, Boeing held a media briefing at its facility in Renton to talk about quality improvements but during the event a company executive “provided investigative information” and gave an “analysis of factual information already previously released”. “Both of these actions are prohibited by the party agreement that Boeing signed when it was offered party status by the NTSB at the start of the investigation. As a party to many NTSB investigations over the past decades, few entities know the rules better than Boeing,” the NTSB wrote in a scathing statement. The NTSB added that during the media briefing Boeing portrayed the NTSB investigation as a “search to locate the individual responsible for the door plug work”. ‘Few entities know the rules better than Boeing’ The NTSB has been at pains to ensure employees at Boeing know that it is not a witch-hunt and that it is only focused on the “probable cause” of the accident without placing blame on any individual. After the NTSB learned of the violation, Boeing provided a transcript of the media briefing which revealed that the executive had shared information that the safety board had not “verified or authorized for release”. “Boeing offered opinions and analysis on factors it suggested were casual to the accident,” the NTSB said in its statement. Following the disclosure, the NTSB announced several restrictions and sanctions against Boeing. The NTSB said that Boeing will retain its party status but will “no longer have access to the investigative information the NTSB produces as it develops the factual record of the accident”. “The NTSB will also subpoena the company to appear at an investigative hearing into the case scheduled for Aug 6 and 7 in Washington, DC. Unlike the other parties in the hearing, Boeing will not be allowed to ask questions of other participants,” the NTSB said. The NTSB confirmed that it will advise the Department of Justice (DOJ) about the unauthorized disclosure. “Given that Boeing is under investigation by the U.S. Department of Justice in relation to its Deferred Prosecution Agreement stemming from Boeing’s interactions with the FAA prior to the Boeing 737 MAX fatalities, the NTSB will be coordinating with the DOJ Fraud Division to provide details about Boeing’s recent unauthorized investigative information releases in the 737 MAX 9 door plug investigation,” the safety board said. Boeing is waiting to hear what punishment it will face from the DOJ for violating its 2021 deferred prosecution agreement put in place following the 737 MAX fatal crashes in 2018 and 2019. Boeing proposes using stock to buyout Spirit AeroSystems as talks near end Aircraft Aviation Economics & Finance by Ian Molyneaux 2024-06-25 The post NTSB castigates Boeing for sharing non-public info to media on door plug probe appeared first on AeroTime .

Ukraine displays destroyed stadium stand in Munich in reminder of war ahead of Euro 2024 opener

The Ukrainian soccer federation has unveiled an installation in Munich of a stadium stand destroyed in the war back home to highlight the ongoing conflict ahead of the team's first match at the European Championship Andriy Shevchenko, Ukrainian football legend and UAF President, talks to journalists as he presents an installation ahead of the Group E match between Romania and Ukraine at the Euro 2024 soccer tournament in Munich, Germany, Monday, June 17, 2024.A poignant installation has been unveiled ahead of Ukraine's first match at the European Championship. A destroyed stand from Kharkiv's Sonyachny stadium that was built for Euro 2012 has been displayed in a square in Munich ahead of the team's opener against Romania. (AP Photo/Ariel Schalit) The Associated Press MUNICH -- The Ukraninian soccer federation unveiled an installation in Munich of a stadium stand destroyed in the war back home to highlight the ongoing conflict ahead of the team's first match at the European Championship on Monday. Parts of a stand from Kharkiv's Sonyachny stadium that was built for Euro 2012 — which Ukraine co-hosted — was displayed in a square in Munich ahead of the team's opener against Romania. The stadium was destroyed by Russian troops in May 2022 and is part of an interactive installation highlighting that 500 sports infrastructure facilities in Ukraine have suffered from Russian bombings and missile strikes during the war. "Today we're going to start our games," said former Ukraine coach and striker Andriy Shevchenko, who is the president of the country's soccer federation. "One team on the field but a million soldiers who stay and defend Ukraine. "We are all together. We play today for the country. We play today for the people who defend our lives and our country." The stadium was the training base for the Netherlands team during Euro 2012. Ukraine also trained there ahead of the last European Championship, where it reached the quarterfinals in its most successful campaign to date. "Learning that the stadium was destroyed felt like finding out your home was ruined," said Shevchenko, who was Ukraine's coach at Euro 2020. The stand and installation will be taken around to different German cities with the next stop being Düsseldorf, where Ukraine plays its next Group E match against Slovakia on Friday. "It's very important that we show during the war that in the country, we continue our lives," the 47-year-old Shevchenko added. "Sport is a big part of our society. It's a very powerful tool, but in good hands. "The participation of Ukrainian team today it's very important message for the rest of the world that we continue to live and we're going to fight, but not only fight we're going to do our normal life and try to be part of European society and the world society who share the same values of their freedom and democracy with us."

sports

Ukraine displays destroyed stadium stand in Munich in reminder of war ahead of Euro 2024 opener. The Ukrainian soccer federation has unveiled an installation in Munich of a stadium stand destroyed in the war back home to highlight the ongoing conflict ahead of the team's first match at the European Championship Andriy Shevchenko, Ukrainian football legend and UAF President, talks to journalists as he presents an installation ahead of the Group E match between Romania and Ukraine at the Euro 2024 soccer tournament in Munich, Germany, Monday, June 17, 2024.A poignant installation has been unveiled ahead of Ukraine's first match at the European Championship. A destroyed stand from Kharkiv's Sonyachny stadium that was built for Euro 2012 has been displayed in a square in Munich ahead of the team's opener against Romania. (AP Photo/Ariel Schalit) The Associated Press MUNICH -- The Ukraninian soccer federation unveiled an installation in Munich of a stadium stand destroyed in the war back home to highlight the ongoing conflict ahead of the team's first match at the European Championship on Monday. Parts of a stand from Kharkiv's Sonyachny stadium that was built for Euro 2012 — which Ukraine co-hosted — was displayed in a square in Munich ahead of the team's opener against Romania. The stadium was destroyed by Russian troops in May 2022 and is part of an interactive installation highlighting that 500 sports infrastructure facilities in Ukraine have suffered from Russian bombings and missile strikes during the war. "Today we're going to start our games," said former Ukraine coach and striker Andriy Shevchenko, who is the president of the country's soccer federation. "One team on the field but a million soldiers who stay and defend Ukraine. "We are all together. We play today for the country. We play today for the people who defend our lives and our country." The stadium was the training base for the Netherlands team during Euro 2012. Ukraine also trained there ahead of the last European Championship, where it reached the quarterfinals in its most successful campaign to date. "Learning that the stadium was destroyed felt like finding out your home was ruined," said Shevchenko, who was Ukraine's coach at Euro 2020. The stand and installation will be taken around to different German cities with the next stop being Düsseldorf, where Ukraine plays its next Group E match against Slovakia on Friday. "It's very important that we show during the war that in the country, we continue our lives," the 47-year-old Shevchenko added. "Sport is a big part of our society. It's a very powerful tool, but in good hands. "The participation of Ukrainian team today it's very important message for the rest of the world that we continue to live and we're going to fight, but not only fight we're going to do our normal life and try to be part of European society and the world society who share the same values of their freedom and democracy with us."

How would a President Harris handle immigration, border crisis?

