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Cathay Pacific to make Terminal 6 its new home at JFK

Hong Kong -based carrier Cathay Pacific, have announced an agreement for the airline to operate from Terminal 6 when the first five gates open to passengers in early 2026. In addition, Cathay Pacific will open a nearly 10,000 square foot lounge at Terminal 6 – its first dedicated lounge in the New York market and its second in the United States along with San Francisco International Airport. Cathay Pacific customers can also look forward to Terminal 6's digital-first, boutique guest experience, with a less than 5-minute average walk from the TSA security checkpoint exit to its gates. Rendering of the future Cathay Pacific check-in area at JFK Terminal 6 New York and New Jersey's $19 billion transformation of JFK Airport into a world-class gateway, with two new terminals, two expanded and modernized terminals, a new ground transportation center and an entirely new, simplified roadway network. "We are thrilled to partner with a world-renowned carrier like Cathay Pacific, who shares our vision and commitment to an outstanding guest experience," said Steve Thody, CEO, JFK Millennium Partners. "We can't wait to welcome Cathay Pacific's passengers to our world-class T6 facility, and we look forward to a long and successful partnership," Thody added. Cathay Pacific Senior Vice President, Americas Chris van den Hooven said: "This represents a huge milestone in Cathay Pacific's 28 years of connecting New York with our home, Hong Kong and from 1 July it will be 20 years since we commenced our regular non-stop service. It has long been our ambition to provide our customers a signature Cathay Pacific airport experience at JFK. We are delighted about our partnership with JFK Millennium Partners, which will make this dream a reality." Cathay Pacific General Manager Customer Experience and Design Vivian Lo said: "New York JFK is among the top locations in our global lounge strategy. We are truly excited by this opportunity to bring the signature Cathay Pacific lounge experience to our premium customers at this important port in our network. This new lounge will feature a number of exciting developments that will put it at the forefront of our lounge proposition, and we look forward to sharing more details with our customers at the appropriate time." Cathay Pacific has been a pioneer in connecting New York and Hong Kong since its inaugural flights in 1996, which initially made a stop in Vancouver. On July 1, 2004, a significant advancement occurred as the airline launched regular scheduled non-stop services, solidifying its reputation as one of the most established and longest-serving Asian airlines in North America. Celebrating two decades of continuous non-stop operations this year, Cathay Pacific's flights have been instrumental in fostering enhanced connectivity between two of the world's most dynamic cities. Today, Cathay Pacific operates three flights per day from JFK Terminal 8 to Hong Kong using Airbus A350 and Boeing 777 widebody aircraft. One of only a few Skytrax 5-star rated airlines in the world, Cathay Pacific joins other premium international carriers in choosing the new Terminal 6 as their future home at JFK airport. On March 31, 2024, Cathay Pacific reinstated its legendary First class service from JFK to Hong Kong International Airport (HKG), furthering the airline's commitment to the North American market and providing a superior long-haul flight experience between two of the world's most important financial centers. About JFK Terminal 6 Currently under construction at John F. Kennedy International Airport, and part of the Port Authority of New York & New Jersey's $19 billion redevelopment of JFK airport, Terminal 6 is being developed in two phases, with the first five gates opening in early 2026 and construction completion expected by 2028. New York City -inspired retail, dining options and amenities totaling nearly 100,000 square feet will create a unique New York sense of place. Terminal 6 airlines and their passengers will enjoy a boutique-style, world-class terminal that is digital-first, efficient and full of the latest passenger conveniences, technology and amenities, including: 10 gates, of which nine will accommodate widebody aircraft Less than 5 minute average walking distance from the TSA security screening exit to gates State-of-the-art automated baggage system, customs/border control facilities, and the latest TSA screening technologies One of the longest departures curbs at JFK, with airline-branded passenger drop-off zones Up to five airline lounges, in addition to a new arrivals lounge Digital concierge services A new ground transportation center A curated collection of New York City -inspired artwork featuring local and international artists, curated by the Public Art Fund in partnership with JMP and the Port Authority of New Jersey Sustainably-sourced building materials, rooftop solar power, and energy efficient systems and operating practices throughout the Terminal Sustainability certifications for LEED (silver or gold), Envision and SITES underway New York & New Jersey and JFK Millennium Partners – a consortium that includes Vantage Group, an industry leading investor, developer and manager of award-winning global airport projects, including LaGuardia Airport's Terminal B; American Triple I, a certified minority-owned investor, owner, developer and manager of infrastructure assets; RXR, an innovative New York real estate investor and developer; and JetBlue Airways, New York's hometown airline. When complete, Terminal 6 will connect seamlessly with Terminal 5 to create an anchor terminal on JFK International Airport's north side. For more information, visit anewjfk.com/jmp-terminal6/ Hong Kong, and a founding member of the one world global alliance. Cathay also comprises cargo division Cathay Cargo, low-cost carrier HK Express, and its lifestyle business. Cathay is a member of the Swire Group and is listed on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange (HKSE). Cathay is a premium travel lifestyle brand that brings together all that we love about travel with everyday lifestyle. The range of products and services includes flights, holidays, shopping, dining, wellness and payment. All our travel lifestyle offerings are designed to bring customers exciting offers, rewards, experiences and hand-picked partners. For more than seven decades, Cathay Pacific has been connecting our home city of

business

Cathay Pacific to make Terminal 6 its new home at JFK. Hong Kong -based carrier Cathay Pacific, have announced an agreement for the airline to operate from Terminal 6 when the first five gates open to passengers in early 2026. In addition, Cathay Pacific will open a nearly 10,000 square foot lounge at Terminal 6 – its first dedicated lounge in the New York market and its second in the United States along with San Francisco International Airport. Cathay Pacific customers can also look forward to Terminal 6's digital-first, boutique guest experience, with a less than 5-minute average walk from the TSA security checkpoint exit to its gates. Rendering of the future Cathay Pacific check-in area at JFK Terminal 6 New York and New Jersey's $19 billion transformation of JFK Airport into a world-class gateway, with two new terminals, two expanded and modernized terminals, a new ground transportation center and an entirely new, simplified roadway network. "We are thrilled to partner with a world-renowned carrier like Cathay Pacific, who shares our vision and commitment to an outstanding guest experience," said Steve Thody, CEO, JFK Millennium Partners. "We can't wait to welcome Cathay Pacific's passengers to our world-class T6 facility, and we look forward to a long and successful partnership," Thody added. Cathay Pacific Senior Vice President, Americas Chris van den Hooven said: "This represents a huge milestone in Cathay Pacific's 28 years of connecting New York with our home, Hong Kong and from 1 July it will be 20 years since we commenced our regular non-stop service. It has long been our ambition to provide our customers a signature Cathay Pacific airport experience at JFK. We are delighted about our partnership with JFK Millennium Partners, which will make this dream a reality." Cathay Pacific General Manager Customer Experience and Design Vivian Lo said: "New York JFK is among the top locations in our global lounge strategy. We are truly excited by this opportunity to bring the signature Cathay Pacific lounge experience to our premium customers at this important port in our network. This new lounge will feature a number of exciting developments that will put it at the forefront of our lounge proposition, and we look forward to sharing more details with our customers at the appropriate time." Cathay Pacific has been a pioneer in connecting New York and Hong Kong since its inaugural flights in 1996, which initially made a stop in Vancouver. On July 1, 2004, a significant advancement occurred as the airline launched regular scheduled non-stop services, solidifying its reputation as one of the most established and longest-serving Asian airlines in North America. Celebrating two decades of continuous non-stop operations this year, Cathay Pacific's flights have been instrumental in fostering enhanced connectivity between two of the world's most dynamic cities. Today, Cathay Pacific operates three flights per day from JFK Terminal 8 to Hong Kong using Airbus A350 and Boeing 777 widebody aircraft. One of only a few Skytrax 5-star rated airlines in the world, Cathay Pacific joins other premium international carriers in choosing the new Terminal 6 as their future home at JFK airport. On March 31, 2024, Cathay Pacific reinstated its legendary First class service from JFK to Hong Kong International Airport (HKG), furthering the airline's commitment to the North American market and providing a superior long-haul flight experience between two of the world's most important financial centers. About JFK Terminal 6 Currently under construction at John F. Kennedy International Airport, and part of the Port Authority of New York & New Jersey's $19 billion redevelopment of JFK airport, Terminal 6 is being developed in two phases, with the first five gates opening in early 2026 and construction completion expected by 2028. New York City -inspired retail, dining options and amenities totaling nearly 100,000 square feet will create a unique New York sense of place. Terminal 6 airlines and their passengers will enjoy a boutique-style, world-class terminal that is digital-first, efficient and full of the latest passenger conveniences, technology and amenities, including: 10 gates, of which nine will accommodate widebody aircraft Less than 5 minute average walking distance from the TSA security screening exit to gates State-of-the-art automated baggage system, customs/border control facilities, and the latest TSA screening technologies One of the longest departures curbs at JFK, with airline-branded passenger drop-off zones Up to five airline lounges, in addition to a new arrivals lounge Digital concierge services A new ground transportation center A curated collection of New York City -inspired artwork featuring local and international artists, curated by the Public Art Fund in partnership with JMP and the Port Authority of New Jersey Sustainably-sourced building materials, rooftop solar power, and energy efficient systems and operating practices throughout the Terminal Sustainability certifications for LEED (silver or gold), Envision and SITES underway New York & New Jersey and JFK Millennium Partners – a consortium that includes Vantage Group, an industry leading investor, developer and manager of award-winning global airport projects, including LaGuardia Airport's Terminal B; American Triple I, a certified minority-owned investor, owner, developer and manager of infrastructure assets; RXR, an innovative New York real estate investor and developer; and JetBlue Airways, New York's hometown airline. When complete, Terminal 6 will connect seamlessly with Terminal 5 to create an anchor terminal on JFK International Airport's north side. For more information, visit anewjfk.com/jmp-terminal6/ Hong Kong, and a founding member of the one world global alliance. Cathay also comprises cargo division Cathay Cargo, low-cost carrier HK Express, and its lifestyle business. Cathay is a member of the Swire Group and is listed on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange (HKSE). Cathay is a premium travel lifestyle brand that brings together all that we love about travel with everyday lifestyle. The range of products and services includes flights, holidays, shopping, dining, wellness and payment. All our travel lifestyle offerings are designed to bring customers exciting offers, rewards, experiences and hand-picked partners. For more than seven decades, Cathay Pacific has been connecting our home city of

Presidential debate important moment to demonstrate 'the way our democracy works': U.S. ambassador

The U.S. Ambassador to Canada says Thursday's presidential election between incumbent Democrat Joe Biden and his Republican rival former president Donald Trump will be "an important moment in demonstrating the way our democracy works." In an interview on CTV's Question Period airing Sunday, David Cohen emphasized to host Vassy Kapelos that while his role is apolitical so he cannot be perceived as being engaged in the presidential election, he's "a big fan of debates." "I think debates are an opportunity for the public to be able to see both candidates, or all candidates, talking to the American public, where each other is present, and an opportunity for candidates and moderators to correct disinformation or misinformation that is articulated by either candidate," Cohen said. "I think all debates are important parts of the democratic process," he added. "They're important parts of our free and fair election process." Download the CTV News App for breaking news alerts and video on all the top stories The debate, hosted by CNN with simulcast coverage on CTV News Channel, will make history as the first-ever debate between sitting and former presidents. The head-to-head could also prove to be a defining moment in the race, where both candidates have little margin for error, especially in crucial swing states. Meanwhile, amid fears of foreign meddling in the upcoming election, the ambassador called foreign interference "one of the most scary threats to democracy." U.S. intelligence agencies are watching closely, and say they are ready to alert the public if necessary. Foreign interference and allegations of treason have also dominated debate on Parliament Hill in recent weeks, following a report by the National Security and Intelligence Committee of Parliamentarians, which concluded some MPs and senators have "wittingly or unwittingly" aided foreign actors. In his interview, Cohen pointed to advancements in artificial intelligence as one of the factors making the risk of foreign interference "a very scary scene." When asked whether the U.S. administration is watching the debate on Parliament Hill around potential foreign agents, Cohen said the issue is "certainly of interest." Cohen in his interview also discussed the NATO defence-spending promise, saying "the United States' position is very clear:" Canada needs to spend more, but our closest ally south of the border does not "measure Canada's commitment to defence by reference to any single metric." Canada has long faced calls to hit the agreed-upon target of spending two per cent of GDP on defence, with further pushes from allies in the last several months as it's become the only member nation without a plan to meet the goal. Cohen, as have other officials from the security alliance, commended Canada on its other efforts, including its work in Latvia and Haiti, its contributions to Ukraine and fortifications to Arctic defence. "That's the kind of commitment that we're looking for, and what we're seeing," Cohen said. "I've been quite clear on this show and elsewhere that we're looking for Canada to continue to increase its spending on defence," he also said. "I think, like NATO, we have advocated with Canada that it would be in their best interest to be able to make that commitment with a time horizon on it, and a reasonable time horizon on it." You can watch Cohen's full interview on CTV's Question Period Sunday at 11 a.m. ET or in the video player at the top of this article. Helicopters scramble to rescue people in flooded Iowa town while much of U.S. toils again in heat After months stuck on the Dali, most crew members will finally deboard as the cargo ship prepares to leave Baltimore Now an abortion rights advocate, woman raped by stepfather as a child will campaign with U.S. first lady Bugatti's new car is a US$4 million, 1,800 horsepower hybrid

politics

Presidential debate important moment to demonstrate 'the way our democracy works': U.S. ambassador. The U.S. Ambassador to Canada says Thursday's presidential election between incumbent Democrat Joe Biden and his Republican rival former president Donald Trump will be "an important moment in demonstrating the way our democracy works." In an interview on CTV's Question Period airing Sunday, David Cohen emphasized to host Vassy Kapelos that while his role is apolitical so he cannot be perceived as being engaged in the presidential election, he's "a big fan of debates." "I think debates are an opportunity for the public to be able to see both candidates, or all candidates, talking to the American public, where each other is present, and an opportunity for candidates and moderators to correct disinformation or misinformation that is articulated by either candidate," Cohen said. "I think all debates are important parts of the democratic process," he added. "They're important parts of our free and fair election process." Download the CTV News App for breaking news alerts and video on all the top stories The debate, hosted by CNN with simulcast coverage on CTV News Channel, will make history as the first-ever debate between sitting and former presidents. The head-to-head could also prove to be a defining moment in the race, where both candidates have little margin for error, especially in crucial swing states. Meanwhile, amid fears of foreign meddling in the upcoming election, the ambassador called foreign interference "one of the most scary threats to democracy." U.S. intelligence agencies are watching closely, and say they are ready to alert the public if necessary. Foreign interference and allegations of treason have also dominated debate on Parliament Hill in recent weeks, following a report by the National Security and Intelligence Committee of Parliamentarians, which concluded some MPs and senators have "wittingly or unwittingly" aided foreign actors. In his interview, Cohen pointed to advancements in artificial intelligence as one of the factors making the risk of foreign interference "a very scary scene." When asked whether the U.S. administration is watching the debate on Parliament Hill around potential foreign agents, Cohen said the issue is "certainly of interest." Cohen in his interview also discussed the NATO defence-spending promise, saying "the United States' position is very clear:" Canada needs to spend more, but our closest ally south of the border does not "measure Canada's commitment to defence by reference to any single metric." Canada has long faced calls to hit the agreed-upon target of spending two per cent of GDP on defence, with further pushes from allies in the last several months as it's become the only member nation without a plan to meet the goal. Cohen, as have other officials from the security alliance, commended Canada on its other efforts, including its work in Latvia and Haiti, its contributions to Ukraine and fortifications to Arctic defence. "That's the kind of commitment that we're looking for, and what we're seeing," Cohen said. "I've been quite clear on this show and elsewhere that we're looking for Canada to continue to increase its spending on defence," he also said. "I think, like NATO, we have advocated with Canada that it would be in their best interest to be able to make that commitment with a time horizon on it, and a reasonable time horizon on it." You can watch Cohen's full interview on CTV's Question Period Sunday at 11 a.m. ET or in the video player at the top of this article. Helicopters scramble to rescue people in flooded Iowa town while much of U.S. toils again in heat After months stuck on the Dali, most crew members will finally deboard as the cargo ship prepares to leave Baltimore Now an abortion rights advocate, woman raped by stepfather as a child will campaign with U.S. first lady Bugatti's new car is a US$4 million, 1,800 horsepower hybrid

Championship clubs hail ‘new era’ after approval of promotion to Premiership

Championship clubs have welcomed the approval of promotion to the Premiership as a "new era" for the professional game in England. The Rugby Football Union's council has ratified a two-match home and away playoff between the bottom-placed Premiership club and the winner of the Championship, starting from the 2025-26 season. The Breakdown | Premiership final masks turmoil simmering below rugby's surface Read more It means there could be movement between the top two divisions for the first time since Saracens returned to the top flight in 2021 after receiving a 105-point deduction for salary cap breaches, resulting in their relegation 12 months earlier. In addition, Friday's meeting saw the RFU council vote to relax the minimum operating standards for promotion, with the deadline for achieving those standards spread over four seasons. An independently chaired Tier 2 board is also to be set up, giving the Championship greater control over commercial deals. "We have got what we came for. Now our clubs – and every club – can realistically dream of promotion to the Premiership," Championship chairman Simon Halliday said.

sports

Championship clubs hail ‘new era’ after approval of promotion to Premiership. Championship clubs have welcomed the approval of promotion to the Premiership as a "new era" for the professional game in England. The Rugby Football Union's council has ratified a two-match home and away playoff between the bottom-placed Premiership club and the winner of the Championship, starting from the 2025-26 season. The Breakdown | Premiership final masks turmoil simmering below rugby's surface Read more It means there could be movement between the top two divisions for the first time since Saracens returned to the top flight in 2021 after receiving a 105-point deduction for salary cap breaches, resulting in their relegation 12 months earlier. In addition, Friday's meeting saw the RFU council vote to relax the minimum operating standards for promotion, with the deadline for achieving those standards spread over four seasons. An independently chaired Tier 2 board is also to be set up, giving the Championship greater control over commercial deals. "We have got what we came for. Now our clubs – and every club – can realistically dream of promotion to the Premiership," Championship chairman Simon Halliday said.