With growing calls from some Democrats for President Biden to step aside in favor of a different presidential candidate in the wake of his presidential debate performance last week, it has raised the possibility of a President Kamala Harris – raising questions about how she would handle the ongoing border crisis. Many Democrats and liberal media figures were left shaken by President Biden's performance at last week's debate, during which he stumbled over his words and sounded tired. It has fueled discussion about whether he should step down in favor of another candidate. Should he resign as president, Harris as vice president would be the automatic successor. If he were to finish his term, but did not wish to serve a second, then the DNC would elect a new nominee for the presidential election. Harris would likely be one of the top candidates in that scenario. Whoever took over from Biden would immediately be thrust into the role of dealing with the ongoing crisis at the southern border, which has seen a record number of encounters since Biden took office. Numbers have dropped in recent months, but it is unclear to what extent that will continue over the typically busy summer months. BIDEN VOWS TO KEEP WHITE HOUSE, UNDETERRED BY DEMOCRATIC PANIC AFTER DEBATE DISASTER Vice President Harris would in many ways be a voice of continuity for the current practices of what officials call the Biden-Harris administration. Like President Biden, she has supported the rolling back of Trump-era border policies and has called for a sweeping immigration bill that the administration introduced on day one. That bill not only includes significant reforms and funding measures, but would also provide a pathway to citizenship for millions of illegal immigrants already in the U.S. "Our immigration system has been broken for decades. That is why President Biden and I have spent the last three years putting forward solutions to fix it and address the root causes of migration," she said in a statement in February. Similarly, Harris has backed the bipartisan Senate package which Biden has also supported but has failed to pass the Senate. Like Biden, she has also blamed the failure of that bill to pass the chamber on former President Donald Trump. "Then, of course, we know that there was bipartisan work that happened, including involving some of the most conservative members of the United States Senate.  A deal was reached, and they got a call from Donald Trump, who said, 'Don't put it for a vote.' Because Donald Trump would prefer to run on a problem instead of fixing a problem," she said last month. Harris has also taken the lead on some policy matters. She was tasked in 2021 with leading with leading the diplomatic outreach to tackle the "root causes" of migration in the Northern Triangle countries. The administration had leaned firmly into the root-causes narrative in early 2021, claiming that those causes – which include climate change, violence, poverty and economic insecurity – were driving migration to the U.S. border. Its answer, therefore, was to engage with governments and to invest in targeting those causes, eventually bringing migration down. TRUMP MAKES CASE FOR RETURN TO ‘REMAIN IN MEXICO’ TO SOLVE HISTORIC BORDER CRISIS The assignment quickly led to Harris being dubbed the "border czar" – a title the White House rejected, stressing instead that it was more to do with international engagement. She would go on to visit the border in El Paso in June 2021 after facing pressure to do so. In that mission, she has seen some success. The project to rally private-sector investment to the region via a call to action has seen more than $5.2 billion committed since May 2021 from over 50 companies and organizations.  Additionally, while it is unclear the extent to which investment has played a role, the numbers of encounters from those three countries has fallen from over 700,000 in FY 21 to over 330,000 so far as of May, with four months left to go. Harris’ 2019 presidential campaign suggests that, should she become president, she may attempt a more aggressive use of executive action when it comes to granting protection to some illegal immigrants. In her campaign platform, Harris promised to expand the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrival (DACA) by executive order – which gives protection to illegal immigrants brought to the U.S. as minors. She said she would eliminate age requirements on applications, and use parole authority to create a "parole in place" program to put those illegal immigrants on a path to citizenship. Her campaign estimated that the executive actions would result in more than 2 million "Dreamers" being given a pathway to citizenship. CLICK HERE FOR MORE COVERAGE OF THE BORDER SECURITY CRISIS Also by executive order, she promised to shield illegal immigrant parents of American citizens and green card holders from deportation. Overall her plan was predicted to protect over 6 million illegal immigrants from deportation. The parole in place authority was recently used by President Bide n to protect some spouses of American citizens from deportation. In a statement on that action, Harris said it was something she supported -- but added that more, including a citizenship pathway for illegal immigrants, still needed to be accomplished. "While today’s actions are a significant step forward, there is more work to be done to fix our broken immigration system. That includes the need for a pathway to citizenship for Dreamers. President Biden and I continue to call on the United States Congress to join us in acting by passing permanent protections for Dreamers," she said.

politics

How would a President Harris handle immigration, border crisis?. With growing calls from some Democrats for President Biden to step aside in favor of a different presidential candidate in the wake of his presidential debate performance last week, it has raised the possibility of a President Kamala Harris – raising questions about how she would handle the ongoing border crisis. Many Democrats and liberal media figures were left shaken by President Biden's performance at last week's debate, during which he stumbled over his words and sounded tired. It has fueled discussion about whether he should step down in favor of another candidate. Should he resign as president, Harris as vice president would be the automatic successor. If he were to finish his term, but did not wish to serve a second, then the DNC would elect a new nominee for the presidential election. Harris would likely be one of the top candidates in that scenario. Whoever took over from Biden would immediately be thrust into the role of dealing with the ongoing crisis at the southern border, which has seen a record number of encounters since Biden took office. Numbers have dropped in recent months, but it is unclear to what extent that will continue over the typically busy summer months. BIDEN VOWS TO KEEP WHITE HOUSE, UNDETERRED BY DEMOCRATIC PANIC AFTER DEBATE DISASTER Vice President Harris would in many ways be a voice of continuity for the current practices of what officials call the Biden-Harris administration. Like President Biden, she has supported the rolling back of Trump-era border policies and has called for a sweeping immigration bill that the administration introduced on day one. That bill not only includes significant reforms and funding measures, but would also provide a pathway to citizenship for millions of illegal immigrants already in the U.S. "Our immigration system has been broken for decades. That is why President Biden and I have spent the last three years putting forward solutions to fix it and address the root causes of migration," she said in a statement in February. Similarly, Harris has backed the bipartisan Senate package which Biden has also supported but has failed to pass the Senate. Like Biden, she has also blamed the failure of that bill to pass the chamber on former President Donald Trump. "Then, of course, we know that there was bipartisan work that happened, including involving some of the most conservative members of the United States Senate.  A deal was reached, and they got a call from Donald Trump, who said, 'Don't put it for a vote.' Because Donald Trump would prefer to run on a problem instead of fixing a problem," she said last month. Harris has also taken the lead on some policy matters. She was tasked in 2021 with leading with leading the diplomatic outreach to tackle the "root causes" of migration in the Northern Triangle countries. The administration had leaned firmly into the root-causes narrative in early 2021, claiming that those causes – which include climate change, violence, poverty and economic insecurity – were driving migration to the U.S. border. Its answer, therefore, was to engage with governments and to invest in targeting those causes, eventually bringing migration down. TRUMP MAKES CASE FOR RETURN TO ‘REMAIN IN MEXICO’ TO SOLVE HISTORIC BORDER CRISIS The assignment quickly led to Harris being dubbed the "border czar" – a title the White House rejected, stressing instead that it was more to do with international engagement. She would go on to visit the border in El Paso in June 2021 after facing pressure to do so. In that mission, she has seen some success. The project to rally private-sector investment to the region via a call to action has seen more than $5.2 billion committed since May 2021 from over 50 companies and organizations.  Additionally, while it is unclear the extent to which investment has played a role, the numbers of encounters from those three countries has fallen from over 700,000 in FY 21 to over 330,000 so far as of May, with four months left to go. Harris’ 2019 presidential campaign suggests that, should she become president, she may attempt a more aggressive use of executive action when it comes to granting protection to some illegal immigrants. In her campaign platform, Harris promised to expand the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrival (DACA) by executive order – which gives protection to illegal immigrants brought to the U.S. as minors. She said she would eliminate age requirements on applications, and use parole authority to create a "parole in place" program to put those illegal immigrants on a path to citizenship. Her campaign estimated that the executive actions would result in more than 2 million "Dreamers" being given a pathway to citizenship. CLICK HERE FOR MORE COVERAGE OF THE BORDER SECURITY CRISIS Also by executive order, she promised to shield illegal immigrant parents of American citizens and green card holders from deportation. Overall her plan was predicted to protect over 6 million illegal immigrants from deportation. The parole in place authority was recently used by President Bide n to protect some spouses of American citizens from deportation. In a statement on that action, Harris said it was something she supported -- but added that more, including a citizenship pathway for illegal immigrants, still needed to be accomplished. "While today’s actions are a significant step forward, there is more work to be done to fix our broken immigration system. That includes the need for a pathway to citizenship for Dreamers. President Biden and I continue to call on the United States Congress to join us in acting by passing permanent protections for Dreamers," she said.

Simone Biles continues Olympic prep by cruising to ninth US national title

Simone Biles won her ninth US Championship on Sunday, leaving little doubt that at 27 and a decade-plus into her run atop the sport, she is as good as ever. Biles posted a two-day all-around total of 119.750, nearly six points clear of runner-up Skye Blakely and leaving little doubt that she appears ready to add a second all-around Olympic gold to go with the one she captured in 2016. Simone Biles soars to early lead at US Championships on best night of comeback In front of an audience that included her husband, Chicago Bears safety Jonathan Owens, Biles put on a four-rotation clinic that featured all the trademarks of a typical Biles performance. There was jaw-dropping athleticism mixed with precision and more than a splash of swagger. SIMONE DOING SIMONE THINGS. 👑 pic.twitter.com/7jkqwFaRbS — NBC Olympics & Paralympics (@NBCOlympics) June 2, 2024 Her only misstep on Sunday came on vault. She came up short on her Yurchenko double pike – two back flips with her hands clasped behind her knees – during warmups and overcompensated when it counted, generating so much force she wound up on her back. She still received a 15.000 for her effort, a testament to a vault that's never been completed in competition by another woman and only attempted by a select group of men. Not that it bothered her. Biles collected herself, took a couple of deep breaths then followed it up a Cheng vault that was rewarded with a 15.1 and put a ninth national title within reach, heady territory considering no other gymnast in the history of the sport in the US has more than seven. While Biles remains above the fray as usual, there is plenty of competition for the other four spots on the five-woman US team that will head to Paris as heavy favorites to return to the top of the podium after finishing second to Russia in Tokyo three years ago. Simone Biles wrapped up her historic 9th U.S. all-around title with this uneven bars routine. ⭐️ pic.twitter.com/GaeWQ4qOME — NBC Olympics & Paralympics (@NBCOlympics) June 3, 2024 Suni Lee, the 2020 Olympic champion who has spent the last year-plus battling kidney issues that have limited her training, shook off an early mistake on vault to put together elegant routines on uneven bars and balance beam that few in the world – even Biles – can match. Olympians Jordan Chiles and Jade Carey are in the mix, though both endured falls on beam on Sunday. Third-place finisher Kayla DiCello slipped off the uneven bars. Leanne Wong, perhaps looking fatigued after a long season competing at Florida, also endured uncharacteristic miscues. Shilese Jones, considered the best all-around gymnast in the US without the last name Biles, pulled out of the championships on Friday, citing a shoulder injury though she said Sunday she was feeling better and plans to be available for trials. So will 18-year-old Kaliya Lincoln, who opted not to compete on Sunday after tweaking something during Friday night's opening session.

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Simone Biles continues Olympic prep by cruising to ninth US national title. Simone Biles won her ninth US Championship on Sunday, leaving little doubt that at 27 and a decade-plus into her run atop the sport, she is as good as ever. Biles posted a two-day all-around total of 119.750, nearly six points clear of runner-up Skye Blakely and leaving little doubt that she appears ready to add a second all-around Olympic gold to go with the one she captured in 2016. Simone Biles soars to early lead at US Championships on best night of comeback In front of an audience that included her husband, Chicago Bears safety Jonathan Owens, Biles put on a four-rotation clinic that featured all the trademarks of a typical Biles performance. There was jaw-dropping athleticism mixed with precision and more than a splash of swagger. SIMONE DOING SIMONE THINGS. 👑 pic.twitter.com/7jkqwFaRbS — NBC Olympics & Paralympics (@NBCOlympics) June 2, 2024 Her only misstep on Sunday came on vault. She came up short on her Yurchenko double pike – two back flips with her hands clasped behind her knees – during warmups and overcompensated when it counted, generating so much force she wound up on her back. She still received a 15.000 for her effort, a testament to a vault that's never been completed in competition by another woman and only attempted by a select group of men. Not that it bothered her. Biles collected herself, took a couple of deep breaths then followed it up a Cheng vault that was rewarded with a 15.1 and put a ninth national title within reach, heady territory considering no other gymnast in the history of the sport in the US has more than seven. While Biles remains above the fray as usual, there is plenty of competition for the other four spots on the five-woman US team that will head to Paris as heavy favorites to return to the top of the podium after finishing second to Russia in Tokyo three years ago. Simone Biles wrapped up her historic 9th U.S. all-around title with this uneven bars routine. ⭐️ pic.twitter.com/GaeWQ4qOME — NBC Olympics & Paralympics (@NBCOlympics) June 3, 2024 Suni Lee, the 2020 Olympic champion who has spent the last year-plus battling kidney issues that have limited her training, shook off an early mistake on vault to put together elegant routines on uneven bars and balance beam that few in the world – even Biles – can match. Olympians Jordan Chiles and Jade Carey are in the mix, though both endured falls on beam on Sunday. Third-place finisher Kayla DiCello slipped off the uneven bars. Leanne Wong, perhaps looking fatigued after a long season competing at Florida, also endured uncharacteristic miscues. Shilese Jones, considered the best all-around gymnast in the US without the last name Biles, pulled out of the championships on Friday, citing a shoulder injury though she said Sunday she was feeling better and plans to be available for trials. So will 18-year-old Kaliya Lincoln, who opted not to compete on Sunday after tweaking something during Friday night's opening session.

William Anders, Apollo 8 astronaut who took Earthrise photo, killed in plane crash