Federal byelection called in Liberal stronghold of Toronto-St. Paul's

Federal byelection called in Liberal stronghold of Toronto-St. Paul's Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has called a byelection in the riding of Toronto-St. Paul's, a key Liberal stronghold that was long held by former cabinet minister Carolyn Bennett. Seat was held by former cabinet minister Carolyn Bennett for 27 years Social Sharing A byelection has been called for the riding of Toronto-St. Paul's, to fill a seat left by the resignation of longtime MP and former cabinet minister Carolyn Bennett. The election will be held on June 24, 2024. The Liberals will look to retain a stronghold in Toronto, while the Conservatives and NDP are hoping to make a gain, as the governing party struggles in public polling. Bennett held the seat for 27 years, serving during her tenure as minister of Crown-Indigenous relations and minister of mental health and addictions. She resigned her seat in January and is now Canada's ambassador to Denmark. The Liberals have nominated political staffer Leslie Church to carry their banner in the byelection. The Conservatives have nominated financial services worker Don Stewart, and the NDP announced in April that non-profit director Amrit Parhar will be their candidate. Bennett had established Toronto-St. Paul's as a Liberal stronghold, winning with comfortable margins in most elections and even comfortably retaining the seat in the 2011 federal election, which saw the Liberals reduced to third party status. Conservatives typically place second in the riding, and the NDP third.

canada

Federal byelection called in Liberal stronghold of Toronto-St. Paul's. Federal byelection called in Liberal stronghold of Toronto-St. Paul's Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has called a byelection in the riding of Toronto-St. Paul's, a key Liberal stronghold that was long held by former cabinet minister Carolyn Bennett. Seat was held by former cabinet minister Carolyn Bennett for 27 years Social Sharing A byelection has been called for the riding of Toronto-St. Paul's, to fill a seat left by the resignation of longtime MP and former cabinet minister Carolyn Bennett. The election will be held on June 24, 2024. The Liberals will look to retain a stronghold in Toronto, while the Conservatives and NDP are hoping to make a gain, as the governing party struggles in public polling. Bennett held the seat for 27 years, serving during her tenure as minister of Crown-Indigenous relations and minister of mental health and addictions. She resigned her seat in January and is now Canada's ambassador to Denmark. The Liberals have nominated political staffer Leslie Church to carry their banner in the byelection. The Conservatives have nominated financial services worker Don Stewart, and the NDP announced in April that non-profit director Amrit Parhar will be their candidate. Bennett had established Toronto-St. Paul's as a Liberal stronghold, winning with comfortable margins in most elections and even comfortably retaining the seat in the 2011 federal election, which saw the Liberals reduced to third party status. Conservatives typically place second in the riding, and the NDP third.

BioMarin Presents New Phase 3, Four-Year Data Underscoring Long-Term Safety and Efficacy of ROCTAVIAN® (valoctocogene roxaparvovec-rvox) at International Society on Thrombosis and Haemostasis 2024 Congress

Data from Longest and Largest Hemophilia Gene Therapy Study Show Durable and Sustained Bleed Control and Factor VIII Expression Maintained Four Years Post-ROCTAVIAN Infusion SAN RAFAEL, Calif., June 7, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- BioMarin Pharmaceutical Inc. (Nasdaq: BMRN ) today announced that new data supporting the long-term safety and efficacy of ROCTAVIAN ® (valoctocogene roxaparvovec-rvox) will be presented at the 32nd Congress of the International Society on Thrombosis and Haemostasis (ISTH) in June 22-26, 2024. "We are pleased to share data at ISTH demonstrating that ROCTAVIAN continues to offer durable and sustained bleed control and endogenous factor VIII expression four years after the infusion, representing the longest and largest Phase 3 follow-up results of a gene therapy in hemophilia," said Hank Fuchs, M.D., president of Worldwide Research and Development at BioMarin. "Importantly, these Phase 3 data also indicate a plateauing of factor VIII levels after year three with the majority of patients remaining off prophylaxis, which shows ROCTAVIAN can offer long-term bleed protection for adults with severe hemophilia A and may provide relief from the burden of chronic infusions and injections." Four-Year Data from Largest Phase 3 Hemophilia Gene Therapy Study Demonstrate Long-Term Safety and Efficacy of ROCTAVIAN The Phase 3 GENEr8-1 trial demonstrated that durable bleed control and sustained factor VIII (FVIII) expression were maintained four years after treatment with ROCTAVIAN, with FVIII activity near stable compared with results reported previously and no new safety signals observed. Of the 134 patients who received ROCTAVIAN in the study, the rollover population of 112 patients had baseline annualized bleeding rate (ABR) data prospectively collected during a period of at least six months while on routine FVIII prophylaxis prior to receiving ROCTAVIAN, and two of the 112 patients discontinued the study prior to year four. During year four, 73.6% of the remaining participants (81/110) had zero treated bleeds. Over the entire study period to the time of the data cut, 24 of the 134 total participants resumed prophylaxis with either FVIII or emicizumab without any complications. Mean FVIII activity at the end of year four (n=130) was 27.1 and 16.1 IU/dL as assessed by one-stage assay (OSA) and chromogenic assay (CSA), respectively. These levels are near stable from the previously reported three-year data. Over four years, the mean ABR for treated bleeds for the rollover population was 0.8 bleeds/year, and the mean ABR for all bleeds was 1.3 bleeds/year. Table 1. Rates of bleeding and FVIII use over four years post-ROCTAVIAN treatment in the rollover population (N=112) Results Suggest Positive Impact of ROCTAVIAN on Health-Related Quality of Life In an additional analysis from the Phase 3 GENEr8-1 study, ROCTAVIAN provided important improvements in health-related quality of life (HRQoL) over four years in people with severe hemophilia A, even for those with FVIII levels below 5%. These improvements were measured using the Haemo-QOL-A assessment, a questionnaire designed to measure HRQoL in people with hemophilia A and B. Four years after treatment, the average Haemo-QOL-A Total Score increased by 6.2 points from baseline, with improvements observed in Physical Functioning (4.8 points), Role Functioning (5.9 points), and Consequences of Bleeding (9.2 points). Based on FVIII activity at year four, average Haemo-QOL-A Total Score increased by 6.3, 5.8, and 6.9 points for participants with FVIII activity in ranges ≥40%, ≥5% to <40%, and <5%, respectively. "People living with severe hemophilia A often experience burdens associated with lifelong treatment, such as the need for frequent infusions or injections, as well as health complications associated with bleeds," said Flora Peyvandi, M.D., Ph.D., ISTH president and study author. "These data demonstrate the meaningful, positive impact that ROCTAVIAN treatment can have on patients' quality of life, especially in helping them move more freely and reducing the burden of caring for bleeding episodes." Phase 2 Data Show Seven-Year Safety and Efficacy of ROCTAVIAN Additional data to be presented at ISTH, previously shared at the 2024 European Association for Haemophilia and Allied Disorders Congress, include Phase 2 results that demonstrated the majority of adults with severe hemophilia A treated with ROCTAVIAN maintained bleed control seven years after the infusion, with only two of seven participants resuming prophylaxis. At year seven, in the cohort that received ROCTAVIAN at a dose of 6x10^13 vg/kg (n=5), median FVIII activity remained in the mild hemophilia range (10.3 IU/dL per chromogenic assay), and the mean ABR decreased by 96% from baseline. BioMarin's full list of presentations at ISTH includes: Oral Presentations: Seven-Year Follow-Up of Valoctocogene Roxaparvovec Gene Therapy for Haemophilia A #OC 30.1 Monday, June 24, 2024, 9:30 – 9:45 a.m. ICT Efficacy and Safety of Valoctocogene Roxaparvovec Four Years After Gene Transfer in GENEr8-1 #OC 30.2 Monday, June 24, 2024, 9:45 – 10:00 a.m. ICT Health-Related Quality-of-Life Outcomes Four Years After Treatment with Valoctocogene Roxaparvovec #OC 30.3 Monday, June 24, 2024, 10:00 – 10:15 a.m. ICT About Hemophilia A Hemophilia A, also called factor VIII (FVIII) deficiency or classic hemophilia, is an X-linked genetic disorder caused by missing or defective FVIII, a clotting protein. Although it is passed down from parents to children, about one-third of cases are caused by a spontaneous mutation, a new mutation that was not inherited. Approximately 1 in 10,000 people have hemophilia A. About ROCTAVIAN ROCTAVIAN is an adeno-associated virus vector-based gene therapy used for the treatment of adults with severe hemophilia A who do not have antibodies to adeno-associated virus serotype 5 (AAV5), which is determined by a blood test. The one-time infusion works by delivering a functional gene that is designed to enable the body to produce FVIII on its own, reducing the need for ongoing prophylaxis. The European Commission (EC) granted conditional marketing authorization to ROCTAVIAN on August 24, 2022. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved ROCTAVIAN on June 29, 2023. More information on testing to determine eligibility to receive ROCTAVIAN can be found at in the U.S. and ROCTAVIAN U.S. Important Safety Information Contraindications: Patients with active infections, either acute (such as acute respiratory infections or acute hepatitis) or uncontrolled chronic (such as chronic active hepatitis B). Patients with known significant hepatic fibrosis (stage 3 or 4 on the Batts-Ludwig scale or equivalent), or cirrhosis, and patients with known hypersensitivity to mannitol. Infusion-related reactions including hypersensitivity reactions and anaphylaxis, have occurred. Monitor during and for at least 3 hours after ROCTAVIAN administration. Administer ROCTAVIAN in a setting where personnel and equipment are immediately available to treat infusion-related reactions. Discontinue infusion for anaphylaxis. Hepatotoxicity: The safety and effectiveness of ROCTAVIAN in patients with hepatic impairment has not been established. Perform liver health assessments prior to administration. The majority of patients treated with ROCTAVIAN experienced ALT elevations and required corticosteroids for ALT elevation. Assess patient's ability to receive corticosteroids and/or other immunosuppressive therapy that may be required for an extended period. Live vaccines should not be administered to patients while on immunosuppressive therapy. Monitor ALT weekly for at least 26 weeks and as clinically indicated, during corticosteroid therapy and institute corticosteroid treatment in response to ALT elevations as required. Continue to monitor ALT until it returns to baseline. Monitor factor VIII activity levels since ALT elevation may be accompanied by a decrease in factor VIII activity. One case of autoimmune hepatitis was reported during third year follow-up in a patient with history of hepatitis C and steatohepatitis. It is recommended that patients abstain from consuming alcohol for at least 1 year after administration and thereafter limit alcohol use. Concomitant medications may cause hepatotoxicity, decrease factor VIII activity, or change plasma corticosteroid levels which may impact liver enzyme elevation and/or factor VIII activity or decrease the efficacy of the corticosteroid regimen or increase their side effects. Closely monitor concomitant medication use including herbal products and nutritional supplements and consider alternative medications in case of potential drug interactions. Thromboembolic events: Factor VIII activity above ULN has been reported following ROCTAVIAN infusion. Thromboembolic events may occur in the setting of elevated factor VIII activity above ULN. Evaluate patients for risk of thrombosis including general cardiovascular risk factors before and after administration of ROCTAVIAN. Advise patients on their individual risk of thrombosis in relation to their factor VIII activity levels above ULN and consider prophylactic anticoagulation. Advise patients to seek immediate medical attention for signs or symptoms indicative of a thrombotic event. Factor VIII inhibitors and Monitoring for inhibitors: The safety and effectiveness of ROCTAVIAN in patients with prior or active factor VIII inhibitors have not been established. Patients with active factor VIII inhibitors should not take ROCTAVIAN. Following administration, monitor patients for factor VIII inhibitors (neutralizing antibodies to factor VIII). Test for factor VIII inhibitors especially if bleeding is not controlled, or plasma factor VIII activity levels decrease. Monitor Factor VIII using the same schedule for ALT monitoring. It may take several weeks after ROCTAVIAN infusion before ROCTAVIAN-derived factor VIII activity rises to a level sufficient for prevention of spontaneous bleeding episodes. Exogenous factor VIII or other hemostatic products may also be required in case of surgery, invasive procedures, trauma, or bleeds. Consider more frequent monitoring in patients with factor VIII activity levels ≤ 5 IU/dL and evidence of bleeding, taking into account the stability of factor VIII levels since the previous measurement. Factor VIII activity produced by ROCTAVIAN in human plasma is higher if measured with one-stage clotting assays compared to chromogenic substrate assays. When switching from hemostatic products prior to ROCTAVIAN treatment, physicians should refer to the relevant prescribing information to avoid the potential for factor VIII activity assay interference during the transition period. Malignancy: The integration of liver-targeting AAV vector DNA into the genome may carry the theoretical risk of hepatocellular carcinoma development. ROCTAVIAN can also insert into the DNA of other human body cells. Monitor patients with risk factors for hepatocellular carcinoma (e.g., hepatitis B or C, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, chronic alcohol consumption, non-alcoholic steatohepatitis, advanced age) with regular liver ultrasound (e.g., annually) and alpha-fetoprotein testing for 5 years following ROCTAVIAN administration. In the event that any malignancy occurs after treatment with ROCTAVIAN, contact BioMarin Pharmaceutical Inc. at 1-866-906-6100. Most Common Adverse Reactions: Most common adverse reactions (incidence ≥ 5%) were nausea, fatigue, headache, infusion-related reactions, vomiting, and abdominal pain. Most common laboratory abnormalities (incidence ≥ 10%) were ALT, AST, LDH, CPK, factor VIII activity levels, GGT and bilirubin > ULN. Patients also experienced adverse reactions from corticosteroid use. Isotretinoin, Efavirenz, and HIV Positive Patients: Isotretinoin is not recommended in patients who are benefiting from ROCTAVIAN. Efavirenz is not recommended in patients treated with ROCTAVIAN. Clinical studies of ROCTAVIAN did not include sufficient numbers of patients with HIV to determine whether the efficacy and safety differs compared to patients without HIV infection. Females and Males of Reproductive Potential: ROCTAVIAN is not intended for administration in women. There are no data on the use of ROCTAVIAN in pregnant women or regarding lactation. For 6 months after administration of ROCTAVIAN, men of reproductive potential and their female partners must prevent or postpone pregnancy using an effective form of contraception, and men must not donate semen. You may report side effects to the FDA at (800) FDA-1088 or www.fda.gov/medwatch. You may also report side effects to BioMarin at 1-866-906-6100. Please see the ROCTAVIAN full Prescribing Information for additional Important Safety Information. Founded in 1997, BioMarin is a global biotechnology company dedicated to transforming lives through genetic discovery. The company develops and commercializes targeted therapies that address the root cause of genetic conditions. BioMarin's unparalleled research and development capabilities have resulted in eight transformational commercial therapies for patients with rare genetic disorders. The company's distinctive approach to drug discovery has produced a diverse pipeline of commercial, clinical, and pre-clinical candidates that address a significant unmet medical need, have well-understood biology, and provide an opportunity to be first-to-market or offer a substantial benefit over existing treatment options. For additional information, please visit This press release contains forward-looking statements about the business prospects of BioMarin Pharmaceutical Inc. (BioMarin), including without limitation, statements about: data to be presented at the 32nd Congress of the International Society on Thrombosis and Haemostasis, including the oral and poster presentations; the development of BioMarin's ROCTAVIAN program generally; the safety profile, efficacy and potential positive impact of ROCTAVIAN for adults with severe hemophilia A; and the potential benefits of ROCTAVIAN for adults with severe hemophilia A, including offering long-term bleed protection, providing relief from the burden of chronic infusions and injections, helping treated patients move more freely and reducing the burden of caring for bleeding episodes. These forward-looking statements are predictions and involve risks and uncertainties such that actual results may differ materially from these statements. These risks and uncertainties include, among others: results and timing of current and planned preclinical studies and clinical trials of ROCTAVIAN; any potential adverse events observed in the continuing monitoring of the patients in the clinical trials; the content and timing of decisions by the Food and Drug Administration, the European Commission and other regulatory authorities; BioMarin's success in the commercialization of ROCTAVIAN, including achieving adequate market share and reimbursement levels; whether ROCTAVIAN will have the impacts and benefits as anticipated; and those factors detailed in BioMarin's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including, without limitation, the factors contained under the caption "Risk Factors" in BioMarin's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2024, as such factors may be updated by any subsequent reports. Stockholders are urged not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date hereof. BioMarin is under no obligation, and expressly disclaims any obligation to update or alter any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

health

BioMarin Presents New Phase 3, Four-Year Data Underscoring Long-Term Safety and Efficacy of ROCTAVIAN® (valoctocogene roxaparvovec-rvox) at International Society on Thrombosis and Haemostasis 2024 Congress. Data from Longest and Largest Hemophilia Gene Therapy Study Show Durable and Sustained Bleed Control and Factor VIII Expression Maintained Four Years Post-ROCTAVIAN Infusion SAN RAFAEL, Calif., June 7, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- BioMarin Pharmaceutical Inc. (Nasdaq: BMRN ) today announced that new data supporting the long-term safety and efficacy of ROCTAVIAN ® (valoctocogene roxaparvovec-rvox) will be presented at the 32nd Congress of the International Society on Thrombosis and Haemostasis (ISTH) in June 22-26, 2024. "We are pleased to share data at ISTH demonstrating that ROCTAVIAN continues to offer durable and sustained bleed control and endogenous factor VIII expression four years after the infusion, representing the longest and largest Phase 3 follow-up results of a gene therapy in hemophilia," said Hank Fuchs, M.D., president of Worldwide Research and Development at BioMarin. "Importantly, these Phase 3 data also indicate a plateauing of factor VIII levels after year three with the majority of patients remaining off prophylaxis, which shows ROCTAVIAN can offer long-term bleed protection for adults with severe hemophilia A and may provide relief from the burden of chronic infusions and injections." Four-Year Data from Largest Phase 3 Hemophilia Gene Therapy Study Demonstrate Long-Term Safety and Efficacy of ROCTAVIAN The Phase 3 GENEr8-1 trial demonstrated that durable bleed control and sustained factor VIII (FVIII) expression were maintained four years after treatment with ROCTAVIAN, with FVIII activity near stable compared with results reported previously and no new safety signals observed. Of the 134 patients who received ROCTAVIAN in the study, the rollover population of 112 patients had baseline annualized bleeding rate (ABR) data prospectively collected during a period of at least six months while on routine FVIII prophylaxis prior to receiving ROCTAVIAN, and two of the 112 patients discontinued the study prior to year four. During year four, 73.6% of the remaining participants (81/110) had zero treated bleeds. Over the entire study period to the time of the data cut, 24 of the 134 total participants resumed prophylaxis with either FVIII or emicizumab without any complications. Mean FVIII activity at the end of year four (n=130) was 27.1 and 16.1 IU/dL as assessed by one-stage assay (OSA) and chromogenic assay (CSA), respectively. These levels are near stable from the previously reported three-year data. Over four years, the mean ABR for treated bleeds for the rollover population was 0.8 bleeds/year, and the mean ABR for all bleeds was 1.3 bleeds/year. Table 1. Rates of bleeding and FVIII use over four years post-ROCTAVIAN treatment in the rollover population (N=112) Results Suggest Positive Impact of ROCTAVIAN on Health-Related Quality of Life In an additional analysis from the Phase 3 GENEr8-1 study, ROCTAVIAN provided important improvements in health-related quality of life (HRQoL) over four years in people with severe hemophilia A, even for those with FVIII levels below 5%. These improvements were measured using the Haemo-QOL-A assessment, a questionnaire designed to measure HRQoL in people with hemophilia A and B. Four years after treatment, the average Haemo-QOL-A Total Score increased by 6.2 points from baseline, with improvements observed in Physical Functioning (4.8 points), Role Functioning (5.9 points), and Consequences of Bleeding (9.2 points). Based on FVIII activity at year four, average Haemo-QOL-A Total Score increased by 6.3, 5.8, and 6.9 points for participants with FVIII activity in ranges ≥40%, ≥5% to <40%, and <5%, respectively. "People living with severe hemophilia A often experience burdens associated with lifelong treatment, such as the need for frequent infusions or injections, as well as health complications associated with bleeds," said Flora Peyvandi, M.D., Ph.D., ISTH president and study author. "These data demonstrate the meaningful, positive impact that ROCTAVIAN treatment can have on patients' quality of life, especially in helping them move more freely and reducing the burden of caring for bleeding episodes." Phase 2 Data Show Seven-Year Safety and Efficacy of ROCTAVIAN Additional data to be presented at ISTH, previously shared at the 2024 European Association for Haemophilia and Allied Disorders Congress, include Phase 2 results that demonstrated the majority of adults with severe hemophilia A treated with ROCTAVIAN maintained bleed control seven years after the infusion, with only two of seven participants resuming prophylaxis. At year seven, in the cohort that received ROCTAVIAN at a dose of 6x10^13 vg/kg (n=5), median FVIII activity remained in the mild hemophilia range (10.3 IU/dL per chromogenic assay), and the mean ABR decreased by 96% from baseline. BioMarin's full list of presentations at ISTH includes: Oral Presentations: Seven-Year Follow-Up of Valoctocogene Roxaparvovec Gene Therapy for Haemophilia A #OC 30.1 Monday, June 24, 2024, 9:30 – 9:45 a.m. ICT Efficacy and Safety of Valoctocogene Roxaparvovec Four Years After Gene Transfer in GENEr8-1 #OC 30.2 Monday, June 24, 2024, 9:45 – 10:00 a.m. ICT Health-Related Quality-of-Life Outcomes Four Years After Treatment with Valoctocogene Roxaparvovec #OC 30.3 Monday, June 24, 2024, 10:00 – 10:15 a.m. ICT About Hemophilia A Hemophilia A, also called factor VIII (FVIII) deficiency or classic hemophilia, is an X-linked genetic disorder caused by missing or defective FVIII, a clotting protein. Although it is passed down from parents to children, about one-third of cases are caused by a spontaneous mutation, a new mutation that was not inherited. Approximately 1 in 10,000 people have hemophilia A. About ROCTAVIAN ROCTAVIAN is an adeno-associated virus vector-based gene therapy used for the treatment of adults with severe hemophilia A who do not have antibodies to adeno-associated virus serotype 5 (AAV5), which is determined by a blood test. The one-time infusion works by delivering a functional gene that is designed to enable the body to produce FVIII on its own, reducing the need for ongoing prophylaxis. The European Commission (EC) granted conditional marketing authorization to ROCTAVIAN on August 24, 2022. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved ROCTAVIAN on June 29, 2023. More information on testing to determine eligibility to receive ROCTAVIAN can be found at in the U.S. and ROCTAVIAN U.S. Important Safety Information Contraindications: Patients with active infections, either acute (such as acute respiratory infections or acute hepatitis) or uncontrolled chronic (such as chronic active hepatitis B). Patients with known significant hepatic fibrosis (stage 3 or 4 on the Batts-Ludwig scale or equivalent), or cirrhosis, and patients with known hypersensitivity to mannitol. Infusion-related reactions including hypersensitivity reactions and anaphylaxis, have occurred. Monitor during and for at least 3 hours after ROCTAVIAN administration. Administer ROCTAVIAN in a setting where personnel and equipment are immediately available to treat infusion-related reactions. Discontinue infusion for anaphylaxis. Hepatotoxicity: The safety and effectiveness of ROCTAVIAN in patients with hepatic impairment has not been established. Perform liver health assessments prior to administration. The majority of patients treated with ROCTAVIAN experienced ALT elevations and required corticosteroids for ALT elevation. Assess patient's ability to receive corticosteroids and/or other immunosuppressive therapy that may be required for an extended period. Live vaccines should not be administered to patients while on immunosuppressive therapy. Monitor ALT weekly for at least 26 weeks and as clinically indicated, during corticosteroid therapy and institute corticosteroid treatment in response to ALT elevations as required. Continue to monitor ALT until it returns to baseline. Monitor factor VIII activity levels since ALT elevation may be accompanied by a decrease in factor VIII activity. One case of autoimmune hepatitis was reported during third year follow-up in a patient with history of hepatitis C and steatohepatitis. It is recommended that patients abstain from consuming alcohol for at least 1 year after administration and thereafter limit alcohol use. Concomitant medications may cause hepatotoxicity, decrease factor VIII activity, or change plasma corticosteroid levels which may impact liver enzyme elevation and/or factor VIII activity or decrease the efficacy of the corticosteroid regimen or increase their side effects. Closely monitor concomitant medication use including herbal products and nutritional supplements and consider alternative medications in case of potential drug interactions. Thromboembolic events: Factor VIII activity above ULN has been reported following ROCTAVIAN infusion. Thromboembolic events may occur in the setting of elevated factor VIII activity above ULN. Evaluate patients for risk of thrombosis including general cardiovascular risk factors before and after administration of ROCTAVIAN. Advise patients on their individual risk of thrombosis in relation to their factor VIII activity levels above ULN and consider prophylactic anticoagulation. Advise patients to seek immediate medical attention for signs or symptoms indicative of a thrombotic event. Factor VIII inhibitors and Monitoring for inhibitors: The safety and effectiveness of ROCTAVIAN in patients with prior or active factor VIII inhibitors have not been established. Patients with active factor VIII inhibitors should not take ROCTAVIAN. Following administration, monitor patients for factor VIII inhibitors (neutralizing antibodies to factor VIII). Test for factor VIII inhibitors especially if bleeding is not controlled, or plasma factor VIII activity levels decrease. Monitor Factor VIII using the same schedule for ALT monitoring. It may take several weeks after ROCTAVIAN infusion before ROCTAVIAN-derived factor VIII activity rises to a level sufficient for prevention of spontaneous bleeding episodes. Exogenous factor VIII or other hemostatic products may also be required in case of surgery, invasive procedures, trauma, or bleeds. Consider more frequent monitoring in patients with factor VIII activity levels ≤ 5 IU/dL and evidence of bleeding, taking into account the stability of factor VIII levels since the previous measurement. Factor VIII activity produced by ROCTAVIAN in human plasma is higher if measured with one-stage clotting assays compared to chromogenic substrate assays. When switching from hemostatic products prior to ROCTAVIAN treatment, physicians should refer to the relevant prescribing information to avoid the potential for factor VIII activity assay interference during the transition period. Malignancy: The integration of liver-targeting AAV vector DNA into the genome may carry the theoretical risk of hepatocellular carcinoma development. ROCTAVIAN can also insert into the DNA of other human body cells. Monitor patients with risk factors for hepatocellular carcinoma (e.g., hepatitis B or C, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, chronic alcohol consumption, non-alcoholic steatohepatitis, advanced age) with regular liver ultrasound (e.g., annually) and alpha-fetoprotein testing for 5 years following ROCTAVIAN administration. In the event that any malignancy occurs after treatment with ROCTAVIAN, contact BioMarin Pharmaceutical Inc. at 1-866-906-6100. Most Common Adverse Reactions: Most common adverse reactions (incidence ≥ 5%) were nausea, fatigue, headache, infusion-related reactions, vomiting, and abdominal pain. Most common laboratory abnormalities (incidence ≥ 10%) were ALT, AST, LDH, CPK, factor VIII activity levels, GGT and bilirubin > ULN. Patients also experienced adverse reactions from corticosteroid use. Isotretinoin, Efavirenz, and HIV Positive Patients: Isotretinoin is not recommended in patients who are benefiting from ROCTAVIAN. Efavirenz is not recommended in patients treated with ROCTAVIAN. Clinical studies of ROCTAVIAN did not include sufficient numbers of patients with HIV to determine whether the efficacy and safety differs compared to patients without HIV infection. Females and Males of Reproductive Potential: ROCTAVIAN is not intended for administration in women. There are no data on the use of ROCTAVIAN in pregnant women or regarding lactation. For 6 months after administration of ROCTAVIAN, men of reproductive potential and their female partners must prevent or postpone pregnancy using an effective form of contraception, and men must not donate semen. You may report side effects to the FDA at (800) FDA-1088 or www.fda.gov/medwatch. You may also report side effects to BioMarin at 1-866-906-6100. Please see the ROCTAVIAN full Prescribing Information for additional Important Safety Information. Founded in 1997, BioMarin is a global biotechnology company dedicated to transforming lives through genetic discovery. The company develops and commercializes targeted therapies that address the root cause of genetic conditions. BioMarin's unparalleled research and development capabilities have resulted in eight transformational commercial therapies for patients with rare genetic disorders. The company's distinctive approach to drug discovery has produced a diverse pipeline of commercial, clinical, and pre-clinical candidates that address a significant unmet medical need, have well-understood biology, and provide an opportunity to be first-to-market or offer a substantial benefit over existing treatment options. For additional information, please visit This press release contains forward-looking statements about the business prospects of BioMarin Pharmaceutical Inc. (BioMarin), including without limitation, statements about: data to be presented at the 32nd Congress of the International Society on Thrombosis and Haemostasis, including the oral and poster presentations; the development of BioMarin's ROCTAVIAN program generally; the safety profile, efficacy and potential positive impact of ROCTAVIAN for adults with severe hemophilia A; and the potential benefits of ROCTAVIAN for adults with severe hemophilia A, including offering long-term bleed protection, providing relief from the burden of chronic infusions and injections, helping treated patients move more freely and reducing the burden of caring for bleeding episodes. These forward-looking statements are predictions and involve risks and uncertainties such that actual results may differ materially from these statements. These risks and uncertainties include, among others: results and timing of current and planned preclinical studies and clinical trials of ROCTAVIAN; any potential adverse events observed in the continuing monitoring of the patients in the clinical trials; the content and timing of decisions by the Food and Drug Administration, the European Commission and other regulatory authorities; BioMarin's success in the commercialization of ROCTAVIAN, including achieving adequate market share and reimbursement levels; whether ROCTAVIAN will have the impacts and benefits as anticipated; and those factors detailed in BioMarin's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including, without limitation, the factors contained under the caption "Risk Factors" in BioMarin's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2024, as such factors may be updated by any subsequent reports. Stockholders are urged not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date hereof. BioMarin is under no obligation, and expressly disclaims any obligation to update or alter any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

Psychiatrist Henry Jarecki blasts explosive claims in Jeffrey Epstein accuser's new sex trafficking lawsuit

'Takedown with Chris Hansen' host Chris Hansen joins 'Jesse Watters Primetime' to discuss whether Sean 'Diddy' Combs will face federal charges. Join Fox News for access to this content Plus special access to select articles and other premium content with your account - free of charge. By entering your email and pushing continue, you are agreeing to Fox News' Privacy Policy, which includes our The prominent New York City psychiatrist named in an explosive sex trafficking lawsuit brought by an anonymous Jeffrey Epstein accuser this week is pushing back – denying the allegations as made up and a money grab. "False accusations have been made against me by lawyers seeking money on behalf of a woman with whom I had a consensual, non-secretive, and mutually respectful relationship over a decade ago, when she was a successful professional in her late 20s," Jarecki, 91, said in a statement released through his attorney. "I have never engaged in any abusive conduct with her or anyone else." A former model, identified only as Jane Doe 11 in court filings, filed a lawsuit this week accusing Jarecki of raping her after Epstein sent her to his office for complaints of depression. JEFFREY EPSTEIN ACCUSER CLAIMS PSYCHIATRIST MADE HER 'SEX SLAVE' IN NEW LAWSUIT Dr. Henry Jarecki attends the "Ahead of Time" premiere at Cinema 2 on Sept. 14, 2010 in New York City. (Brian Killian/WireImage) "I will contest these demonstrably untrue claims in the appropriate forum," Jarecki said. The New York-based shrink is a longtime Yale University professor, an author, the co-founder of Moviefone and a billionaire metals trader, in addition to his medical background. Doe came to the U.S. in 2010 to work in the modeling industry and connected with Epstein shortly after he arrived. She had to continue working in order to maintain her visa status and remain in the country. When she asked for some mental health help, according to the lawsuit, the disgraced financier sent her to Jarecki, whom he described as "the best doctor in New York City." JEFFREY EPSTEIN VICTIMS SUE FBI FOR ALLEGED FAILURE TO INVESTIGATE 'SEX TRAFFICKING RING FOR THE ELITE' Jeffrey Epstein pictured in Cambridge, Massachusetts on Sept. 8, 2004. (Rick Friedman/Rick Friedman Photography/Corbis via Getty Images) The meeting led to years of modern-day sexual slavery, according to the lawsuit, which Jarecki denies. "During this first consultation, Jarecki told Jane Doe 11 that he had something that could make her happy right away," the lawsuit reads. "However, instead of prescribing her medication, Jarecki presented her with an expensive wristwatch." Then he brought her on a tour of his home in Manhattan's Gramercy Park neighborhood and allegedly "forcibly raped her against her will" in the bedroom, according to the filing. JEFFREY EPSTEIN DOCUMENTS: FINAL FILES REVEAL TRAFFICKING ALLEGATIONS AGAINST PROMINENT FIGURES Ghislaine Maxwell, Jeffrey Epstein and Jean-Luc Brunel are seen onboard Epstein's private jet, the 'Lolita Express.' This photo was one of many unearthed during Maxwell's sex trafficking trial in the Southern District of New York, where she was found guilty and sentenced to 20 years in prison in 2022. Both Epstein and Brunel died in jail while awaiting trials of their own. (U.S. Department of Justice/Mega) Other allegations include a claim that Jarecki put Doe up in a $5,700 apartment in exchange for sex, "a deal Jane Doe 11 never agreed to." She accused him of raping her "dozens" of times in the Big Apple and on private Caribbean islands and claimed he exerted control over her life between 2011 and 2014. "Jarecki learned everything he could about Jane Doe 11, including her financial and immigration situation, and he used that knowledge to manipulate and completely control her, coercing her into being his modern-day sex slave," the lawsuit alleges. Jeffrey Epstein in Cambridge, Mass. on Sept. 8, 2004. Epstein is connected with several prominent people, including politicians, actors and academics. (Rick Friedman/Rick Friedman Photography/Corbis via Getty Images) Epstein, a former teacher who made hundreds of millions of dollars in the finance industry and palled around with influential academics, business leaders and even presidents, died in 2019 in a federal jail cell while awaiting trial on sex-trafficking charges.

usa

Psychiatrist Henry Jarecki blasts explosive claims in Jeffrey Epstein accuser's new sex trafficking lawsuit. 'Takedown with Chris Hansen' host Chris Hansen joins 'Jesse Watters Primetime' to discuss whether Sean 'Diddy' Combs will face federal charges. Join Fox News for access to this content Plus special access to select articles and other premium content with your account - free of charge. By entering your email and pushing continue, you are agreeing to Fox News' Privacy Policy, which includes our The prominent New York City psychiatrist named in an explosive sex trafficking lawsuit brought by an anonymous Jeffrey Epstein accuser this week is pushing back – denying the allegations as made up and a money grab. "False accusations have been made against me by lawyers seeking money on behalf of a woman with whom I had a consensual, non-secretive, and mutually respectful relationship over a decade ago, when she was a successful professional in her late 20s," Jarecki, 91, said in a statement released through his attorney. "I have never engaged in any abusive conduct with her or anyone else." A former model, identified only as Jane Doe 11 in court filings, filed a lawsuit this week accusing Jarecki of raping her after Epstein sent her to his office for complaints of depression. JEFFREY EPSTEIN ACCUSER CLAIMS PSYCHIATRIST MADE HER 'SEX SLAVE' IN NEW LAWSUIT Dr. Henry Jarecki attends the "Ahead of Time" premiere at Cinema 2 on Sept. 14, 2010 in New York City. (Brian Killian/WireImage) "I will contest these demonstrably untrue claims in the appropriate forum," Jarecki said. The New York-based shrink is a longtime Yale University professor, an author, the co-founder of Moviefone and a billionaire metals trader, in addition to his medical background. Doe came to the U.S. in 2010 to work in the modeling industry and connected with Epstein shortly after he arrived. She had to continue working in order to maintain her visa status and remain in the country. When she asked for some mental health help, according to the lawsuit, the disgraced financier sent her to Jarecki, whom he described as "the best doctor in New York City." JEFFREY EPSTEIN VICTIMS SUE FBI FOR ALLEGED FAILURE TO INVESTIGATE 'SEX TRAFFICKING RING FOR THE ELITE' Jeffrey Epstein pictured in Cambridge, Massachusetts on Sept. 8, 2004. (Rick Friedman/Rick Friedman Photography/Corbis via Getty Images) The meeting led to years of modern-day sexual slavery, according to the lawsuit, which Jarecki denies. "During this first consultation, Jarecki told Jane Doe 11 that he had something that could make her happy right away," the lawsuit reads. "However, instead of prescribing her medication, Jarecki presented her with an expensive wristwatch." Then he brought her on a tour of his home in Manhattan's Gramercy Park neighborhood and allegedly "forcibly raped her against her will" in the bedroom, according to the filing. JEFFREY EPSTEIN DOCUMENTS: FINAL FILES REVEAL TRAFFICKING ALLEGATIONS AGAINST PROMINENT FIGURES Ghislaine Maxwell, Jeffrey Epstein and Jean-Luc Brunel are seen onboard Epstein's private jet, the 'Lolita Express.' This photo was one of many unearthed during Maxwell's sex trafficking trial in the Southern District of New York, where she was found guilty and sentenced to 20 years in prison in 2022. Both Epstein and Brunel died in jail while awaiting trials of their own. (U.S. Department of Justice/Mega) Other allegations include a claim that Jarecki put Doe up in a $5,700 apartment in exchange for sex, "a deal Jane Doe 11 never agreed to." She accused him of raping her "dozens" of times in the Big Apple and on private Caribbean islands and claimed he exerted control over her life between 2011 and 2014. "Jarecki learned everything he could about Jane Doe 11, including her financial and immigration situation, and he used that knowledge to manipulate and completely control her, coercing her into being his modern-day sex slave," the lawsuit alleges. Jeffrey Epstein in Cambridge, Mass. on Sept. 8, 2004. Epstein is connected with several prominent people, including politicians, actors and academics. (Rick Friedman/Rick Friedman Photography/Corbis via Getty Images) Epstein, a former teacher who made hundreds of millions of dollars in the finance industry and palled around with influential academics, business leaders and even presidents, died in 2019 in a federal jail cell while awaiting trial on sex-trafficking charges.