William Anders, Apollo 8 astronaut who took Earthrise photo, killed in plane crash Retired major-general William Anders, the former Apollo 8 astronaut who took the iconic Earthrise photo showing the planet as a shadowed blue marble from space in 1968, was killed Friday when the plane he was piloting alone plummeted into the waters off the San Juan Islands in Washington state. He was 90. Posted: Jun 07, 2024 8:23 PM EDT | Last Updated: June 8 Apollo 8 astronaut Bill Anders speaks to reporters on Aug. 31, 2012, about the life of fellow astronaut Neil Armstrong. Anders was killed Friday when the plane he was piloting alone plummeted into the waters off the San Juan Islands in Washington state. He was 90. (Al Behrman/The Associated Press) Social Sharing Retired major-general William Anders, the former Apollo 8 astronaut who took the iconic Earthrise photo showing the planet as a shadowed blue marble from space in 1968, was killed Friday when the plane he was piloting alone plummeted into the waters off the San Juan Islands in Washington state. He was 90. His son, retired air force lieutenant-colonel Greg Anders, confirmed the death to The Associated Press. "The family is devastated," he said. "He was a great pilot and we will miss him terribly." William Anders has said the photo was his most significant contribution to the space program, given the ecological philosophical impact it had, along with making sure the Apollo 8 command module and service module worked. WATCH | Earthrise, 50 years later: 50th anniversary of Bill Anders' iconic 'Earthrise' photo Duration 1:05 This Christmas Eve marks the 50th anniversary of the iconic "Earthrise" photo, taken from lunar orbit by astronaut Bill Anders. Here's the story behind the powerful image. The photograph, the first colour image of Earth from space, is one of the most important photos in modern history for the way it changed how humans viewed the planet. The photo is credited with sparking the global environmental movement for showing how delicate and isolated Earth appeared from space. NASA administrator and former senator Bill Nelson said Anders embodied the lessons and the purpose of exploration. "He travelled to the threshold of the Moon and helped all of us see something else: ourselves," Nelson wrote on the social platform X, formerly Twitter. Anders snapped the photo during the crew's fourth orbit of the moon, frantically switching from black-and-white to colour film. "Oh my God, look at that picture over there!" Anders said. "There's the Earth coming up. Wow, is that pretty!" The Apollo 8 mission in December 1968 was the first human spaceflight to leave low-Earth orbit and travel to the moon and back. At the time, it was NASA's boldest and perhaps most dangerous voyage and one that set the stage for the Apollo moon landing seven months later. "Bill Anders forever changed our perspective of our planet and ourselves with his famous Earthrise photo on Apollo 8," Arizona Sen. Mark Kelly, who is also a retired NASA astronaut, wrote on X. "He inspired me and generations of astronauts and explorers. My thoughts are with his family and friends." Anders is helped from the bobbing Apollo 8 spacecraft after it returned to Earth and landed in the Pacific Ocean on Dec. 27, 1968. (NASA/AFP/Getty Images) A report came in around 11:40 a.m. local time that an older-model plane crashed into the water and sank near the north end of Jones Island, San Juan County Sheriff Eric Peter said. Greg Anders confirmed to KING-TV that his father's body was recovered Friday afternoon. Only the pilot was on board the Beech A45 airplane at the time, according to the U.S. Federal Aviation Association, which is investigating the crash along with the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board. Remembering Apollo 8 William Anders said in an 1997 NASA oral history interview that he didn't think the Apollo 8 mission was risk-free but there were important national, patriotic and exploration reasons for going ahead. He estimated that there was about a one in three chance that the crew wouldn't make it back and the same chance the mission would be a success and the same chance that the mission wouldn't start to begin with. Anders recounted how Earth looked fragile and seemingly physically insignificant, yet was home. "We'd been going backwards and upside down, didn't really see the Earth or the sun, and when we rolled around and came around and saw the first Earthrise," he said. "That certainly was, by far, the most impressive thing. To see this very delicate, colourful orb, which to me looked like a Christmas tree ornament coming up over this very stark, ugly lunar landscape really contrasted." The Apollo 8 astronauts walk to a van heading for their Saturn V rocket for their moon orbit mission from Cape Kennedy, Fla., on Dec. 21, 1968. Leading the way is Commander Frank Borman, followed by James Lovell and Anders. (The Associated Press) Anders joined NASA in the 1960s. He did not go into space until Dec. 21, 1968, when Apollo 8 lifted off. Anders was the "rookie" on the crew, alongside Frank Borman, the mission commander, and James Lovell, who had flown with Borman on Gemini 7 in 1965 and later commanded the ill-fated Apollo 13. The three astronauts were greeted as national heroes when they splashed down in the Pacific Ocean and were feted as Time magazine's "Men of the Year." Anders was born on Oct. 17, 1933, in Hong Kong. At the time, his father was a navy lieutenant aboard the USS Panay, a U.S. gunboat in China's Yangtze River. In later life, Anders and his wife, Valerie, founded the Heritage Flight Museum in Washington state in 1996. It is now based at a regional airport in Burlington, Wash., and features aircraft, several antique military vehicles, a library and many artifacts donated by veterans, according to the museum's website. Two of his sons helped him run it. SpaceX launches, lands 4th test launch of its 37-storey Starship rocket The couple moved to Orcas Island in the San Juan archipelago in 1993, and kept a second home in their hometown of San Diego, according to a biography on the museum's website. They have six children and 13 grandchildren. Their current Washington home was in Anacortes. He later served on the Atomic Energy Commission, as the U.S. chairman of the joint U.S.-U.S.S.R. technology exchange program for nuclear fission and fusion power, and as ambassador to Norway. He later worked for General Electric and General Dynamics, according to his NASA biography.

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William Anders, Apollo 8 astronaut who took Earthrise photo, killed in plane crash. William Anders, Apollo 8 astronaut who took Earthrise photo, killed in plane crash Retired major-general William Anders, the former Apollo 8 astronaut who took the iconic Earthrise photo showing the planet as a shadowed blue marble from space in 1968, was killed Friday when the plane he was piloting alone plummeted into the waters off the San Juan Islands in Washington state. He was 90. Posted: Jun 07, 2024 8:23 PM EDT | Last Updated: June 8 Apollo 8 astronaut Bill Anders speaks to reporters on Aug. 31, 2012, about the life of fellow astronaut Neil Armstrong. Anders was killed Friday when the plane he was piloting alone plummeted into the waters off the San Juan Islands in Washington state. He was 90. (Al Behrman/The Associated Press) Social Sharing Retired major-general William Anders, the former Apollo 8 astronaut who took the iconic Earthrise photo showing the planet as a shadowed blue marble from space in 1968, was killed Friday when the plane he was piloting alone plummeted into the waters off the San Juan Islands in Washington state. He was 90. His son, retired air force lieutenant-colonel Greg Anders, confirmed the death to The Associated Press. "The family is devastated," he said. "He was a great pilot and we will miss him terribly." William Anders has said the photo was his most significant contribution to the space program, given the ecological philosophical impact it had, along with making sure the Apollo 8 command module and service module worked. WATCH | Earthrise, 50 years later: 50th anniversary of Bill Anders' iconic 'Earthrise' photo Duration 1:05 This Christmas Eve marks the 50th anniversary of the iconic "Earthrise" photo, taken from lunar orbit by astronaut Bill Anders. Here's the story behind the powerful image. The photograph, the first colour image of Earth from space, is one of the most important photos in modern history for the way it changed how humans viewed the planet. The photo is credited with sparking the global environmental movement for showing how delicate and isolated Earth appeared from space. NASA administrator and former senator Bill Nelson said Anders embodied the lessons and the purpose of exploration. "He travelled to the threshold of the Moon and helped all of us see something else: ourselves," Nelson wrote on the social platform X, formerly Twitter. Anders snapped the photo during the crew's fourth orbit of the moon, frantically switching from black-and-white to colour film. "Oh my God, look at that picture over there!" Anders said. "There's the Earth coming up. Wow, is that pretty!" The Apollo 8 mission in December 1968 was the first human spaceflight to leave low-Earth orbit and travel to the moon and back. At the time, it was NASA's boldest and perhaps most dangerous voyage and one that set the stage for the Apollo moon landing seven months later. "Bill Anders forever changed our perspective of our planet and ourselves with his famous Earthrise photo on Apollo 8," Arizona Sen. Mark Kelly, who is also a retired NASA astronaut, wrote on X. "He inspired me and generations of astronauts and explorers. My thoughts are with his family and friends." Anders is helped from the bobbing Apollo 8 spacecraft after it returned to Earth and landed in the Pacific Ocean on Dec. 27, 1968. (NASA/AFP/Getty Images) A report came in around 11:40 a.m. local time that an older-model plane crashed into the water and sank near the north end of Jones Island, San Juan County Sheriff Eric Peter said. Greg Anders confirmed to KING-TV that his father's body was recovered Friday afternoon. Only the pilot was on board the Beech A45 airplane at the time, according to the U.S. Federal Aviation Association, which is investigating the crash along with the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board. Remembering Apollo 8 William Anders said in an 1997 NASA oral history interview that he didn't think the Apollo 8 mission was risk-free but there were important national, patriotic and exploration reasons for going ahead. He estimated that there was about a one in three chance that the crew wouldn't make it back and the same chance the mission would be a success and the same chance that the mission wouldn't start to begin with. Anders recounted how Earth looked fragile and seemingly physically insignificant, yet was home. "We'd been going backwards and upside down, didn't really see the Earth or the sun, and when we rolled around and came around and saw the first Earthrise," he said. "That certainly was, by far, the most impressive thing. To see this very delicate, colourful orb, which to me looked like a Christmas tree ornament coming up over this very stark, ugly lunar landscape really contrasted." The Apollo 8 astronauts walk to a van heading for their Saturn V rocket for their moon orbit mission from Cape Kennedy, Fla., on Dec. 21, 1968. Leading the way is Commander Frank Borman, followed by James Lovell and Anders. (The Associated Press) Anders joined NASA in the 1960s. He did not go into space until Dec. 21, 1968, when Apollo 8 lifted off. Anders was the "rookie" on the crew, alongside Frank Borman, the mission commander, and James Lovell, who had flown with Borman on Gemini 7 in 1965 and later commanded the ill-fated Apollo 13. The three astronauts were greeted as national heroes when they splashed down in the Pacific Ocean and were feted as Time magazine's "Men of the Year." Anders was born on Oct. 17, 1933, in Hong Kong. At the time, his father was a navy lieutenant aboard the USS Panay, a U.S. gunboat in China's Yangtze River. In later life, Anders and his wife, Valerie, founded the Heritage Flight Museum in Washington state in 1996. It is now based at a regional airport in Burlington, Wash., and features aircraft, several antique military vehicles, a library and many artifacts donated by veterans, according to the museum's website. Two of his sons helped him run it. SpaceX launches, lands 4th test launch of its 37-storey Starship rocket The couple moved to Orcas Island in the San Juan archipelago in 1993, and kept a second home in their hometown of San Diego, according to a biography on the museum's website. They have six children and 13 grandchildren. Their current Washington home was in Anacortes. He later served on the Atomic Energy Commission, as the U.S. chairman of the joint U.S.-U.S.S.R. technology exchange program for nuclear fission and fusion power, and as ambassador to Norway. He later worked for General Electric and General Dynamics, according to his NASA biography.

Tezos developers unveil ‘Tezos X’, a major upgrade for the PoS blockchain

Tezos, the self-upgradable proof-of-stake (PoS) blockchain, has today unveiled "Tezos X", a new upgrade that's part of the project's roadmap to achieving greater usability and utility. According to details in a blog post, developers envision Tezos X as an upgrade that represents a major evolution of the original Tezos blockchain. When fully implemented, Tezos X would herald an integrated blockchain ecosystem that boasts greater performance, composability and interoperability. Tezos X vision – the evolution of Tezos Tezos is a smart contracts blockchain platform that launched after a $232 million initial coin offering (ICO) in 2017. Although it's failed to hit the highs expected when it went live, the project remains actively developed. The new vision is to move Tezos "from a monolithic blockchain, where every blockchain node replicates everything, to a fully modular design with an integrated experience." According to the developer team, a "modu-lithic" ecosystem means the blockchain continues to be highly decentralized as specialized modules help different user groups interact within a highly efficient environment. In this case, Tezos X highlights a design where accounts, applications and transaction history migrate to the "canonical rollup", freeing the layer-1 chain to only handle consensus and settlement. "Freeing up layer 1 resources means everything can run faster without requiring powerful hardware to secure the network," Tezos developers wrote. This approach does not only mean a considerable boost in on-chain performance, but also enhances Tezos composability and interoperability. Tezos X in the works since 2022 Developers began working towards massively scaling Tezos in early 2022 via Smart Rollups. This is a scaling technology that allows for an optimized and dedicated second layer to execute transactions, the L1 guarantees consensus and settlement. "Free from the burden of also having to process every transaction and computation, the L1 would become significantly faster, with even lower latency. The lighter load also means bakers would still be able to secure the network with low-spec hardware, ensuring decentralization" Tezos developers noted. Also important in this mission is the dedicated Data-Availability layer. This ensures that the Tezos mainnet can handle huge amounts of data from rollup users, all in a fully decentralized way. With these features, Tezos X sees a single canonical rollup being capable of handling all activity on the network.

crypto

Tezos developers unveil ‘Tezos X’, a major upgrade for the PoS blockchain. Tezos, the self-upgradable proof-of-stake (PoS) blockchain, has today unveiled "Tezos X", a new upgrade that's part of the project's roadmap to achieving greater usability and utility. According to details in a blog post, developers envision Tezos X as an upgrade that represents a major evolution of the original Tezos blockchain. When fully implemented, Tezos X would herald an integrated blockchain ecosystem that boasts greater performance, composability and interoperability. Tezos X vision – the evolution of Tezos Tezos is a smart contracts blockchain platform that launched after a $232 million initial coin offering (ICO) in 2017. Although it's failed to hit the highs expected when it went live, the project remains actively developed. The new vision is to move Tezos "from a monolithic blockchain, where every blockchain node replicates everything, to a fully modular design with an integrated experience." According to the developer team, a "modu-lithic" ecosystem means the blockchain continues to be highly decentralized as specialized modules help different user groups interact within a highly efficient environment. In this case, Tezos X highlights a design where accounts, applications and transaction history migrate to the "canonical rollup", freeing the layer-1 chain to only handle consensus and settlement. "Freeing up layer 1 resources means everything can run faster without requiring powerful hardware to secure the network," Tezos developers wrote. This approach does not only mean a considerable boost in on-chain performance, but also enhances Tezos composability and interoperability. Tezos X in the works since 2022 Developers began working towards massively scaling Tezos in early 2022 via Smart Rollups. This is a scaling technology that allows for an optimized and dedicated second layer to execute transactions, the L1 guarantees consensus and settlement. "Free from the burden of also having to process every transaction and computation, the L1 would become significantly faster, with even lower latency. The lighter load also means bakers would still be able to secure the network with low-spec hardware, ensuring decentralization" Tezos developers noted. Also important in this mission is the dedicated Data-Availability layer. This ensures that the Tezos mainnet can handle huge amounts of data from rollup users, all in a fully decentralized way. With these features, Tezos X sees a single canonical rollup being capable of handling all activity on the network.