The Republicans who want to be Trump's VP were once harsh critics with key policy differences

FILE - Republican presidential candidate North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum speaks during a debate, Sept. 27, 2023, in Simi Valley, Calif. In some cases, Donald Trump's potential vice presidential contenders have had to abandon long-held policy positions and recant vehement criticism. In a July interview, Burgum, a businessman, was asked if he'd ever do business with Trump, and responded, "I don't think so." He added, "I just think that it's important that you're judged by the company you keep." (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill, File) The Associated Press WASHINGTON -- It's hard to refer to someone as "Hitler" and end up in their good graces, let alone potentially become the person they choose to help lead the country. But Ohio Sen. JD Vance's shifting position on Donald Trump over the years from one-time critic of the former president to staunch ally is a metamorphosis shared by many of Trump's potential running mates. It's not unheard of for a running mate to move beyond past disagreements with a presidential candidate. Joe Biden had a notably barbed exchange with Kamala Harris in 2020 when both were seeking the Democratic nomination. Harris confronted Biden over comments in the 1970s about school busing, telling him during a debate that she did "not believe you are a racist" even though he'd made "hurtful" comments about being able to work during his career even with segregationist senators. Biden picked her to be his vice president anyway. But the shift is more striking for Trump's potential running mates, in some cases requiring them to abandon long-held policy positions and recant vehement criticism. Here's a look at some of those shifts: In a 2016 interview with Charlie Rose while promoting his book "Hillbilly Elegy," Vance called himself "a Never Trump guy" and said of the soon-to-be-president, "I never liked him." He told NPR that year, "I can't stomach Trump. I think that he's noxious and is leading the white working class to a very dark place." He wrote an op-ed for The New York Times titled: "Mr. Trump Is Unfit For Our Nation's Highest Office." Vance said he didn't vote for Trump in 2016 and his former roommate shared images of a text message Vance sent him that year in which he called Trump "cynical" and said he could be "America's Hitler." But by the time Vance launched his campaign for the Senate in 2021, his views were closely aligned with Trump's. He met with the former president and quickly won his endorsement, gaining a crucial boost in the Republican primary. Vance has said he "was wrong" about Trump. In an interview this month on Fox News Channel, he was asked to explain his past criticism. "I didn't think he was going to be a good president," Vance said. "He was a great president. And it's one of the reasons why I'm working so hard to make sure he gets a second term." Even as a freshman, Vance has stood out in the Senate as one of Trump's fiercest defenders and as an emerging voice on foreign policy. Aligning himself with the party's more populist wing, Vance has fiercely opposed additional aid to Ukraine and even traveled to the Munich Security Conference earlier this year to make the case against it. As Vance's name rose to the top of Trump's list of potential running mates, he notably embraced positions that contrast with former Vice President Mike Pence, telling ABC News in an interview that he would not have immediately certified the results of the 2020 election. He's also said he was "truly skeptical" that Pence's life was in danger on the Jan. 6, 2021 attack on the Capitol and called the bipartisan committee that investigated the attack "a sham." Trump publicly and privately pressured Pence to overturn Biden's 2020 election win during the congressional certification on Jan. 6, 2021, something Pence had no power to do. Trump's pressure campaign was a motivating factor in the violent mob assault on the Capitol, many chanting "Hang Mike Pence" as they fought their way into the building and searched for lawmakers. The House Jan. 6 committee found the mob came within 40 feet of Pence as he was hastily evacuated from the Capitol. Pence has pointedly refused to endorse Trump for another term in the White House. Some of Florida Sen. Marco Rubio's harshest comments about Trump came as they sparred during the 2016 Republican race for president. Trump started calling him "Little Marco" and mocking him. Rubio responded by insulting Trump's makeup and the size of his hands. Rubio also called Trump a "con artist," and "the most vulgar person to ever aspire to the presidency." Earlier this year, when ABC News played back some of Rubio's comments from 2016, he responded by saying, "It was a campaign." He made similar comments in a recent interview with CNN, saying "That is like asking a boxer why they punched somebody in the face in the third round. It's because they were boxing." Their relationship improved dramatically while Trump was in the White House. And as Trump has campaigned for the presidency a third time, Rubio has cheered his proposals. In the Senate, Rubio had long been a prominent voice on immigration and was a key member of a group that worked on a 2013 bill that included a path to citizenship for millions of people in the country illegally. Now, Rubio says he supports Trump's plan to deploy the U.S. military to deport those in the country illegally. "We are going to have to do something, unfortunately, we're going to have to do something dramatic," Rubio said in a May interview with NBC. When shown clips of his comments in 2016 in which he said Trump's plans for mass deportations were not realistic or workable, Rubio said, "the issue has completely changed." The senator said the number of people coming into the U.S. had vastly increased and called it "an invasion of the country." Burgum was one of more than a dozen Republicans who ran against Trump in the 2024 presidential primary, but he dropped out in December and endorsed Trump before voting began. Before that, the North Dakota governor had rejected the idea of partnering with Trump. In an interview last July on NBC's "Meet the Press," Burgum, a businessman, was asked if he'd ever do business with Trump, and responded, "I don't think so." He added, "I just think that it's important that you're judged by the company you keep." The next month, he told CNN in an interview that he would not serve as Trump's vice president. Like many other Republicans, Burgum was critical of Trump in 2016, when the "Access Hollywood" video was released in which Trump bragged about grabbing women by the genitalia without their consent. Burgum, then a Republican candidate for governor, issued a statement calling Trump's comments "offensive, wrong, and unacceptable." Burgum this year has become an enthusiastic champion of Trump and has leveraged his profile as a wealthy businessman and governor versed in energy policy to help the Republican secure millions in fundraising, especially from high-dollar donors. When the New York congresswoman was first elected in 2014, she was known as a moderate Republican with ties to the party's establishment, having worked in George W. Bush's White House and on the presidential campaigns of Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty and later Mitt Romney, serving as an aide to former House Speaker Paul Ryan. In 2016, she initially supported Ohio Gov. John Kasich's campaign. When Trump was the party's nominee, she didn't say his name, only saying she would "support my party's nominee in the fall." She became a more vocal supporter as the election neared but made it clear she disagreed with him at times, criticizing his comments on the "Access Hollywood" tape and disagreeing with his position on NATO, his decision to withdraw from the landmark Paris climate agreement and his ban on travelers from predominantly Muslim countries, for example. Those disagreements faded over the years. Stefanik abruptly emerged as one of Trump's most outspoken defenders during his first impeachment in 2019, and it's a role she's embraced ever since. When Republicans ousted former Rep. Liz Cheney from leadership over her criticism of Trump and his efforts to overturn the 2020 election, it was Stefanik they chose to take her place. In her role as House GOP conference chair, Stefanik has railed against Trump's criminal conviction in New York, championed his policy proposals and echoed his language about Jan. 6, falsely declaring those imprisoned for the attack to be "hostages." Her loyalty to Trump stood out in 2022, as the former president's esteem within the party had deflated after he was absorbing blame for weaker-than-expected results in the midterm elections. Stefanik announced days after the election that she was endorsing Trump for president in 2024 — an announcement that came before Trump even said he was running. Earlier this month, when local reporters in her New York district asked her about her past criticisms of Trump, Stefanik repeatedly professed her support for the former president. "I'm proud to have voted for him and supported him in 2016 on the ballot," Stefanik said, according to WAMC radio in Albany. "I'm proud to be his strongest ally in Congress. And I'm proud to continue to work, no matter how the vice presidential situation shakes out, I will continue to be a fighter for this district and supporting President Trump who has a proven record of delivering results." In 2016, the South Carolina senator initially backed Rubio in the presidential race and that same year excoriated Trump for his reluctance to condemn the Ku Klux Klan. "If Donald Trump can't take a stand against the KKK, we cannot trust him to stand up for America against Putin, Iran or ISIS," said Scott, the Senate's only Black Republican. He likewise criticized Trump for his attacks on a judge's Mexican heritage in 2016, calling it "racially toxic" and said the "Access Hollywood" comments were "indefensible" and "disgusting." He still supported Trump in the 2016 election, calling him the "lesser of two evils." Scott also criticized Trump after his comments equivocating about the 2017 white nationalist rally in Charlottesville, Virginia, saying that his "moral authority" was "compromised." He met with Trump at the White House after. In an interview on Fox News Channel on Thursday, Scott said that he shared his perspective with the then-president in that meeting and from then on they worked to "find solutions together." "It was the Charlottesville incident that made our relationship what it is today," Scott said. Though he ran against Trump in the 2024 GOP primary, Scott dropped out and endorsed the former president, becoming one of his most enthusiastic cheerleaders.

politics

The Republicans who want to be Trump's VP were once harsh critics with key policy differences. FILE - Republican presidential candidate North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum speaks during a debate, Sept. 27, 2023, in Simi Valley, Calif. In some cases, Donald Trump's potential vice presidential contenders have had to abandon long-held policy positions and recant vehement criticism. In a July interview, Burgum, a businessman, was asked if he'd ever do business with Trump, and responded, "I don't think so." He added, "I just think that it's important that you're judged by the company you keep." (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill, File) The Associated Press WASHINGTON -- It's hard to refer to someone as "Hitler" and end up in their good graces, let alone potentially become the person they choose to help lead the country. But Ohio Sen. JD Vance's shifting position on Donald Trump over the years from one-time critic of the former president to staunch ally is a metamorphosis shared by many of Trump's potential running mates. It's not unheard of for a running mate to move beyond past disagreements with a presidential candidate. Joe Biden had a notably barbed exchange with Kamala Harris in 2020 when both were seeking the Democratic nomination. Harris confronted Biden over comments in the 1970s about school busing, telling him during a debate that she did "not believe you are a racist" even though he'd made "hurtful" comments about being able to work during his career even with segregationist senators. Biden picked her to be his vice president anyway. But the shift is more striking for Trump's potential running mates, in some cases requiring them to abandon long-held policy positions and recant vehement criticism. Here's a look at some of those shifts: In a 2016 interview with Charlie Rose while promoting his book "Hillbilly Elegy," Vance called himself "a Never Trump guy" and said of the soon-to-be-president, "I never liked him." He told NPR that year, "I can't stomach Trump. I think that he's noxious and is leading the white working class to a very dark place." He wrote an op-ed for The New York Times titled: "Mr. Trump Is Unfit For Our Nation's Highest Office." Vance said he didn't vote for Trump in 2016 and his former roommate shared images of a text message Vance sent him that year in which he called Trump "cynical" and said he could be "America's Hitler." But by the time Vance launched his campaign for the Senate in 2021, his views were closely aligned with Trump's. He met with the former president and quickly won his endorsement, gaining a crucial boost in the Republican primary. Vance has said he "was wrong" about Trump. In an interview this month on Fox News Channel, he was asked to explain his past criticism. "I didn't think he was going to be a good president," Vance said. "He was a great president. And it's one of the reasons why I'm working so hard to make sure he gets a second term." Even as a freshman, Vance has stood out in the Senate as one of Trump's fiercest defenders and as an emerging voice on foreign policy. Aligning himself with the party's more populist wing, Vance has fiercely opposed additional aid to Ukraine and even traveled to the Munich Security Conference earlier this year to make the case against it. As Vance's name rose to the top of Trump's list of potential running mates, he notably embraced positions that contrast with former Vice President Mike Pence, telling ABC News in an interview that he would not have immediately certified the results of the 2020 election. He's also said he was "truly skeptical" that Pence's life was in danger on the Jan. 6, 2021 attack on the Capitol and called the bipartisan committee that investigated the attack "a sham." Trump publicly and privately pressured Pence to overturn Biden's 2020 election win during the congressional certification on Jan. 6, 2021, something Pence had no power to do. Trump's pressure campaign was a motivating factor in the violent mob assault on the Capitol, many chanting "Hang Mike Pence" as they fought their way into the building and searched for lawmakers. The House Jan. 6 committee found the mob came within 40 feet of Pence as he was hastily evacuated from the Capitol. Pence has pointedly refused to endorse Trump for another term in the White House. Some of Florida Sen. Marco Rubio's harshest comments about Trump came as they sparred during the 2016 Republican race for president. Trump started calling him "Little Marco" and mocking him. Rubio responded by insulting Trump's makeup and the size of his hands. Rubio also called Trump a "con artist," and "the most vulgar person to ever aspire to the presidency." Earlier this year, when ABC News played back some of Rubio's comments from 2016, he responded by saying, "It was a campaign." He made similar comments in a recent interview with CNN, saying "That is like asking a boxer why they punched somebody in the face in the third round. It's because they were boxing." Their relationship improved dramatically while Trump was in the White House. And as Trump has campaigned for the presidency a third time, Rubio has cheered his proposals. In the Senate, Rubio had long been a prominent voice on immigration and was a key member of a group that worked on a 2013 bill that included a path to citizenship for millions of people in the country illegally. Now, Rubio says he supports Trump's plan to deploy the U.S. military to deport those in the country illegally. "We are going to have to do something, unfortunately, we're going to have to do something dramatic," Rubio said in a May interview with NBC. When shown clips of his comments in 2016 in which he said Trump's plans for mass deportations were not realistic or workable, Rubio said, "the issue has completely changed." The senator said the number of people coming into the U.S. had vastly increased and called it "an invasion of the country." Burgum was one of more than a dozen Republicans who ran against Trump in the 2024 presidential primary, but he dropped out in December and endorsed Trump before voting began. Before that, the North Dakota governor had rejected the idea of partnering with Trump. In an interview last July on NBC's "Meet the Press," Burgum, a businessman, was asked if he'd ever do business with Trump, and responded, "I don't think so." He added, "I just think that it's important that you're judged by the company you keep." The next month, he told CNN in an interview that he would not serve as Trump's vice president. Like many other Republicans, Burgum was critical of Trump in 2016, when the "Access Hollywood" video was released in which Trump bragged about grabbing women by the genitalia without their consent. Burgum, then a Republican candidate for governor, issued a statement calling Trump's comments "offensive, wrong, and unacceptable." Burgum this year has become an enthusiastic champion of Trump and has leveraged his profile as a wealthy businessman and governor versed in energy policy to help the Republican secure millions in fundraising, especially from high-dollar donors. When the New York congresswoman was first elected in 2014, she was known as a moderate Republican with ties to the party's establishment, having worked in George W. Bush's White House and on the presidential campaigns of Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty and later Mitt Romney, serving as an aide to former House Speaker Paul Ryan. In 2016, she initially supported Ohio Gov. John Kasich's campaign. When Trump was the party's nominee, she didn't say his name, only saying she would "support my party's nominee in the fall." She became a more vocal supporter as the election neared but made it clear she disagreed with him at times, criticizing his comments on the "Access Hollywood" tape and disagreeing with his position on NATO, his decision to withdraw from the landmark Paris climate agreement and his ban on travelers from predominantly Muslim countries, for example. Those disagreements faded over the years. Stefanik abruptly emerged as one of Trump's most outspoken defenders during his first impeachment in 2019, and it's a role she's embraced ever since. When Republicans ousted former Rep. Liz Cheney from leadership over her criticism of Trump and his efforts to overturn the 2020 election, it was Stefanik they chose to take her place. In her role as House GOP conference chair, Stefanik has railed against Trump's criminal conviction in New York, championed his policy proposals and echoed his language about Jan. 6, falsely declaring those imprisoned for the attack to be "hostages." Her loyalty to Trump stood out in 2022, as the former president's esteem within the party had deflated after he was absorbing blame for weaker-than-expected results in the midterm elections. Stefanik announced days after the election that she was endorsing Trump for president in 2024 — an announcement that came before Trump even said he was running. Earlier this month, when local reporters in her New York district asked her about her past criticisms of Trump, Stefanik repeatedly professed her support for the former president. "I'm proud to have voted for him and supported him in 2016 on the ballot," Stefanik said, according to WAMC radio in Albany. "I'm proud to be his strongest ally in Congress. And I'm proud to continue to work, no matter how the vice presidential situation shakes out, I will continue to be a fighter for this district and supporting President Trump who has a proven record of delivering results." In 2016, the South Carolina senator initially backed Rubio in the presidential race and that same year excoriated Trump for his reluctance to condemn the Ku Klux Klan. "If Donald Trump can't take a stand against the KKK, we cannot trust him to stand up for America against Putin, Iran or ISIS," said Scott, the Senate's only Black Republican. He likewise criticized Trump for his attacks on a judge's Mexican heritage in 2016, calling it "racially toxic" and said the "Access Hollywood" comments were "indefensible" and "disgusting." He still supported Trump in the 2016 election, calling him the "lesser of two evils." Scott also criticized Trump after his comments equivocating about the 2017 white nationalist rally in Charlottesville, Virginia, saying that his "moral authority" was "compromised." He met with Trump at the White House after. In an interview on Fox News Channel on Thursday, Scott said that he shared his perspective with the then-president in that meeting and from then on they worked to "find solutions together." "It was the Charlottesville incident that made our relationship what it is today," Scott said. Though he ran against Trump in the 2024 GOP primary, Scott dropped out and endorsed the former president, becoming one of his most enthusiastic cheerleaders.