Melendez hits grand slam on 12th pitch, Royals beat Dodgers 7-2 as Yamamoto leaves early

Kansas City Royals shortstop Bobby Witt Jr. can't get to a ball hit for a single by Los Angeles Dodgers' Mookie Betts during the first inning of a baseball game Saturday, June 15, 2024, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill) The Associated Press LOS ANGELES -- MJ Melendez hit a grand slam to conclude a 12-pitch at-bat, Seth Lugo became the AL's first 10-game winner and the Kansas City Royals defeated the Los Angeles Dodgers 7-2 Saturday night as Yoshinobu Yamamoto's start was cut short after two innings due to triceps tightness. Kansas City loaded the bases on three straight walks by Blake Treinen. Melendez fouled off six straight pitches with a 2-2 count, but worked the count full when Treinen threw a cutter inside. Treinen went to the cutter again on the next pitch, but it was slightly elevated inside the strike zone as Melendez drove it over the right-field wall for his first career grand slam and a 5-2 lead. Kansas City had dropped five of six coming in. According to Baseball Reference, it is only the second time since 1970 there has been a grand slam on a full count with at least 12 pitches in the at-bat. In 2018, Mookie Betts cleared the bases for Boston on the 13th pitch against Toronto's J.A. Happ. Lugo (10-2) allowed two runs and six hits in six innings. The right-hander — who also leads the AL in innings (97 1/3) and is fifth in ERA (2.40) — struck out four and walked one to join Philadelphia's Ranger Suárez as the only pitchers in the majors with 10 wins. Yamamoto, who had thrown over 100 pitches in four consecutive starts going into Saturday, had his scheduled start on Thursday against Texas pushed back for extra rest. The right-hander threw only 14 strikes on 28 pitches against the Royals. He allowed one hit and one walk with one strikeout. Gavin Lux had a two-run single with the bases loaded in the fourth gave the Dodgers a 2-1 lead. Los Angeles has lost three of four. TRAINER'S ROOM Royals: C Salvador Perez was out of the lineup due to right knee inflammation after leaving during the eighth inning of Friday's game. An MRI didn't show anything structurally wrong. "The fact that he's day to day and not going on the IL is a big help for us," manager Matt Quatraro said. Dodgers: 3B Max Muncy (right oblique strain) is taking another week off from swinging and is just fielding grounders and running. Manager Dave Roberts said "I don't know a timeline but it is even slower than we all expected." UP NEXT The teams wrap up their series Sunday afternoon. Dodgers RHP Tyler Glasnow (6-5, 3.24) is 3-0 in day games. Royals RHP Brady Singer (4-3, 3.30) allowed seven runs (six earned) in his last start on June 11 against the Yankees.

sports

Melendez hits grand slam on 12th pitch, Royals beat Dodgers 7-2 as Yamamoto leaves early. Kansas City Royals shortstop Bobby Witt Jr. can't get to a ball hit for a single by Los Angeles Dodgers' Mookie Betts during the first inning of a baseball game Saturday, June 15, 2024, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill) The Associated Press LOS ANGELES -- MJ Melendez hit a grand slam to conclude a 12-pitch at-bat, Seth Lugo became the AL's first 10-game winner and the Kansas City Royals defeated the Los Angeles Dodgers 7-2 Saturday night as Yoshinobu Yamamoto's start was cut short after two innings due to triceps tightness. Kansas City loaded the bases on three straight walks by Blake Treinen. Melendez fouled off six straight pitches with a 2-2 count, but worked the count full when Treinen threw a cutter inside. Treinen went to the cutter again on the next pitch, but it was slightly elevated inside the strike zone as Melendez drove it over the right-field wall for his first career grand slam and a 5-2 lead. Kansas City had dropped five of six coming in. According to Baseball Reference, it is only the second time since 1970 there has been a grand slam on a full count with at least 12 pitches in the at-bat. In 2018, Mookie Betts cleared the bases for Boston on the 13th pitch against Toronto's J.A. Happ. Lugo (10-2) allowed two runs and six hits in six innings. The right-hander — who also leads the AL in innings (97 1/3) and is fifth in ERA (2.40) — struck out four and walked one to join Philadelphia's Ranger Suárez as the only pitchers in the majors with 10 wins. Yamamoto, who had thrown over 100 pitches in four consecutive starts going into Saturday, had his scheduled start on Thursday against Texas pushed back for extra rest. The right-hander threw only 14 strikes on 28 pitches against the Royals. He allowed one hit and one walk with one strikeout. Gavin Lux had a two-run single with the bases loaded in the fourth gave the Dodgers a 2-1 lead. Los Angeles has lost three of four. TRAINER'S ROOM Royals: C Salvador Perez was out of the lineup due to right knee inflammation after leaving during the eighth inning of Friday's game. An MRI didn't show anything structurally wrong. "The fact that he's day to day and not going on the IL is a big help for us," manager Matt Quatraro said. Dodgers: 3B Max Muncy (right oblique strain) is taking another week off from swinging and is just fielding grounders and running. Manager Dave Roberts said "I don't know a timeline but it is even slower than we all expected." UP NEXT The teams wrap up their series Sunday afternoon. Dodgers RHP Tyler Glasnow (6-5, 3.24) is 3-0 in day games. Royals RHP Brady Singer (4-3, 3.30) allowed seven runs (six earned) in his last start on June 11 against the Yankees.

Could rat birth control work in Ottawa?

This woman claims she's killed nearly 500 rats in her backyard in one year alone. Could putting the rodents on birth control be the solution to reducing their population? CBC takes a dive down the rathole to find out. For rats in Ottawa's Heron Park neighbourhood, Melanie Giroux has become something like the Grim Reaper. Giroux estimates she's trapped and killed many hundreds of the rodents since her backyard became infested in 2021. That year alone, she bagged nearly 500 using black reusable traps. Despite that prolific record, Giroux said it hasn't gotten any easier. Can I kill rats, raccoons and other pests in Ottawa? "You get the heebie-jeebies basically every time you have to deal with putting one in a bag and disposing of it," she said. Now the City of Ottawa, faced with a rise in the number of rat-related complaints, is looking to move beyond poison and traps to consider what it sees as a more humane alternative: birth control. Last week, city council directed staff to write to Health Canada's pest management regulatory agency asking it to consider legalizing humane rat fertility reduction bait. 'The pressure is on' In 2023, the city responded to nearly 750 rat-related calls, prompting the creation of a "rat mitigation working group." The challenge for cities and their human residents is that rats multiply quickly. Rat moms give birth to about eight babies per litter. After three to four weeks, both the babies and their mother are ready to breed again, meaning one female could generate 15,000 descendants in a single year. That's one of the reasons why College ward Coun. Laine Johnson has pitched the idea of putting Ottawa's rats on birth control. Melanie Giroux uses a stick to demonstrate the deadly power of one of the rat traps in her backyard in Ottawa's Heron Park neighbourhood. Giroux says she's trapped and killed hundreds of the rapidly reproducing rodents since they began infesting the area in 2021. (Nick Persaud/CBC) "Cities are being asked to build more than ever before," Johnson told CBC. "And with that, we are disrupting rat habitats." With ongoing LRT-related construction, residents are seeing more rats than ever before — and they're demanding a solution. "The pressure is on," Johnson said. Giroux's rat infestation started in 2021, during work to extend the nearby Trillium Line in Ottawa's south end. She believes the LRT construction disrupted the rats' habitat and they fled to a dumpster located near her backyard fence. "If no one eliminates them, they are going to keep reproducing and we are going to get another boom," she told CBC. Another rat falls victim to one of the reusable traps dotting Giroux's backyard. (CBC) But the push to legalize the birth reduction bait could take time. The approval process alone, which includes a complete scientific review of the product, could take up to two years, according to Health Canada. The federal agency told CBC only one product for animal contraception is currently approved in Canada. Ovocontrol, approved in 2017 and used as a bait to limit the hatching of pigeon eggs, has been in used in Toronto for a year now. How the contraceptive works The contraceptive Ottawa is looking into is called Evolve soft bait. The active ingredient — cottonseed oil — is supposed to interfere with the reproductive systems of both male and female rats. There are some concerns, including what happens to dogs or squirrels that consume the bait. The company behind the product, Senestech, says it could make pets temporarily infertile if they consume large amounts over an extended period, but it won't kill other species. Coun. Laine Johnson recently tabled a motion directing city staff to ask Health Canada's pest management regulatory agency to consider legalizing humane rat fertility reduction bait. (Kate Porter/CBC) Loretta Mayer, the scientist behind the formula for the first-ever rat contraceptive, said baited poisons and traps don't really work because they don't get all the rats. "The ones you don't get reproduce," she explained. "So the root cause is reproduction." Mayer, who worked for Senestech, said the rodent contraceptives have been used in several major U.S cities including Boston, Washington D.C, San Francisco and Chicago. "We're now looking to present our final data which is showing in a mixed neighborhood that is open population reductions that range from 80 per cent, but to a sustained 50 per cent throughout a neighborhood," she explained. Mayer spoke to CBC from New York where she was working to help manage that city's infamously rampant rat population through contraceptives. New York City proposed the pilot project after Flaco, an owl that escaped the Central Park Zoo, died in part from ingesting rat poison. Loretta Mayer, the scientist behind the formula for the first-ever rat birth control, says any city that wants to control its rodent population needs to target their ability to reproduce. (CBC) Birth control isn't the sole solution New York has tried to sterilize its rats before, but previous attempts have failed. According to Kaylee Byers, an assistant professor in the Faculty of Health Sciences at Simon Fraser University, contraception should only be used alongside other measures to control rat populations, such as improving garbage storage and pickup. Giroux's rat infestation began in 2021, after LRT construction in the area pushed the rodents to a nearby dumpster. (Submitted) She said New York has failed to control its rat population because its streets are still littered with food sources for the rodents. "The more food you have, the more rats can survive, so you really have to address aspects of waste management," she told CBC. Giroux doesn't know if birth control is the answer to her backyard infestation, but's she's certain she can't wait years for a solution.