Web3 users reached an all-time high of 10M in Q2: DappRadar

According to a July 4 report from blockchain analytics platform DappRadar, the number of users using Web3 applications reached a record high in the second quarter. The number of daily unique active wallets (dUAW) was approximately 10 million over the course of the quarter, a 40% increase from the first quarter and the highest number ever reached. Web3 apps' daily unique active wallets, April 2023 to June 2024. Source: DappRadar The social sector saw the largest percentage growth, with a more than 66% increase in dUAW, driven by apps like Fantasy.top and UXLINK. The blockchain gaming sector also registered more users during the quarter, though its overall share declined slightly compared to other sectors. Non-fungible token (NFT) marketplaces saw their highest usage since Q1 2023, reaching $4 billion in trading volume. Over 14.9 million individual NFT trades occurred during the quarter. NFT marketplace Magic Eden saw its market share increase from 17% to 22%, while leader Blur's dominance was cut in half, falling to 31% market share. Top decentralized finance apps in Q2 2024. Source: DappRadar Despite the rising number of users, the total value of cryptocurrency locked into decentralized finance applications (TVL) fell by $7 billion, a decline of 4% over the previous quarter. Tron and Arbitrum were hit especially hard, losing 17% and 9% TVL, respectively. Ethereum layer-2s Linea and Base were the outliers for the quarter, as Linea's TVL increased by 420% and Base's by 44%. DappRadar warned that Q2's tremendous growth in dUAW may not be sustainable. It may have been partially driven by "airdrop farming," the practice of performing actions in the hope of receiving airdropped tokens as a reward. Both the Blast and zkSync airdrops

crypto

Web3 users reached an all-time high of 10M in Q2: DappRadar. According to a July 4 report from blockchain analytics platform DappRadar, the number of users using Web3 applications reached a record high in the second quarter. The number of daily unique active wallets (dUAW) was approximately 10 million over the course of the quarter, a 40% increase from the first quarter and the highest number ever reached. Web3 apps' daily unique active wallets, April 2023 to June 2024. Source: DappRadar The social sector saw the largest percentage growth, with a more than 66% increase in dUAW, driven by apps like Fantasy.top and UXLINK. The blockchain gaming sector also registered more users during the quarter, though its overall share declined slightly compared to other sectors. Non-fungible token (NFT) marketplaces saw their highest usage since Q1 2023, reaching $4 billion in trading volume. Over 14.9 million individual NFT trades occurred during the quarter. NFT marketplace Magic Eden saw its market share increase from 17% to 22%, while leader Blur's dominance was cut in half, falling to 31% market share. Top decentralized finance apps in Q2 2024. Source: DappRadar Despite the rising number of users, the total value of cryptocurrency locked into decentralized finance applications (TVL) fell by $7 billion, a decline of 4% over the previous quarter. Tron and Arbitrum were hit especially hard, losing 17% and 9% TVL, respectively. Ethereum layer-2s Linea and Base were the outliers for the quarter, as Linea's TVL increased by 420% and Base's by 44%. DappRadar warned that Q2's tremendous growth in dUAW may not be sustainable. It may have been partially driven by "airdrop farming," the practice of performing actions in the hope of receiving airdropped tokens as a reward. Both the Blast and zkSync airdrops

Heathrow Airport launches live music stage

Heathrow Airport has launched a live music stage to give up-and-coming acts the chance to impress industry executives flying into London for the festival season. Based in Terminal 5, the first show on Monday night featured performances from acoustic rock band China Bears, folk singer-songwriter The Halfway Kid and R'n'B artist Olivia Nelson. Heathrow said those performing on the stage have "access to an audience bigger than Glastonbury", as it expects 30 million passengers to travel through its terminals this summer. The airport believes Sunday will be the busiest day in its history, with 264,000 passengers - up 6% on last year.

world,uk

Heathrow Airport launches live music stage. Heathrow Airport has launched a live music stage to give up-and-coming acts the chance to impress industry executives flying into London for the festival season. Based in Terminal 5, the first show on Monday night featured performances from acoustic rock band China Bears, folk singer-songwriter The Halfway Kid and R'n'B artist Olivia Nelson. Heathrow said those performing on the stage have "access to an audience bigger than Glastonbury", as it expects 30 million passengers to travel through its terminals this summer. The airport believes Sunday will be the busiest day in its history, with 264,000 passengers - up 6% on last year.

‘Learn and grow’: Denmark put aside thoughts of revenge for England clash

One famous Dane once spent a lot of time weighing up the pros and cons of revenge, before opting to indulge in "bloody thoughts". Hamlet's approach, it appears, will not be taken by Denmark when they face England in Frankfurt. Kasper Hjulmand's side were defeated in the semi-finals of Euro 2020 by a penalty won by Raheem Sterling, a decision that was "­borderline, let's say it that way", in the words of Brentford's Danish ­manager, Thomas Frank. But ­speaking on Wednesday night in the depths of the ­Frankfurt Arena, ­Hjulmand and his goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel said the past was behind them. Spain v Italy: Álvaro Morata ready to renew battle that refuses to go away Read more "I'm not looking into that," ­Hjulmand said of the penalty incident. "We are looking at a football match out of the front window, and we have a great team in front of us. I'm not using that [moment] as anything – maybe some of the players, I don't know – but I'm looking at it as another football game." Schmeichel was quick to make clear he was not among those ­players. "I'm not the type of person that's going to be looking back three years to have motivation," he said. "The ­biggest motivation is that we are ­playing another Euros with ­Denmark and we shouldn't take that for granted. We have 16,000 fans ­following us and the biggest motivation is to be cele­brating with them after a victory." Kasper Schmeichel (left) and Kasper Hjulmand face the press. Photograph: Christof Köpsel/Uefa/Getty Images Schmeichel felt their opponents had grown, too. "I think England were a world-class side [in 2021] but look at the additions that have come in and the experience gained and they are probably a better side than ever, at least in the time I've played against them. They have world-class talent throughout the side, we are going to have to be at the top of our game to beat them."

sports

‘Learn and grow’: Denmark put aside thoughts of revenge for England clash. One famous Dane once spent a lot of time weighing up the pros and cons of revenge, before opting to indulge in "bloody thoughts". Hamlet's approach, it appears, will not be taken by Denmark when they face England in Frankfurt. Kasper Hjulmand's side were defeated in the semi-finals of Euro 2020 by a penalty won by Raheem Sterling, a decision that was "­borderline, let's say it that way", in the words of Brentford's Danish ­manager, Thomas Frank. But ­speaking on Wednesday night in the depths of the ­Frankfurt Arena, ­Hjulmand and his goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel said the past was behind them. Spain v Italy: Álvaro Morata ready to renew battle that refuses to go away Read more "I'm not looking into that," ­Hjulmand said of the penalty incident. "We are looking at a football match out of the front window, and we have a great team in front of us. I'm not using that [moment] as anything – maybe some of the players, I don't know – but I'm looking at it as another football game." Schmeichel was quick to make clear he was not among those ­players. "I'm not the type of person that's going to be looking back three years to have motivation," he said. "The ­biggest motivation is that we are ­playing another Euros with ­Denmark and we shouldn't take that for granted. We have 16,000 fans ­following us and the biggest motivation is to be cele­brating with them after a victory." Kasper Schmeichel (left) and Kasper Hjulmand face the press. Photograph: Christof Köpsel/Uefa/Getty Images Schmeichel felt their opponents had grown, too. "I think England were a world-class side [in 2021] but look at the additions that have come in and the experience gained and they are probably a better side than ever, at least in the time I've played against them. They have world-class talent throughout the side, we are going to have to be at the top of our game to beat them."

A Key to Detecting Brain Disease Earlier Than Ever

Photo-illustration: Lauren Joseph; Getty Images Earlier this year, Parkinson's disease (PD) research entered a new era when the Michael J. Fox Foundation announced a momentous scientific breakthrough—the discovery of a biomarker for PD. It meant that, for the first time ever, we can now pinpoint the earliest known signs of the disease in Parkinson's patients. This long-awaited new procedure is called the "alpha-synuclein seeding amplification assay" (SAA), and it's capable of detecting the misfolded alpha-synuclein in spinal fluid—the wayward protein clearly linked to Parkinson's. It separates, with a stunning 90 percent specificity, those who have evidence of PD pathology in their cells from those who do not. It does so even before the emergence of symptoms, much like the way high blood pressure or cholesterol levels are used to detect cardiovascular risk long before a heart attack lands someone in the ER. It would be hard to overstate the implications of this development for people living with dysfunction in their alpha-synuclein. For one thing, we've never had a way to know who these people are—that is, until the moment of diagnosis, by which point ongoing damage to brain cells is already well underway. As for the diagnosis itself, which for most people comes as a bolt from the blue, it has always been frustratingly subjective and essentially based on a physician's opinion following a brief once-over in the doctor's office—not very useful for medical care provision, let alone biomedical drug development. READ MORE This story is from the WIRED World in 2024, our annual trends briefing. Read more stories from the series download a copy of the magazine. The new SAA test is already being integrated into drug trials as the first measure that can objectively identify people with the biology we're targeting—offering drugmakers increased assurance that they are testing experimental treatments in the right populations. For biopharma firms weighing a decision to enter or stay in the high-risk neurological disease space, this changes the value proposition of investment on its face. In 2024, we will see a ramp-up of potential new drugs entering the pipeline and progressing along their path toward pharmacy shelves. What's just as remarkable is how the SAA breakthrough was arrived at. The search for the biomarker required finding and studying "needles in a haystack": people without any traditional symptoms of PD and unwittingly living with increased risk for the disease. It was critical to figure out what biology set them apart from those who don't get Parkinson's. But how do you find someone who doesn't know they're being looked for? As it turns out, your sense of smell is a surprisingly good predictor of brain disease. (We're talking here not about the short-term smell loss associated with Covid-19, but significant and enduring smell loss that persists over years.) For a while now, researchers have known about the link between smell loss and neurodegeneration, especially in the presence of certain other risk factors, such as a diagnosis with REM behavior disorder (RBD), a sleep disorder. Research shows that half of those over age 60 are living with some degree of smell loss, yet the majority don't realize it until they're tested. If you couple this with the fact that all major brain diseases—Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, ALS, Huntington's—are associated with some amount of smell loss, this is astounding. The Michael J. Fox Foundation's large-scale observational study of Parkinson's set out to use poor smell as one of its criteria for finding and enrolling at-risk individuals. (We should note that, for this risk group, it's still unclear if or when the disease may eventually show up.) The highly sophisticated screening device used? A humble scratch-and-sniff test, albeit the scientifically validated variety. Until the SAA biomarker was validated, a reduced sense of smell couldn't be objectively linked to the presence of underlying Parkinson's disease biology. But now we can report that the test accurately diagnosed disease in 99 percent of people with poor smell and so-called sporadic Parkinson's (in other words, those with no genetic mutation). In 2024, we will begin to see a sea change in the possibilities around screening for and predicting PD and, very possibly, other diseases of aging. An annual scratch-and-sniff test may soon become as commonplace as your mammogram or colonoscopy. In 2024, with widespread adoption, this simple, cheap, and accessible mechanism will radically alter the landscape of what's possible in Parkinson's research and care.

tech

A Key to Detecting Brain Disease Earlier Than Ever. Photo-illustration: Lauren Joseph; Getty Images Earlier this year, Parkinson's disease (PD) research entered a new era when the Michael J. Fox Foundation announced a momentous scientific breakthrough—the discovery of a biomarker for PD. It meant that, for the first time ever, we can now pinpoint the earliest known signs of the disease in Parkinson's patients. This long-awaited new procedure is called the "alpha-synuclein seeding amplification assay" (SAA), and it's capable of detecting the misfolded alpha-synuclein in spinal fluid—the wayward protein clearly linked to Parkinson's. It separates, with a stunning 90 percent specificity, those who have evidence of PD pathology in their cells from those who do not. It does so even before the emergence of symptoms, much like the way high blood pressure or cholesterol levels are used to detect cardiovascular risk long before a heart attack lands someone in the ER. It would be hard to overstate the implications of this development for people living with dysfunction in their alpha-synuclein. For one thing, we've never had a way to know who these people are—that is, until the moment of diagnosis, by which point ongoing damage to brain cells is already well underway. As for the diagnosis itself, which for most people comes as a bolt from the blue, it has always been frustratingly subjective and essentially based on a physician's opinion following a brief once-over in the doctor's office—not very useful for medical care provision, let alone biomedical drug development. READ MORE This story is from the WIRED World in 2024, our annual trends briefing. Read more stories from the series download a copy of the magazine. The new SAA test is already being integrated into drug trials as the first measure that can objectively identify people with the biology we're targeting—offering drugmakers increased assurance that they are testing experimental treatments in the right populations. For biopharma firms weighing a decision to enter or stay in the high-risk neurological disease space, this changes the value proposition of investment on its face. In 2024, we will see a ramp-up of potential new drugs entering the pipeline and progressing along their path toward pharmacy shelves. What's just as remarkable is how the SAA breakthrough was arrived at. The search for the biomarker required finding and studying "needles in a haystack": people without any traditional symptoms of PD and unwittingly living with increased risk for the disease. It was critical to figure out what biology set them apart from those who don't get Parkinson's. But how do you find someone who doesn't know they're being looked for? As it turns out, your sense of smell is a surprisingly good predictor of brain disease. (We're talking here not about the short-term smell loss associated with Covid-19, but significant and enduring smell loss that persists over years.) For a while now, researchers have known about the link between smell loss and neurodegeneration, especially in the presence of certain other risk factors, such as a diagnosis with REM behavior disorder (RBD), a sleep disorder. Research shows that half of those over age 60 are living with some degree of smell loss, yet the majority don't realize it until they're tested. If you couple this with the fact that all major brain diseases—Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, ALS, Huntington's—are associated with some amount of smell loss, this is astounding. The Michael J. Fox Foundation's large-scale observational study of Parkinson's set out to use poor smell as one of its criteria for finding and enrolling at-risk individuals. (We should note that, for this risk group, it's still unclear if or when the disease may eventually show up.) The highly sophisticated screening device used? A humble scratch-and-sniff test, albeit the scientifically validated variety. Until the SAA biomarker was validated, a reduced sense of smell couldn't be objectively linked to the presence of underlying Parkinson's disease biology. But now we can report that the test accurately diagnosed disease in 99 percent of people with poor smell and so-called sporadic Parkinson's (in other words, those with no genetic mutation). In 2024, we will begin to see a sea change in the possibilities around screening for and predicting PD and, very possibly, other diseases of aging. An annual scratch-and-sniff test may soon become as commonplace as your mammogram or colonoscopy. In 2024, with widespread adoption, this simple, cheap, and accessible mechanism will radically alter the landscape of what's possible in Parkinson's research and care.

Toronto man who stabbed, decapitated mother in 2022 found guilty of 2nd-degree murder

Dallas Ly has been found guilty of second-degree murder in the death of his mother, whom he stabbed during a dispute in 2022 before decapitating and dumping her remains on the side of the road in east Toronto. Get the latest local updates right to your inbox Ly was charged with second-degree murder after he repeatedly stabbed his mother, Tien Ly, during a dispute in the Leslieville apartment they shared in March 2022. In the aftermath of the killing, Ly proceeded to decapitate his mother's corpse and dispose of it in garbage bags on Eastern Avenue. At the beginning of his trial in Toronto, he pleaded not guilty to the charge, but admitted to the killing – his lawyers argued the act was not a murder, but a moment of panic and self-defence. In his testimony, Ly told the jury he suffered years of abuse at the hands of his mother. She would beat him with shoes, her fists and a wooden backscratcher that left scars, he told the jury. A photo of Ly's back with red bumps and scarring that was said to have been caused by his mother was shown to the jury. Called by the defence, Dr. Mitesh Patel, a psychiatrist at Youthdale Treatment Centre, said that he found evidence of a "significant and long-standing" history of severe child abuse and neglect. He also found that Ly was suffering from PTSD and major depressive disorder when he killed his mother and that the diagnoses could have played a role in his actions. The prosecution, on the other hand, told the jury there had been no sufficient proof that Ly's PTSD had been present before the homicide. They suggested the young man had developed the condition in the aftermath of the killing instead. The homicide was not influenced by a mental health condition developed over years of abuse, the prosecutor argued, but carried out in anger at his mother. Ly's accounts, given to the psychiatrist and later to the jury while on the stand, have shifted, with Ly describing his mother more and more aggressively over time, they said. A conviction of second-degree murder will see Ly handed an automatic life sentence. A timeline for parole eligibility will be decided at a later date. 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.

canada

Toronto man who stabbed, decapitated mother in 2022 found guilty of 2nd-degree murder. Dallas Ly has been found guilty of second-degree murder in the death of his mother, whom he stabbed during a dispute in 2022 before decapitating and dumping her remains on the side of the road in east Toronto. Get the latest local updates right to your inbox Ly was charged with second-degree murder after he repeatedly stabbed his mother, Tien Ly, during a dispute in the Leslieville apartment they shared in March 2022. In the aftermath of the killing, Ly proceeded to decapitate his mother's corpse and dispose of it in garbage bags on Eastern Avenue. At the beginning of his trial in Toronto, he pleaded not guilty to the charge, but admitted to the killing – his lawyers argued the act was not a murder, but a moment of panic and self-defence. In his testimony, Ly told the jury he suffered years of abuse at the hands of his mother. She would beat him with shoes, her fists and a wooden backscratcher that left scars, he told the jury. A photo of Ly's back with red bumps and scarring that was said to have been caused by his mother was shown to the jury. Called by the defence, Dr. Mitesh Patel, a psychiatrist at Youthdale Treatment Centre, said that he found evidence of a "significant and long-standing" history of severe child abuse and neglect. He also found that Ly was suffering from PTSD and major depressive disorder when he killed his mother and that the diagnoses could have played a role in his actions. The prosecution, on the other hand, told the jury there had been no sufficient proof that Ly's PTSD had been present before the homicide. They suggested the young man had developed the condition in the aftermath of the killing instead. The homicide was not influenced by a mental health condition developed over years of abuse, the prosecutor argued, but carried out in anger at his mother. Ly's accounts, given to the psychiatrist and later to the jury while on the stand, have shifted, with Ly describing his mother more and more aggressively over time, they said. A conviction of second-degree murder will see Ly handed an automatic life sentence. A timeline for parole eligibility will be decided at a later date. 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.

Headie One: The Last One review – rueful memoir with party tunes attached

(Columbia) The north London rapper’s gritty honesty is his strongest suit on a guest-packed second album that juggles dance tracks with his troubled past What the stony-faced Headie One lacks in charisma – he’s no Stormzy – he makes up for in first-hand reportage: one of The Last One ’s 20 tracks, Recall/Why You Look So Tired , reels off a list of prisons Headie has been incarcerated in. “Eleven jails, eleven free-flows, that’s why I look so tired,” he offers on this densely worded portrait of a life of time, studded with plenty of offhand pop references: “feelin’ like Ed [Sheeran] in the trap, had to plus, times, divide till it equalled”. This may only be Headie’s second studio album, but it follows a slew of mixtapes and collaborations that has meant that the drill artist, raised on north London’s infamous Broadwater Farm estate, has rarely been far from contention since Edna , his emotive 2020 No 1 debut dedicated to his late mother. The Last One mixes granular, rueful memoir with party tunes and non-drill work in an effort to consolidate his brief beyond street lore. The list of guests is strong but ultimately a little distracting. Skrillex makes a serviceable, if anonymous, bounce of Make a W. The Sampha-guesting Memories , by contrast, is the most musically startling here, while Cry No More is the album’s keynote address, featuring Stormzy and a nagging helium sample hook. Throughout, pacy honesty is really Headie One’s strongest suit. Continue reading...