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Could rat birth control work in Ottawa?. This woman claims she's killed nearly 500 rats in her backyard in one year alone. Could putting the rodents on birth control be the solution to reducing their population? CBC takes a dive down the rathole to find out. For rats in Ottawa's Heron Park neighbourhood, Melanie Giroux has become something like the Grim Reaper. Giroux estimates she's trapped and killed many hundreds of the rodents since her backyard became infested in 2021. That year alone, she bagged nearly 500 using black reusable traps. Despite that prolific record, Giroux said it hasn't gotten any easier. Can I kill rats, raccoons and other pests in Ottawa? "You get the heebie-jeebies basically every time you have to deal with putting one in a bag and disposing of it," she said. Now the City of Ottawa, faced with a rise in the number of rat-related complaints, is looking to move beyond poison and traps to consider what it sees as a more humane alternative: birth control. Last week, city council directed staff to write to Health Canada's pest management regulatory agency asking it to consider legalizing humane rat fertility reduction bait. 'The pressure is on' In 2023, the city responded to nearly 750 rat-related calls, prompting the creation of a "rat mitigation working group." The challenge for cities and their human residents is that rats multiply quickly. Rat moms give birth to about eight babies per litter. After three to four weeks, both the babies and their mother are ready to breed again, meaning one female could generate 15,000 descendants in a single year. That's one of the reasons why College ward Coun. Laine Johnson has pitched the idea of putting Ottawa's rats on birth control. Melanie Giroux uses a stick to demonstrate the deadly power of one of the rat traps in her backyard in Ottawa's Heron Park neighbourhood. Giroux says she's trapped and killed hundreds of the rapidly reproducing rodents since they began infesting the area in 2021. (Nick Persaud/CBC) "Cities are being asked to build more than ever before," Johnson told CBC. "And with that, we are disrupting rat habitats." With ongoing LRT-related construction, residents are seeing more rats than ever before — and they're demanding a solution. "The pressure is on," Johnson said. Giroux's rat infestation started in 2021, during work to extend the nearby Trillium Line in Ottawa's south end. She believes the LRT construction disrupted the rats' habitat and they fled to a dumpster located near her backyard fence. "If no one eliminates them, they are going to keep reproducing and we are going to get another boom," she told CBC. Another rat falls victim to one of the reusable traps dotting Giroux's backyard. (CBC) But the push to legalize the birth reduction bait could take time. The approval process alone, which includes a complete scientific review of the product, could take up to two years, according to Health Canada. The federal agency told CBC only one product for animal contraception is currently approved in Canada. Ovocontrol, approved in 2017 and used as a bait to limit the hatching of pigeon eggs, has been in used in Toronto for a year now. How the contraceptive works The contraceptive Ottawa is looking into is called Evolve soft bait. The active ingredient — cottonseed oil — is supposed to interfere with the reproductive systems of both male and female rats. There are some concerns, including what happens to dogs or squirrels that consume the bait. The company behind the product, Senestech, says it could make pets temporarily infertile if they consume large amounts over an extended period, but it won't kill other species. Coun. Laine Johnson recently tabled a motion directing city staff to ask Health Canada's pest management regulatory agency to consider legalizing humane rat fertility reduction bait. (Kate Porter/CBC) Loretta Mayer, the scientist behind the formula for the first-ever rat contraceptive, said baited poisons and traps don't really work because they don't get all the rats. "The ones you don't get reproduce," she explained. "So the root cause is reproduction." Mayer, who worked for Senestech, said the rodent contraceptives have been used in several major U.S cities including Boston, Washington D.C, San Francisco and Chicago. "We're now looking to present our final data which is showing in a mixed neighborhood that is open population reductions that range from 80 per cent, but to a sustained 50 per cent throughout a neighborhood," she explained. Mayer spoke to CBC from New York where she was working to help manage that city's infamously rampant rat population through contraceptives. New York City proposed the pilot project after Flaco, an owl that escaped the Central Park Zoo, died in part from ingesting rat poison. Loretta Mayer, the scientist behind the formula for the first-ever rat birth control, says any city that wants to control its rodent population needs to target their ability to reproduce. (CBC) Birth control isn't the sole solution New York has tried to sterilize its rats before, but previous attempts have failed. According to Kaylee Byers, an assistant professor in the Faculty of Health Sciences at Simon Fraser University, contraception should only be used alongside other measures to control rat populations, such as improving garbage storage and pickup. Giroux's rat infestation began in 2021, after LRT construction in the area pushed the rodents to a nearby dumpster. (Submitted) She said New York has failed to control its rat population because its streets are still littered with food sources for the rodents. "The more food you have, the more rats can survive, so you really have to address aspects of waste management," she told CBC. Giroux doesn't know if birth control is the answer to her backyard infestation, but's she's certain she can't wait years for a solution.