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Headie One: The Last One review – rueful memoir with party tunes attached. (Columbia) The north London rapper’s gritty honesty is his strongest suit on a guest-packed second album that juggles dance tracks with his troubled past What the stony-faced Headie One lacks in charisma – he’s no Stormzy – he makes up for in first-hand reportage: one of The Last One ’s 20 tracks, Recall/Why You Look So Tired , reels off a list of prisons Headie has been incarcerated in. “Eleven jails, eleven free-flows, that’s why I look so tired,” he offers on this densely worded portrait of a life of time, studded with plenty of offhand pop references: “feelin’ like Ed [Sheeran] in the trap, had to plus, times, divide till it equalled”. This may only be Headie’s second studio album, but it follows a slew of mixtapes and collaborations that has meant that the drill artist, raised on north London’s infamous Broadwater Farm estate, has rarely been far from contention since Edna , his emotive 2020 No 1 debut dedicated to his late mother. The Last One mixes granular, rueful memoir with party tunes and non-drill work in an effort to consolidate his brief beyond street lore. The list of guests is strong but ultimately a little distracting. Skrillex makes a serviceable, if anonymous, bounce of Make a W. The Sampha-guesting Memories , by contrast, is the most musically startling here, while Cry No More is the album’s keynote address, featuring Stormzy and a nagging helium sample hook. Throughout, pacy honesty is really Headie One’s strongest suit. Continue reading...

Chrystia Freeland to present federal budget on April 16

Canadians will get a look at the state of federal finances when Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland tables her budget next month. The government has been trying to rein in spending after years of big COVID-era budget deficits that more than doubled the national debt to roughly $1.2 trillion — a debtload that is costing Ottawa tens of billions of dollars a year to finance in an era of higher interest rates. Freeland's fall economic statement projected a budget deficit of $38.4 billion for the upcoming 2024-25 fiscal year. That number could move higher — or lower — depending on how the government has planned for the penultimate budget of its mandate. The budget will give Canadians some insight into the government's priorities in what could be one of the last spending documents before an expected 2025 election. The NDP has agreed to prop up the Liberals until next year and a national vote could follow after the supply-and-confidence agreement between the two parties comes to an end. Freeland has been involved in months of formal pre-budget consultations with interested parties who are jockeying to get more federal cash. While it has pushed to cut spending — the main estimates tabled last week suggest the government wants to "refocus" or divert spending worth about $4.8 billion a year by 2026-27 and beyond — it's likely the government will reveal some new funding for its priority files. Trudeau government unveils plans to divert money from some departments for new priorities Defence department reallocating $810M, in part to fund major equipment purchases Pharmacare won't make government stray from 'fiscal guideposts,' Freeland says The government has tried to tackle the housing supply crunch with a series of initiatives, including the housing accelerator fund that sends extra money to cities that change their municipal planning laws to allow for more homes to be built. The government also lifted the federal sales tax on new rental construction, a costly measure that some home builders say is already making a difference in the cost of construction. Freeland could earmark more cash for programs that bolster the country's housing stock. The Canadian Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC) says the country needs 3.5 million more units by 2030 to restore housing affordability. The government is facing political heat from Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre, who has made the country's housing woes a key plank of his policy platform. Conservative MP Pierre Poilievre speaks during a news conference in Toronto on housing policy on April, 19, 2022. (Alex Lupul/CBC) In a media statement announcing the budget date, Freeland suggested there's more coming for housing. "Our economic plan is about building more homes faster, making life more affordable and creating more good jobs. This plan will unlock pathways to a good middle class life for the next generation — because Canada is stronger when everyone has an equal chance to succeed," she said. Freeland also conceded last week at a news conference that more action is required to restore housing affordability. "The single biggest thing in a family's budget is paying your mortgage or the rent. We just have to build more, faster. We are committed to that. We are doing it," Freeland said. The Business Council of Canada, which represents some of the country's largest private-sector employers, is urging the government to avoid introducing any net new spending. In a media statement, the council said keeping a lid on the finances would "help ease prices and rates for Canadians." The council pointed to recent remarks from Bank of Canada Governor Tiff Macklem, who warned MPs at a recent Commons committee meeting that large government spending increases could "get in the way of getting inflation back down to target in the timeline we've laid out." The bank's inflation target is between two and three per cent. Bank of Canada Governor Tiff Macklem waits to appear at a Finance Committee meeting on Thursday, February 1, 2024 in Ottawa. (Adrian Wyld/Canadian Press) If federal and provincial government spending growth significantly exceeds the economic growth rate (which is also about two per cent), Macklem said it could juice inflation and prompt the bank to respond with rate increases. "If governments were to add more spending, it could start to get in the way of getting inflation back down, and that would not be helpful," Macklem said at the Feb. 1 committee meeting. The Federation of Canadian Municipalities (FCM), the group that represents cities and towns, has also asked the government to renew some infrastructure programs that are due to expire — a cash injection they say they need to keep up with a booming population. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau promised municipal leaders last May that the "next long-term infrastructure plan will be revealed this fall" — but it never materialized. "We were promised infrastructure funding, and to this day, we have not heard of a plan. So as the budget comes closer and closer, we're getting more and more concerned that there's no plan," FCM president Scott Pearce told reporters at a news conference. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau makes an announcement highlighting Budget 2022 investments in electric vehicle infrastructure in Victoria in April 2022. (Ken Mizokoshi/CBC) Freeland has defended the government's record on infrastructure spending. "There is no federal government in Canadian history that has invested as ambitiously and as aggressively in infrastructure as our government. It was the centrepiece of our 2015 campaign commitment and we have delivered on that," Freeland said, touting Ottawa's plan that will allocate about $7 billion a year in 2025-26. Pharmacare, one of the government's big-ticket items, will not be included in this budget because there's still legislation coming before Parliament to enact the regime. Health Minister Mark Holland also has to cut deals with the provinces and territories before any money can be spent on drug coverage. The government also hasn't decided whether it will pursue a fully universal, single-payer pharmacare program, which would be much more costly than its current plan of just covering contraception and diabetes treatments. Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland, left, and Defence Minister Bill Blair talk to the media during a joint exercise in which Polish and Canadian troops provide training to soldiers from Ukraine near Jezewo, central Poland, on Sunday, Feb. 25, 2024. (Czarek Sokolowski/AP Photo) The government is also under pressure to increase military spending. Some of the country's NATO allies have noted Canada has consistently failed to meet its promise to spend two per cent of GDP on the armed forces — a commitment that other members routinely meet or exceed. It's unlikely Freeland's budget will allocate what's required to hit the two per cent mark, as that would require an extra $20 billion a year in spending. Asked about some recently announced spending cuts at a press conference in Edmonton Monday, Defence Minister Bill Blair said those reductions are aimed at curbing the use of outside consultants, reducing executive travel and reining in "professional services" while redirecting the money saved for use elsewhere. He stressed that the defence budget has grown considerably since the Liberal government was first elected (total spending will double between 2017 and 2026) and there will be more dollars for other crucial areas in the years to come. "As in any bureaucracy, I think it's important to look for the most efficient way to actually deliver the results that Canadians need and deliver for the Canadian Armed Forces," Blair said, adding the government wants "value" for taxpayers' dollars spent on the CAF and the national defence department. "Our defence spending is increasing and will continue to increase. We've clearly indicated that we must do more," Blair said. One area where there may be more spending is in recruiting new personnel. The armed forces is severely understaffed after years of lacklustre recruitment drives meant to bolster the ranks and replace retiring members. "We've got some work to do," Blair said of the military's readiness amid a staffing crunch. Long hair, signing bonuses and 'try before you buy': How Canada's military is responding to a staffing crisis The fall economic statement, tabled in November, explained how the government now spends more to service its debt than it does on the military.

canada

Chrystia Freeland to present federal budget on April 16. Canadians will get a look at the state of federal finances when Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland tables her budget next month. The government has been trying to rein in spending after years of big COVID-era budget deficits that more than doubled the national debt to roughly $1.2 trillion — a debtload that is costing Ottawa tens of billions of dollars a year to finance in an era of higher interest rates. Freeland's fall economic statement projected a budget deficit of $38.4 billion for the upcoming 2024-25 fiscal year. That number could move higher — or lower — depending on how the government has planned for the penultimate budget of its mandate. The budget will give Canadians some insight into the government's priorities in what could be one of the last spending documents before an expected 2025 election. The NDP has agreed to prop up the Liberals until next year and a national vote could follow after the supply-and-confidence agreement between the two parties comes to an end. Freeland has been involved in months of formal pre-budget consultations with interested parties who are jockeying to get more federal cash. While it has pushed to cut spending — the main estimates tabled last week suggest the government wants to "refocus" or divert spending worth about $4.8 billion a year by 2026-27 and beyond — it's likely the government will reveal some new funding for its priority files. Trudeau government unveils plans to divert money from some departments for new priorities Defence department reallocating $810M, in part to fund major equipment purchases Pharmacare won't make government stray from 'fiscal guideposts,' Freeland says The government has tried to tackle the housing supply crunch with a series of initiatives, including the housing accelerator fund that sends extra money to cities that change their municipal planning laws to allow for more homes to be built. The government also lifted the federal sales tax on new rental construction, a costly measure that some home builders say is already making a difference in the cost of construction. Freeland could earmark more cash for programs that bolster the country's housing stock. The Canadian Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC) says the country needs 3.5 million more units by 2030 to restore housing affordability. The government is facing political heat from Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre, who has made the country's housing woes a key plank of his policy platform. Conservative MP Pierre Poilievre speaks during a news conference in Toronto on housing policy on April, 19, 2022. (Alex Lupul/CBC) In a media statement announcing the budget date, Freeland suggested there's more coming for housing. "Our economic plan is about building more homes faster, making life more affordable and creating more good jobs. This plan will unlock pathways to a good middle class life for the next generation — because Canada is stronger when everyone has an equal chance to succeed," she said. Freeland also conceded last week at a news conference that more action is required to restore housing affordability. "The single biggest thing in a family's budget is paying your mortgage or the rent. We just have to build more, faster. We are committed to that. We are doing it," Freeland said. The Business Council of Canada, which represents some of the country's largest private-sector employers, is urging the government to avoid introducing any net new spending. In a media statement, the council said keeping a lid on the finances would "help ease prices and rates for Canadians." The council pointed to recent remarks from Bank of Canada Governor Tiff Macklem, who warned MPs at a recent Commons committee meeting that large government spending increases could "get in the way of getting inflation back down to target in the timeline we've laid out." The bank's inflation target is between two and three per cent. Bank of Canada Governor Tiff Macklem waits to appear at a Finance Committee meeting on Thursday, February 1, 2024 in Ottawa. (Adrian Wyld/Canadian Press) If federal and provincial government spending growth significantly exceeds the economic growth rate (which is also about two per cent), Macklem said it could juice inflation and prompt the bank to respond with rate increases. "If governments were to add more spending, it could start to get in the way of getting inflation back down, and that would not be helpful," Macklem said at the Feb. 1 committee meeting. The Federation of Canadian Municipalities (FCM), the group that represents cities and towns, has also asked the government to renew some infrastructure programs that are due to expire — a cash injection they say they need to keep up with a booming population. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau promised municipal leaders last May that the "next long-term infrastructure plan will be revealed this fall" — but it never materialized. "We were promised infrastructure funding, and to this day, we have not heard of a plan. So as the budget comes closer and closer, we're getting more and more concerned that there's no plan," FCM president Scott Pearce told reporters at a news conference. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau makes an announcement highlighting Budget 2022 investments in electric vehicle infrastructure in Victoria in April 2022. (Ken Mizokoshi/CBC) Freeland has defended the government's record on infrastructure spending. "There is no federal government in Canadian history that has invested as ambitiously and as aggressively in infrastructure as our government. It was the centrepiece of our 2015 campaign commitment and we have delivered on that," Freeland said, touting Ottawa's plan that will allocate about $7 billion a year in 2025-26. Pharmacare, one of the government's big-ticket items, will not be included in this budget because there's still legislation coming before Parliament to enact the regime. Health Minister Mark Holland also has to cut deals with the provinces and territories before any money can be spent on drug coverage. The government also hasn't decided whether it will pursue a fully universal, single-payer pharmacare program, which would be much more costly than its current plan of just covering contraception and diabetes treatments. Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland, left, and Defence Minister Bill Blair talk to the media during a joint exercise in which Polish and Canadian troops provide training to soldiers from Ukraine near Jezewo, central Poland, on Sunday, Feb. 25, 2024. (Czarek Sokolowski/AP Photo) The government is also under pressure to increase military spending. Some of the country's NATO allies have noted Canada has consistently failed to meet its promise to spend two per cent of GDP on the armed forces — a commitment that other members routinely meet or exceed. It's unlikely Freeland's budget will allocate what's required to hit the two per cent mark, as that would require an extra $20 billion a year in spending. Asked about some recently announced spending cuts at a press conference in Edmonton Monday, Defence Minister Bill Blair said those reductions are aimed at curbing the use of outside consultants, reducing executive travel and reining in "professional services" while redirecting the money saved for use elsewhere. He stressed that the defence budget has grown considerably since the Liberal government was first elected (total spending will double between 2017 and 2026) and there will be more dollars for other crucial areas in the years to come. "As in any bureaucracy, I think it's important to look for the most efficient way to actually deliver the results that Canadians need and deliver for the Canadian Armed Forces," Blair said, adding the government wants "value" for taxpayers' dollars spent on the CAF and the national defence department. "Our defence spending is increasing and will continue to increase. We've clearly indicated that we must do more," Blair said. One area where there may be more spending is in recruiting new personnel. The armed forces is severely understaffed after years of lacklustre recruitment drives meant to bolster the ranks and replace retiring members. "We've got some work to do," Blair said of the military's readiness amid a staffing crunch. Long hair, signing bonuses and 'try before you buy': How Canada's military is responding to a staffing crisis The fall economic statement, tabled in November, explained how the government now spends more to service its debt than it does on the military.

ALLIANCEBERNSTEIN NATIONAL MUNICIPAL INCOME FUND, INC. ANNOUNCES COMPLETION OF FULL REDEMPTION OF 2019 VARIABLE RATE MUNIFUND TERM PREFERRED SHARES AND ISSUANCE OF NEW VARIABLE RATE DEMAND PREFERRED SHARES AS SUBSTITUTE LEVERAGE

AFB ), a registered closed-end investment company, announced today that it successfully priced and placed $100 million in Variable Rate Demand Preferred Shares ("2024 VRDPS") pursuant to an offering exempt from registration under the Securities Act of 1933. The Fund has issued $100 million in aggregate liquidation preference of 2024 VRDPS. The Fund used the proceeds of the 2024 VRDPS issuance, in conjunction with proceeds from the creation of tender option bond ("TOB") trusts by the Fund, to simultaneously redeem all of its currently outstanding 2019 Variable Rate MuniFund Term Preferred Shares ("2019 VMTPS") at a redemption price of $25,000 per share, plus accumulated but unpaid dividends. The aggregate amount paid by the Fund in connection with the redemption of the 2019 VMTPS was $143.85 million. The issuance permitted the Fund to replace a substantial portion of the leverage previously obtained through the 2019 VMTPS with the 2024 VRDPS.

motors

ALLIANCEBERNSTEIN NATIONAL MUNICIPAL INCOME FUND, INC. ANNOUNCES COMPLETION OF FULL REDEMPTION OF 2019 VARIABLE RATE MUNIFUND TERM PREFERRED SHARES AND ISSUANCE OF NEW VARIABLE RATE DEMAND PREFERRED SHARES AS SUBSTITUTE LEVERAGE. AFB ), a registered closed-end investment company, announced today that it successfully priced and placed $100 million in Variable Rate Demand Preferred Shares ("2024 VRDPS") pursuant to an offering exempt from registration under the Securities Act of 1933. The Fund has issued $100 million in aggregate liquidation preference of 2024 VRDPS. The Fund used the proceeds of the 2024 VRDPS issuance, in conjunction with proceeds from the creation of tender option bond ("TOB") trusts by the Fund, to simultaneously redeem all of its currently outstanding 2019 Variable Rate MuniFund Term Preferred Shares ("2019 VMTPS") at a redemption price of $25,000 per share, plus accumulated but unpaid dividends. The aggregate amount paid by the Fund in connection with the redemption of the 2019 VMTPS was $143.85 million. The issuance permitted the Fund to replace a substantial portion of the leverage previously obtained through the 2019 VMTPS with the 2024 VRDPS.

Animal Healthcare Market size is set to grow by USD 10.33 billion from 2024-2028, Increase in animal ownership to boost the market growth, Technavio

June 4, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- The global animal healthcare market size is estimated to grow by USD 10.33 billion from 2024-2028, according to Technavio. The market is estimated to grow at a CAGR of over 4.48% during the forecast period. For comprehensive forecast and historic data on regions, market segments, customer landscape, and companies- Product (Pharmaceutical, Feed additive, and Biologicals), Animal Type (Livestock and Companion animals), and Geography (North America, Europe, Asia, and Rest of World (ROW)) Key companies profiled APA United Nano Technology Co. Ltd., Avante Health Solutions, Bimeda Holdings Ltd., Biogenesis Bago SA, Boehringer Ingelheim International GmbH, Cargill Inc., Ceva Sante Animale, Chanelle Pharma Group, Covetrus Inc., Dechra Pharmaceuticals Plc, Elanco Animal Health Inc., Heska Corp., Hester Biosciences Ltd., Merck KGaA, Midmark Corp., Norbrook Laboratories Ltd., Phibro Animal Health Corp., SeQuent, Virbac Group, and Zoetis Inc. Key Market Trends Fueling Growth The animal healthcare market is experiencing growth due to heightened awareness regarding preventive care for pets. This includes regular veterinary check-ups for vaccinations, nutrition, and risk factor assessments. Boehringer Ingelheim's investment in Cowtribe, a Ghanaian last-mile veterinary delivery company, is a significant step towards addressing the financing gap for social businesses in vulnerable communities. Technology integration in Cowtribe's operations will facilitate efficient vaccine and animal health product deliveries to rural areas. Pet owners are increasingly opting for pet insurance, enabling them to afford costly treatments and enhancing overall animal care. This trend is anticipated to fuel the expansion of the animal healthcare market. The animal healthcare market is experiencing significant growth, driven by the increasing demand for better animal health solutions. Cats, dogs, horses, and other animals require proper care and diagnosis, leading to the use of various products and services. These include diagnostics, treatments, and preventive care. Digitization is a key trend in animal healthcare, with technologies like telemedicine and mobile applications enabling remote consultations and monitoring. Additionally, the focus on animal welfare and ethical treatment is driving innovation in the market. Producers and distributors must stay updated on these trends to remain competitive. Market Challenges The consumption of foods derived from eggs, meat, and dairy sources poses health risks due to potential contaminants like hormones, bacteria, and dioxins. These substances can lead to food poisoning and long-term health issues such as disrupted development and cancer. Approximately 23% of annual food poisoning cases in the US are caused by contaminated animal flesh. Dioxins, primarily absorbed through fish, meat, and dairy products, are hormone-disrupting chemicals that can cause various health problems. This health concern may decrease the demand for animal-source foods, potentially impacting the market growth by reducing the need for animal feed additives. The animal healthcare market faces several challenges in providing optimal care for various species. These include the need for expanded adoption of advanced technologies like expander "Veterinary technologies", "Hospitals", and "Clinics". Additionally, there is a growing demand for "Animal nutrition" and "Treatments" that cater to specific animal needs. "Digitalization" and "Automation" in animal healthcare are also essential to improve efficiency and accuracy. However, the high cost of these technologies and treatments can be a significant barrier for many animal owners. Furthermore, ensuring "Compliance" with regulations and ethical standards is crucial for the industry's reputation and sustainability. Overall, addressing these challenges requires a collaborative effort from all stakeholders to provide affordable, effective, and ethical animal healthcare solutions. Research report provides comprehensive data on impact of trend, driver and challenges - Download a Sample Report Segment Overview Product 1.1 Pharmaceutical 1.2 Feed additive 1.3 Biologicals Animal Type 2.1 Livestock 2.2 Companion animals Geography 3.1 1.1 Pharmaceutical- The animal healthcare market encompasses various pharmaceutical products, including ectoparasiticides, endoparasiticides, and anti-inflammatories. These drugs come in different forms and help treat diseases, reducing economic losses and maintaining animal health. Ectoparasiticides target external parasites, with Virbac offering solutions like EFFIPRO spray and PREVENTIC. Endoparasiticides combat internal parasites, such as IPRAZ Tablet from Virbac. Anti-inflammatories, like Zoetis' MEDROL, alleviate inflammation. Despite regulatory challenges and species differences, the increasing threat from zoonoses drives market growth, with food-borne diseases like salmonellosis continuing to impact human health. For more information on market segmentation with geographical analysis including forecast (2024-2028) and historic data (2018 - 2022) - Download a Sample Report Research Analysis The Animal Healthcare Market encompasses various sectors, including Veterinary Hospitals, pet insurance, and telemedicine. With the rising trend of pet humanization and increasing pet ownership rates, the demand for companion animal vaccines, preventive care, and nutritional products has surged. Animal welfare organizations emphasize the importance of veterinary care, which includes the use of drugs, vaccines, medicated animal feeds, and biological research in genetics and disease prevention. The market also caters to livestock animals, addressing zoonotic diseases and ensuring animal epidemics are contained. Wildlife conservation efforts contribute to the market as well, focusing on disease prevention and nutrition for endangered species. The human-animal bond remains a significant factor, with pet owners seeking to provide the best care for their companions. Animal protein production is another area where animal healthcare plays a crucial role, ensuring the health and well-being of livestock. Market Research Overview The Animal Healthcare Market encompasses a range of products and services designed to prevent, diagnose, and treat various health conditions in animals. This market caters to a diverse range of species, including livestock, pets, and zoo animals. Key components of this market include veterinary drugs, vaccines, animal feed additives, diagnostic equipment, and veterinary services. The market is driven by several factors, including increasing animal population, rising awareness for animal health and welfare, and advancements in veterinary technology. Additionally, the growing trend of pet humanization and the increasing demand for organic and natural animal food products are also contributing to the growth of the Animal Healthcare Market. Table of Contents: 1 Executive Summary 2 Market Landscape 3 Market Sizing 4 Historic Market Size 5 Five Forces Analysis 6 Market Segmentation Product Pharmaceutical Feed Additive Biologicals Animal Type Livestock Companion Animals 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

Animal Healthcare Market size is set to grow by USD 10.33 billion from 2024-2028, Increase in animal ownership to boost the market growth, Technavio. June 4, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- The global animal healthcare market size is estimated to grow by USD 10.33 billion from 2024-2028, according to Technavio. The market is estimated to grow at a CAGR of over 4.48% during the forecast period. For comprehensive forecast and historic data on regions, market segments, customer landscape, and companies- Product (Pharmaceutical, Feed additive, and Biologicals), Animal Type (Livestock and Companion animals), and Geography (North America, Europe, Asia, and Rest of World (ROW)) Key companies profiled APA United Nano Technology Co. Ltd., Avante Health Solutions, Bimeda Holdings Ltd., Biogenesis Bago SA, Boehringer Ingelheim International GmbH, Cargill Inc., Ceva Sante Animale, Chanelle Pharma Group, Covetrus Inc., Dechra Pharmaceuticals Plc, Elanco Animal Health Inc., Heska Corp., Hester Biosciences Ltd., Merck KGaA, Midmark Corp., Norbrook Laboratories Ltd., Phibro Animal Health Corp., SeQuent, Virbac Group, and Zoetis Inc. Key Market Trends Fueling Growth The animal healthcare market is experiencing growth due to heightened awareness regarding preventive care for pets. This includes regular veterinary check-ups for vaccinations, nutrition, and risk factor assessments. Boehringer Ingelheim's investment in Cowtribe, a Ghanaian last-mile veterinary delivery company, is a significant step towards addressing the financing gap for social businesses in vulnerable communities. Technology integration in Cowtribe's operations will facilitate efficient vaccine and animal health product deliveries to rural areas. Pet owners are increasingly opting for pet insurance, enabling them to afford costly treatments and enhancing overall animal care. This trend is anticipated to fuel the expansion of the animal healthcare market. The animal healthcare market is experiencing significant growth, driven by the increasing demand for better animal health solutions. Cats, dogs, horses, and other animals require proper care and diagnosis, leading to the use of various products and services. These include diagnostics, treatments, and preventive care. Digitization is a key trend in animal healthcare, with technologies like telemedicine and mobile applications enabling remote consultations and monitoring. Additionally, the focus on animal welfare and ethical treatment is driving innovation in the market. Producers and distributors must stay updated on these trends to remain competitive. Market Challenges The consumption of foods derived from eggs, meat, and dairy sources poses health risks due to potential contaminants like hormones, bacteria, and dioxins. These substances can lead to food poisoning and long-term health issues such as disrupted development and cancer. Approximately 23% of annual food poisoning cases in the US are caused by contaminated animal flesh. Dioxins, primarily absorbed through fish, meat, and dairy products, are hormone-disrupting chemicals that can cause various health problems. This health concern may decrease the demand for animal-source foods, potentially impacting the market growth by reducing the need for animal feed additives. The animal healthcare market faces several challenges in providing optimal care for various species. These include the need for expanded adoption of advanced technologies like expander "Veterinary technologies", "Hospitals", and "Clinics". Additionally, there is a growing demand for "Animal nutrition" and "Treatments" that cater to specific animal needs. "Digitalization" and "Automation" in animal healthcare are also essential to improve efficiency and accuracy. However, the high cost of these technologies and treatments can be a significant barrier for many animal owners. Furthermore, ensuring "Compliance" with regulations and ethical standards is crucial for the industry's reputation and sustainability. Overall, addressing these challenges requires a collaborative effort from all stakeholders to provide affordable, effective, and ethical animal healthcare solutions. Research report provides comprehensive data on impact of trend, driver and challenges - Download a Sample Report Segment Overview Product 1.1 Pharmaceutical 1.2 Feed additive 1.3 Biologicals Animal Type 2.1 Livestock 2.2 Companion animals Geography 3.1 1.1 Pharmaceutical- The animal healthcare market encompasses various pharmaceutical products, including ectoparasiticides, endoparasiticides, and anti-inflammatories. These drugs come in different forms and help treat diseases, reducing economic losses and maintaining animal health. Ectoparasiticides target external parasites, with Virbac offering solutions like EFFIPRO spray and PREVENTIC. Endoparasiticides combat internal parasites, such as IPRAZ Tablet from Virbac. Anti-inflammatories, like Zoetis' MEDROL, alleviate inflammation. Despite regulatory challenges and species differences, the increasing threat from zoonoses drives market growth, with food-borne diseases like salmonellosis continuing to impact human health. For more information on market segmentation with geographical analysis including forecast (2024-2028) and historic data (2018 - 2022) - Download a Sample Report Research Analysis The Animal Healthcare Market encompasses various sectors, including Veterinary Hospitals, pet insurance, and telemedicine. With the rising trend of pet humanization and increasing pet ownership rates, the demand for companion animal vaccines, preventive care, and nutritional products has surged. Animal welfare organizations emphasize the importance of veterinary care, which includes the use of drugs, vaccines, medicated animal feeds, and biological research in genetics and disease prevention. The market also caters to livestock animals, addressing zoonotic diseases and ensuring animal epidemics are contained. Wildlife conservation efforts contribute to the market as well, focusing on disease prevention and nutrition for endangered species. The human-animal bond remains a significant factor, with pet owners seeking to provide the best care for their companions. Animal protein production is another area where animal healthcare plays a crucial role, ensuring the health and well-being of livestock. Market Research Overview The Animal Healthcare Market encompasses a range of products and services designed to prevent, diagnose, and treat various health conditions in animals. This market caters to a diverse range of species, including livestock, pets, and zoo animals. Key components of this market include veterinary drugs, vaccines, animal feed additives, diagnostic equipment, and veterinary services. The market is driven by several factors, including increasing animal population, rising awareness for animal health and welfare, and advancements in veterinary technology. Additionally, the growing trend of pet humanization and the increasing demand for organic and natural animal food products are also contributing to the growth of the Animal Healthcare Market. Table of Contents: 1 Executive Summary 2 Market Landscape 3 Market Sizing 4 Historic Market Size 5 Five Forces Analysis 6 Market Segmentation Product Pharmaceutical Feed Additive Biologicals Animal Type Livestock Companion Animals 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.

Naomi Campbell at the V&A: ‘A Pandora’s box’ of memories

When the Victoria and Albert Museum (V&A) dedicates an entire show to one person, particularly one whose career is still very much ongoing, it's usually a sign that A-list stardust is incoming. This time it's the turn of supermodel Naomi Campbell, a woman whose work and life has been in the headlines since she burst on to the fashion scene in the 80s at the tender age of 16. The south Londoner now follows in the footsteps of the likes of David Bowie, Frida Kahlo and Kylie, who have also had solo exhibitions at the prestigious London museum. When speaking to Campbell in 2022, she discussed with me the idea of collating all the big moments of her life and career in one space. She said: "I have kept so many things that are now all in storage because I travel so much. It's not just clothes, I have kept photos, backstage passes from fashion shows going back 20 years. I can't wait to show it to my daughter one day." There was a sense of Campbell wanting to pass on this legacy to her daughter and a reflective pride in the way she spoke about it: "I know I am where I'm supposed to be. I feel so lucky. My daughter has taught me to stop and appreciate things and to have patience and to let things flow." Fast forward two years and here we are with Naomi: In Fashion, bringing together hundreds of items that will give people an insight into her world. That includes more than 100 outfits and accessories and some of her earliest cover shoots. By the time we met again earlier this year, Campbell was a mother of two, having welcomed her son in 2023: "They are my complete priority and I love how much joy they bring. Family is everything." When discussing how she wanted the exhibition to look and feel, she said: "I've been working alongside a great team and it's been amazing re-discovering a lot of these items. Some of them have never been seen. "It's really intimate putting them out there for everyone to see; my Pandora's box if you like." The show doesn't shy away from the more difficult periods in the model's life, including her 2007 court case. She pleaded guilty to assault for throwing a mobile phone at her maid and the exhibition will feature the Dolce & Gabbana gown she wore on her final day of community service. The show makes clever use of Campbell's story so far, and the thread of Campbell as a trailblazer is seamlessly interwoven throughout the exhibition. As the first black woman to be on the cover of Vogue and Time Magazine, as well as the first British black model to appear on the cover of British Vogue; she has always fought for diversity in the fashion industry and continues to do so: "Why do I stay doing what I do? Because my work is not done. I feel that I have to use my voice and platform to keep at them." Close friend and former editor-in-chief of British Vogue, Edward Enninful, has carefully curated a selection of her photographs as well as a video wall of Campbell by award-winning film director Steve McQueen. Campbell has been very hands on with the process, working closely with the V&A's senior curator Sonnet Stanfill: "The visitors are in for a treat, they will literally get to walk through Naomi's life journey and that 'supermodel moment' when her image was everywhere. "It's been wonderful to see Naomi's reaction to all these things being brought together in one space, she's been really candid about how emotional it is." When asked who she did the exhibition for, Campbell told the BBC: "It's dedicated to the people who have been the driving force behind my determination, dedication, and drive mantra.

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Naomi Campbell at the V&A: ‘A Pandora’s box’ of memories. When the Victoria and Albert Museum (V&A) dedicates an entire show to one person, particularly one whose career is still very much ongoing, it's usually a sign that A-list stardust is incoming. This time it's the turn of supermodel Naomi Campbell, a woman whose work and life has been in the headlines since she burst on to the fashion scene in the 80s at the tender age of 16. The south Londoner now follows in the footsteps of the likes of David Bowie, Frida Kahlo and Kylie, who have also had solo exhibitions at the prestigious London museum. When speaking to Campbell in 2022, she discussed with me the idea of collating all the big moments of her life and career in one space. She said: "I have kept so many things that are now all in storage because I travel so much. It's not just clothes, I have kept photos, backstage passes from fashion shows going back 20 years. I can't wait to show it to my daughter one day." There was a sense of Campbell wanting to pass on this legacy to her daughter and a reflective pride in the way she spoke about it: "I know I am where I'm supposed to be. I feel so lucky. My daughter has taught me to stop and appreciate things and to have patience and to let things flow." Fast forward two years and here we are with Naomi: In Fashion, bringing together hundreds of items that will give people an insight into her world. That includes more than 100 outfits and accessories and some of her earliest cover shoots. By the time we met again earlier this year, Campbell was a mother of two, having welcomed her son in 2023: "They are my complete priority and I love how much joy they bring. Family is everything." When discussing how she wanted the exhibition to look and feel, she said: "I've been working alongside a great team and it's been amazing re-discovering a lot of these items. Some of them have never been seen. "It's really intimate putting them out there for everyone to see; my Pandora's box if you like." The show doesn't shy away from the more difficult periods in the model's life, including her 2007 court case. She pleaded guilty to assault for throwing a mobile phone at her maid and the exhibition will feature the Dolce & Gabbana gown she wore on her final day of community service. The show makes clever use of Campbell's story so far, and the thread of Campbell as a trailblazer is seamlessly interwoven throughout the exhibition. As the first black woman to be on the cover of Vogue and Time Magazine, as well as the first British black model to appear on the cover of British Vogue; she has always fought for diversity in the fashion industry and continues to do so: "Why do I stay doing what I do? Because my work is not done. I feel that I have to use my voice and platform to keep at them." Close friend and former editor-in-chief of British Vogue, Edward Enninful, has carefully curated a selection of her photographs as well as a video wall of Campbell by award-winning film director Steve McQueen. Campbell has been very hands on with the process, working closely with the V&A's senior curator Sonnet Stanfill: "The visitors are in for a treat, they will literally get to walk through Naomi's life journey and that 'supermodel moment' when her image was everywhere. "It's been wonderful to see Naomi's reaction to all these things being brought together in one space, she's been really candid about how emotional it is." When asked who she did the exhibition for, Campbell told the BBC: "It's dedicated to the people who have been the driving force behind my determination, dedication, and drive mantra.

Week in wildlife – in pictures: joyriding birds, a rare golden cat and a surprise king cobra

The best of this week’s wildlife photographs from around the world Continue reading...

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Week in wildlife – in pictures: joyriding birds, a rare golden cat and a surprise king cobra. The best of this week’s wildlife photographs from around the world Continue reading...

TERADATA SHAREHOLDER ALERT: CLAIMSFILER REMINDS INVESTORS WITH LOSSES IN EXCESS OF $100,000 of Lead Plaintiff Deadline in Class Action Lawsuit Against Teradata Corporation - TDC

August 13, 2024 to file lead plaintiff applications in a securities class action lawsuit against Teradata Corporation (the "Company") (NYSE: TDC ), if they purchased or otherwise acquired the Company's shares between About the Lawsuit Teradata and certain of its executives are charged with failing to disclose material information during the Class Period, violating federal securities laws. The alleged false and misleading statements and omissions include, but are not limited to, that: i) under its expanded business model, which involved engagement with additional customer business units and decisionmakers, transactions with the Company's customers took longer to finalize; (ii) the Company thus overstated its ability to close customer transactions within their intended timeframes under its expanded business model; (iii) the Company failed to timely close several customer transactions that it had factored into its outlook for 2023 annual recurring revenue ("ARR") growth; (iv) as a result, the Company was unlikely to meet its full year 2023 Total and Public Cloud ARR expectations; and (v) as a result, the Company's public statements were materially false and misleading at all relevant times.

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TERADATA SHAREHOLDER ALERT: CLAIMSFILER REMINDS INVESTORS WITH LOSSES IN EXCESS OF $100,000 of Lead Plaintiff Deadline in Class Action Lawsuit Against Teradata Corporation - TDC. August 13, 2024 to file lead plaintiff applications in a securities class action lawsuit against Teradata Corporation (the "Company") (NYSE: TDC ), if they purchased or otherwise acquired the Company's shares between About the Lawsuit Teradata and certain of its executives are charged with failing to disclose material information during the Class Period, violating federal securities laws. The alleged false and misleading statements and omissions include, but are not limited to, that: i) under its expanded business model, which involved engagement with additional customer business units and decisionmakers, transactions with the Company's customers took longer to finalize; (ii) the Company thus overstated its ability to close customer transactions within their intended timeframes under its expanded business model; (iii) the Company failed to timely close several customer transactions that it had factored into its outlook for 2023 annual recurring revenue ("ARR") growth; (iv) as a result, the Company was unlikely to meet its full year 2023 Total and Public Cloud ARR expectations; and (v) as a result, the Company's public statements were materially false and misleading at all relevant times.