Court hears Manitoba man accused of killing family mentally fit to stand trial

A doctor has determined a Manitoba man accused of killing five family members, including his three young children, is mentally fit to stand trial. Ryan Manoakeesick is charged with five counts of first-degree murder in the deaths of his common-law partner, their children and his partner's teenage niece. Police discovered their bodies last month at multiple crime scenes in and around Carman, Man., a town of 3,000 people southwest of Winnipeg. A prosecutor said the results of the doctor's mental health assessment indicate a trial can go ahead. Manoakeesick did not appear in court, but a representative for his lawyer says they have accepted the assessment. Manoakeesick has been in custody since his arrest, and his next court date is set for June. Police have said they were first called to an area outside Carman for a report of a hit-and-run, where 30-year-old Amanda Clearwater was found lying dead in a ditch. Hours later, and 70 kilometres to the north, officers were called to a report of a burning vehicle. RCMP said the couple's children were found dead there -- Bethany, 6, Jayven, 4, and two-month-old Isabella -- and Manoakeesick was taken into custody. Diet drinks may boost risk of dangerous heart condition by 20 per cent, study says Montreal boy, 17, drowns in ocean waters during swim training in Florida Miscommunication led plane to crash land in 8 inches of snow in northern Ont. Half of the homes for sale in February in these 7 regions in the GTA cost more than $1 million: report Former OPP commissioner explains why information is slow to release after a major crime

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Court hears Manitoba man accused of killing family mentally fit to stand trial. A doctor has determined a Manitoba man accused of killing five family members, including his three young children, is mentally fit to stand trial. Ryan Manoakeesick is charged with five counts of first-degree murder in the deaths of his common-law partner, their children and his partner's teenage niece. Police discovered their bodies last month at multiple crime scenes in and around Carman, Man., a town of 3,000 people southwest of Winnipeg. A prosecutor said the results of the doctor's mental health assessment indicate a trial can go ahead. Manoakeesick did not appear in court, but a representative for his lawyer says they have accepted the assessment. Manoakeesick has been in custody since his arrest, and his next court date is set for June. Police have said they were first called to an area outside Carman for a report of a hit-and-run, where 30-year-old Amanda Clearwater was found lying dead in a ditch. Hours later, and 70 kilometres to the north, officers were called to a report of a burning vehicle. RCMP said the couple's children were found dead there -- Bethany, 6, Jayven, 4, and two-month-old Isabella -- and Manoakeesick was taken into custody. Diet drinks may boost risk of dangerous heart condition by 20 per cent, study says Montreal boy, 17, drowns in ocean waters during swim training in Florida Miscommunication led plane to crash land in 8 inches of snow in northern Ont. Half of the homes for sale in February in these 7 regions in the GTA cost more than $1 million: report Former OPP commissioner explains why information is slow to release after a major crime

TV tonight: it’s the last ever episode of Inside No 9

their deliciously dark cult-hit anthology series? They are keeping details about the final episode tightly under wraps (making it all the more intriguing), but – after a series that has boasted guest stars such as Natalie Dormer, Vinette Robinson and Mark Bonnar – it has been confirmed that they are the only two people who appear in it. A fitting ending. Hollie Richardson The Repair Shop 8pm, BBC One The last episode – before taking a break for the football – brings down the curtain with a real showstopper: a glam yellow gown dating to 1969 that once belonged to drag royalty Danny La Rue. Will it be "chiffon impossible" for the textile specialist Rebecca Bissonnet? Elsewhere, a rusted BMX requires some serious TLC. Graeme Virtue The Traitors US 8pm, BBC Three Alan Cumming opens the second season of the US show with an all‑celebrity cast, many of whom are reality stalwarts. The UK's contribution to the scheming cast of the castle is Love Island's Ekin-Su Cülcüloğlu and the former House of Commons speaker Romesh Ranganathan comes face to face with some lemurs on his Madagascan odyssey. Photograph: BBC/Rumpus Media The Misadventures of Romesh Ranganathan 9pm, BBC Two Ranganathan heads to Madagascar, the world's fourth-biggest island – but the only knowledge he has of it comes from the kids' animated films. To discover more, he befriends local taxi drivers, tries soup made from the penis of a variety of cattle called zebu (it strengthens you, apparently), visits the "mad queen" palace and discovers the beautiful nature under threat. HR Painting Birds With Jim and Nancy Moir 9pm, Sky Arts For the finale of their wholesome hobbyist series, Jim and Nancy head to Leinster in Ireland in search of little terns – and are lucky enough to see fluffy chicks on the beach. Later, the musician Imelda May and the birdwatcher David Lindo drop by for a chat. HR Alaska Daily 9pm, Alibi Eileen (Hilary Swank) and fellow reporter Rosalind (Grace Dove) uncover a lead in the case of the missing Indigenous woman Gloria Nanmac. "This story's deeply personal," says Ros. "It's about my community. My life." Elsewhere, Claire investigates why the owner of the beloved restaurant Rita's Diner is selling up. Ali Catterall Portrait of wartime Britain … Patricia Roc and Megs Jenkins in Millions Like Us. Photograph: Everett Collection/Alamy Millions Like Us (Sidney Gilliat and Frank Launder, 1943), 1.35am Thursday, Talking Pictures TV This skilful 1943 propaganda drama is less Keep Calm and Carry On, more Grumble and Get On With It. When war comes, ordinary British folk such as the Crowsons buckle down – Dad joins the Home Guard, daughter Phyllis signs up for the Auxiliary Territorial Service and young Celia (Patricia Roc) goes off to work in an aircraft factory. It's an affecting bundle of love, class-mingling and inevitable sacrifice – and a fascinating snapshot of how wartime Britain liked to see itself. Simon Wardell

entertainment

TV tonight: it’s the last ever episode of Inside No 9. their deliciously dark cult-hit anthology series? They are keeping details about the final episode tightly under wraps (making it all the more intriguing), but – after a series that has boasted guest stars such as Natalie Dormer, Vinette Robinson and Mark Bonnar – it has been confirmed that they are the only two people who appear in it. A fitting ending. Hollie Richardson The Repair Shop 8pm, BBC One The last episode – before taking a break for the football – brings down the curtain with a real showstopper: a glam yellow gown dating to 1969 that once belonged to drag royalty Danny La Rue. Will it be "chiffon impossible" for the textile specialist Rebecca Bissonnet? Elsewhere, a rusted BMX requires some serious TLC. Graeme Virtue The Traitors US 8pm, BBC Three Alan Cumming opens the second season of the US show with an all‑celebrity cast, many of whom are reality stalwarts. The UK's contribution to the scheming cast of the castle is Love Island's Ekin-Su Cülcüloğlu and the former House of Commons speaker Romesh Ranganathan comes face to face with some lemurs on his Madagascan odyssey. Photograph: BBC/Rumpus Media The Misadventures of Romesh Ranganathan 9pm, BBC Two Ranganathan heads to Madagascar, the world's fourth-biggest island – but the only knowledge he has of it comes from the kids' animated films. To discover more, he befriends local taxi drivers, tries soup made from the penis of a variety of cattle called zebu (it strengthens you, apparently), visits the "mad queen" palace and discovers the beautiful nature under threat. HR Painting Birds With Jim and Nancy Moir 9pm, Sky Arts For the finale of their wholesome hobbyist series, Jim and Nancy head to Leinster in Ireland in search of little terns – and are lucky enough to see fluffy chicks on the beach. Later, the musician Imelda May and the birdwatcher David Lindo drop by for a chat. HR Alaska Daily 9pm, Alibi Eileen (Hilary Swank) and fellow reporter Rosalind (Grace Dove) uncover a lead in the case of the missing Indigenous woman Gloria Nanmac. "This story's deeply personal," says Ros. "It's about my community. My life." Elsewhere, Claire investigates why the owner of the beloved restaurant Rita's Diner is selling up. Ali Catterall Portrait of wartime Britain … Patricia Roc and Megs Jenkins in Millions Like Us. Photograph: Everett Collection/Alamy Millions Like Us (Sidney Gilliat and Frank Launder, 1943), 1.35am Thursday, Talking Pictures TV This skilful 1943 propaganda drama is less Keep Calm and Carry On, more Grumble and Get On With It. When war comes, ordinary British folk such as the Crowsons buckle down – Dad joins the Home Guard, daughter Phyllis signs up for the Auxiliary Territorial Service and young Celia (Patricia Roc) goes off to work in an aircraft factory. It's an affecting bundle of love, class-mingling and inevitable sacrifice – and a fascinating snapshot of how wartime Britain liked to see itself. Simon Wardell