Bronzers: 10 of the best

How to achieve that natural, sunkissed finish – without baking in the sun I’m sure bronzers have been explained to everyone – including myself – a million times. What they are, what they do, how to use them and yet… people still haven’t quite grasped exactly how to use them. Or perhaps they just haven’t found one that works for them. So let’s go back to basics. Sometimes it’s easier to start with what something is not as opposed to what it is. The purpose of a bronzer is not to make you bronze. If you are already using a bronzer that is doing this, you have the wrong product (but, of course, if your whole point is to actually look bronze, then good luck with that). A bronzer is essentially a bit of makeup that is supposed to give your skin a boost so it looks less pallid, more alive, happier and healthier. Essentially, it offers a natural, sunkissed finish without the damage that comes from the sun. Choosing the right shade is key – better to start with something subtle and work your way up – and texture also makes a difference. The bronzers on this page – liquid, cream and powder – are formulated in a way that is pliable and therefore makes applying them easier and more or less failsafe – even for the heavy handed. Crucially, the finishes are created to complement real skin tones, which minimises the likelihood of you looking like a toasted orange. 1. Isle of Paradise Sunny Serum £15.95, lookfantastic.com 2. Giorgio Armani Beauty Bronzing Powder £46, selfridges.com 3. NARS Laguna Ultimate Face Palette £60, narscosmetics.co.uk 4. Indeed Nanobronze Deep Bronzing Drops £24.99, boots.com 5. Fenty Sun Stalk’r Bronzer £29, fentybeauty.co.uk 6. Clinique Sunkissed Face Gelee £32, johnlewis.com 7. Saie Dew Liquid Bronzer £20, cultbeauty.co.uk 8. Clarins Bronzing Powder £40, clarins.co.uk 9. Chanel Les Beiges Healthy Glow Sun-Kissed Powder £75, chanel.com 10. Beauty Pie Awesome Bronze £16.50, beautypie.com Continue reading...

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Bronzers: 10 of the best. How to achieve that natural, sunkissed finish – without baking in the sun I’m sure bronzers have been explained to everyone – including myself – a million times. What they are, what they do, how to use them and yet… people still haven’t quite grasped exactly how to use them. Or perhaps they just haven’t found one that works for them. So let’s go back to basics. Sometimes it’s easier to start with what something is not as opposed to what it is. The purpose of a bronzer is not to make you bronze. If you are already using a bronzer that is doing this, you have the wrong product (but, of course, if your whole point is to actually look bronze, then good luck with that). A bronzer is essentially a bit of makeup that is supposed to give your skin a boost so it looks less pallid, more alive, happier and healthier. Essentially, it offers a natural, sunkissed finish without the damage that comes from the sun. Choosing the right shade is key – better to start with something subtle and work your way up – and texture also makes a difference. The bronzers on this page – liquid, cream and powder – are formulated in a way that is pliable and therefore makes applying them easier and more or less failsafe – even for the heavy handed. Crucially, the finishes are created to complement real skin tones, which minimises the likelihood of you looking like a toasted orange. 1. Isle of Paradise Sunny Serum £15.95, lookfantastic.com 2. Giorgio Armani Beauty Bronzing Powder £46, selfridges.com 3. NARS Laguna Ultimate Face Palette £60, narscosmetics.co.uk 4. Indeed Nanobronze Deep Bronzing Drops £24.99, boots.com 5. Fenty Sun Stalk’r Bronzer £29, fentybeauty.co.uk 6. Clinique Sunkissed Face Gelee £32, johnlewis.com 7. Saie Dew Liquid Bronzer £20, cultbeauty.co.uk 8. Clarins Bronzing Powder £40, clarins.co.uk 9. Chanel Les Beiges Healthy Glow Sun-Kissed Powder £75, chanel.com 10. Beauty Pie Awesome Bronze £16.50, beautypie.com Continue reading...

Felix Cat Insurance Launches Cat Dad Hoodie Ahead of Father's Day

Felix™ Cat Insurance today announced the limited-edition launch of cat dad hoodies by Felix Cat Insurance that include a built-in pouch for toting rad cats up to 10 pounds. Over the last four years, 27% of men have adopted cats, surpassing 18% of women 1 – that's 1.5 million men proudly stepping into feline fatherhood. To honor these new cat dads breaking cat-lady stereotypes, Felix Cat Insurance is promoting major CDE (Cat Dad Energy) this Father's Day with apparel crafted for hardcore cat lovers looking to wear their pet parent badge with pride. Continue Reading Knowing 33% of male pet parents grapple with separation anxiety 2 when away from their pet, these hoodies are designed to fortify the human connection with felines by keeping them close wherever you are in your home with the hoodie's front pouch. Whether you're leading Zoom calls in a home office or gaming with friends in your living room, your feline copilot will be along for the ride snuggled up with you in style. "At Felix, we love to see cat dads breaking stereotypes," said Jamie Maxfield, Marketing Director at Felix Cat Insurance. "Our cat dad hoodie isn't just a Father's Day gimmick; it's a tribute to all the hardcore cat dads out there who are unapologetic about their feline loyalty." To model the cat dad hoodie for fellow feline fathers, Felix Cat Insurance is partnering with cat-dad influencer Abram Engle and his cat, Kurt. 100% of hoodie proceeds* – priced at $50 each – will go directly to Nashville Humane Association, an organization local to Engle and Kurt championing a cause close to the hearts of fellow cat lovers. The hoodies are available for sale in continental US and dropped weekly today and again June 10. To snag your limited-edition cat dad hoodie by Felix Cat Insurance and join the #catdadclub where style meets substance, visit Felix Cat Insurance is the first pet insurance brand just for cats with a mission to celebrate all things feline. Our "Whisker-to-Tail Protection" is customizable with multiple deductible and reimbursement options to make a plan that fits your needs. Plans and coverage vary by state. Eligibility and exclusions and limitations apply. For complete details, refer to felixcatinsurance.com/sample-policies. To learn more, visit

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Felix Cat Insurance Launches Cat Dad Hoodie Ahead of Father's Day. Felix™ Cat Insurance today announced the limited-edition launch of cat dad hoodies by Felix Cat Insurance that include a built-in pouch for toting rad cats up to 10 pounds. Over the last four years, 27% of men have adopted cats, surpassing 18% of women 1 – that's 1.5 million men proudly stepping into feline fatherhood. To honor these new cat dads breaking cat-lady stereotypes, Felix Cat Insurance is promoting major CDE (Cat Dad Energy) this Father's Day with apparel crafted for hardcore cat lovers looking to wear their pet parent badge with pride. Continue Reading Knowing 33% of male pet parents grapple with separation anxiety 2 when away from their pet, these hoodies are designed to fortify the human connection with felines by keeping them close wherever you are in your home with the hoodie's front pouch. Whether you're leading Zoom calls in a home office or gaming with friends in your living room, your feline copilot will be along for the ride snuggled up with you in style. "At Felix, we love to see cat dads breaking stereotypes," said Jamie Maxfield, Marketing Director at Felix Cat Insurance. "Our cat dad hoodie isn't just a Father's Day gimmick; it's a tribute to all the hardcore cat dads out there who are unapologetic about their feline loyalty." To model the cat dad hoodie for fellow feline fathers, Felix Cat Insurance is partnering with cat-dad influencer Abram Engle and his cat, Kurt. 100% of hoodie proceeds* – priced at $50 each – will go directly to Nashville Humane Association, an organization local to Engle and Kurt championing a cause close to the hearts of fellow cat lovers. The hoodies are available for sale in continental US and dropped weekly today and again June 10. To snag your limited-edition cat dad hoodie by Felix Cat Insurance and join the #catdadclub where style meets substance, visit Felix Cat Insurance is the first pet insurance brand just for cats with a mission to celebrate all things feline. Our "Whisker-to-Tail Protection" is customizable with multiple deductible and reimbursement options to make a plan that fits your needs. Plans and coverage vary by state. Eligibility and exclusions and limitations apply. For complete details, refer to felixcatinsurance.com/sample-policies. To learn more, visit

iQIYI Unveils Over 250 New Shows at 4th Annual Content Showcase in North America

June 27, iQIYI, an innovative market-leading online entertainment service in China, concluded its fourth Annual Content Showcase virtually in North America, unveiling an impressive lineup of over 250 new Asian shows. The company also announced the expansion of its operations in Brazil, offering a wide range of Asian content with Portuguese subtitles to Brazilian viewers, along with enhanced content curation. Poster of iQIYI drama series " The White Olive Tree" "We are thrilled to showcase our exciting content lineup to global audiences and expand iQIYI's footprint in the Brazilian market," said Leo GENG, Senior Vice President of iQIYI. "Following the successful launch of iQIYI's original Chinese content in the Spanish-speaking markets last year, this expansion will further extend the reach of our premium content to audiences in Brazil and worldwide, demonstrating our commitment to catering to the diverse cultural needs of our global viewers." The newly announced shows will cover a diverse range of genres, bringing audiences an abundance of premium Chinese dramas and original variety shows. Highlights include Liying ZHAO's urban suspense What a Wonderful World and Li SUN's captivating new show Breaking the Shadows under "Light On Theatre" series, marking both actress' first foray into these genres. On the costume drama front, iQIYI presents the highly anticipated series Fangs of Fortune by the same team behind My Journey With You, and Reborn to Love starring Tian JING and Linghe ZHANG. Modern dramas also feature notable selections like The White Olive Tree with Zheyuan CHEN and Jie LIANG, Northward with Lu BAI and Hao OU, and A Beautiful Lie with Xingxu CHEN and Yuxi ZHANG. In addition to dramas, iQIYI unveiled a star-studded lineup for variety shows, including The King of Stand-Up Comedy, produced in partnership with The Content Showcase also highlighted the expansion of iQIYI's services on Roku TV to five additional markets in Central and South American, including

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iQIYI Unveils Over 250 New Shows at 4th Annual Content Showcase in North America. June 27, iQIYI, an innovative market-leading online entertainment service in China, concluded its fourth Annual Content Showcase virtually in North America, unveiling an impressive lineup of over 250 new Asian shows. The company also announced the expansion of its operations in Brazil, offering a wide range of Asian content with Portuguese subtitles to Brazilian viewers, along with enhanced content curation. Poster of iQIYI drama series " The White Olive Tree" "We are thrilled to showcase our exciting content lineup to global audiences and expand iQIYI's footprint in the Brazilian market," said Leo GENG, Senior Vice President of iQIYI. "Following the successful launch of iQIYI's original Chinese content in the Spanish-speaking markets last year, this expansion will further extend the reach of our premium content to audiences in Brazil and worldwide, demonstrating our commitment to catering to the diverse cultural needs of our global viewers." The newly announced shows will cover a diverse range of genres, bringing audiences an abundance of premium Chinese dramas and original variety shows. Highlights include Liying ZHAO's urban suspense What a Wonderful World and Li SUN's captivating new show Breaking the Shadows under "Light On Theatre" series, marking both actress' first foray into these genres. On the costume drama front, iQIYI presents the highly anticipated series Fangs of Fortune by the same team behind My Journey With You, and Reborn to Love starring Tian JING and Linghe ZHANG. Modern dramas also feature notable selections like The White Olive Tree with Zheyuan CHEN and Jie LIANG, Northward with Lu BAI and Hao OU, and A Beautiful Lie with Xingxu CHEN and Yuxi ZHANG. In addition to dramas, iQIYI unveiled a star-studded lineup for variety shows, including The King of Stand-Up Comedy, produced in partnership with The Content Showcase also highlighted the expansion of iQIYI's services on Roku TV to five additional markets in Central and South American, including

It's mating season for coyotes. Here's how to limit encounters and stay safe

It's mating season for coyotes. Here's how to limit encounters and stay safe Burlington, Ont., is reminding residents they're more likely to see coyotes since it's mating season. They also amended a bylaw making it easier for wildlife management companies to use guns. However, the city says, the plan is not to shoot more coyotes. It's mating season for coyotes, which means they're more likely to be out and about during the day. With that in mind, the City of Burlington, Ont., is reminding residents what to do if they encounter one, and how to coyote-proof their properties. Last week, the city also updated its bylaws to let wildlife management professionals use firearms but the city's head of bylaw says that's not to make it easier to kill coyotes but makes the response require less staffing. "Coyotes have always been here. People just didn't notice them," Kerry Davren, Burlington's director of bylaw compliance told CBC Hamilton. Coyote concerns grew in 2022 Male coyotes weigh nine to 23 kilograms, and grow 58- to 66-centimetres-tall, the Canadian Wildlife Federation says. Females are about 20 per cent smaller. The creatures primarily hunt rabbits and rodents, but are also known to scavenge and hunt livestock. They can be found throughout Canada. In 2022, a spate of seven coyote attacks injured a few residents, alarmed the wider community and led the city to kill several coyotes it deemed responsible for attacks on people or found to be acting aggressively. Eventually, officials blamed the rise in coyote aggression on people feeding the animals. A coyote in Edmonton. (Dale Brochu/CBC) Davren says the city saw people leaving out waste that attracted rodents coyotes prey on. It also found people were deliberately leaving food out for the canines in parks and long trails. That, she said, coupled with more people being at home due to the pandemic, meant more opportunity for human-animal conflict. The city notes feeding wildlife can result in a fine. How to make your yard less attractive for coyotes This past year hasn't seen as much conflict as in 2022, Davren said, so a bylaw priority is to continue to educate residents. "This is about educating people so that they understand … this happened because of the way we're behaving. It's not about the coyotes themselves." The city is offering educational sessions on coyotes at the Burlington Central Library, the next of which is on Feb. 22, and residents can request animal control staff audit their yard for things that may attract coyotes. To prevent coyote conflicts, the Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry recommends people: put up fences in their yards; store garbage in places coyotes cannot access; clean up after pets; and remove food sources, among other things. If people do encounter coyotes, it recommends keeping distant, making noise and slowly backing away — never running or turning one's back. The province says people should report coyote conflicts to their municipalities, many of which also track coyote sightings. Burlington bylaw change The bylaw change in Burlington will also help, the city said. It was made to enable wildlife management professionals to use guns after the city realized it had not formally exempted them from rules prohibiting firearm usage. Davren said that meant the city had to send animal control bylaw officers out with wildlife management specialists should they wish to "take action" against a coyote, an unnecessary duplication. Wildlife control specialists offer a range of services including tracking and deterring wild animals, and often partner with municipalities. Davren added that the change will also make it simpler for farmers to contract such services if, for example, coyotes are preying on their wildlife. Davren emphasizes that this was legal "housekeeping," not a change in enforcement. "We don't have people running around killing coyotes in the city." Per the city's coyote strategy, Burlington only seeks to kill coyotes that have bitten people. Wildlife management professionals must still have the proper training and documentation to use guns, work with the city, and alert police of their activities, Davren said. A coyote in an urban neighbourhood in Edmonton. (Dale Brochu/CBC) Understanding coyotes is key: wildlife control specialist Wildlife-control specialist Michael von Kaitz says businesses like his, The Wildlife Management Group Inc., only kill coyotes or other animals as a last resort. In fact, von Kaitz said he can't recall the last time his company killed an animal for any reason other than it being "too ill to survive." Management is not a "wild west approach," and begins with understanding animal behaviour, he said. Von Kaitz's Burlington-based business mainly operates in southern Ontario and works with municipalities to control species including geese and coyotes. It's worked with Burlington on coyote management since early 2023, he said. Professional coyote management involves modifying habitats and deterring the animals with tools such as cougar scat and wolf urine, which smell like their predators, he said. It also means verifying reported sightings by tracking coyotes and monitoring what they're doing and eating. Often, von Kaitz said, a coyote will move on after showing aggression toward humans, and no longer be a problem. Through March 21, you can drop by <a href=" Central to learn about coyote-proofing your property, and what to do if you see a coyote. Whistles used for hazing coyotes are also available for free. Dates/details regarding pop-ups are available @ <a href=" <a href=" <a href=" &mdash; @cityburlington Coyotes are opportunistic and will take advantage of existing features in their environment to make breeding and hunting dens, such as yard waste people dump, he said. And while they tend to stick to green spaces, they will come close to people for food in the right circumstances. That's why it's so important not to feed them, von Kaitz said. "The last thing you want to do is have old coyotes teach new coyotes how to survive in [an urban] habitat." If coyotes start feeding on domestic animals or livestock, or displaying aggression toward people, wildlife specialists will act on cities' orders to shoot them, he said, pointing to a saying he said he learned from the province: "A fed coyote is a dead coyote."

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It's mating season for coyotes. Here's how to limit encounters and stay safe. It's mating season for coyotes. Here's how to limit encounters and stay safe Burlington, Ont., is reminding residents they're more likely to see coyotes since it's mating season. They also amended a bylaw making it easier for wildlife management companies to use guns. However, the city says, the plan is not to shoot more coyotes. It's mating season for coyotes, which means they're more likely to be out and about during the day. With that in mind, the City of Burlington, Ont., is reminding residents what to do if they encounter one, and how to coyote-proof their properties. Last week, the city also updated its bylaws to let wildlife management professionals use firearms but the city's head of bylaw says that's not to make it easier to kill coyotes but makes the response require less staffing. "Coyotes have always been here. People just didn't notice them," Kerry Davren, Burlington's director of bylaw compliance told CBC Hamilton. Coyote concerns grew in 2022 Male coyotes weigh nine to 23 kilograms, and grow 58- to 66-centimetres-tall, the Canadian Wildlife Federation says. Females are about 20 per cent smaller. The creatures primarily hunt rabbits and rodents, but are also known to scavenge and hunt livestock. They can be found throughout Canada. In 2022, a spate of seven coyote attacks injured a few residents, alarmed the wider community and led the city to kill several coyotes it deemed responsible for attacks on people or found to be acting aggressively. Eventually, officials blamed the rise in coyote aggression on people feeding the animals. A coyote in Edmonton. (Dale Brochu/CBC) Davren says the city saw people leaving out waste that attracted rodents coyotes prey on. It also found people were deliberately leaving food out for the canines in parks and long trails. That, she said, coupled with more people being at home due to the pandemic, meant more opportunity for human-animal conflict. The city notes feeding wildlife can result in a fine. How to make your yard less attractive for coyotes This past year hasn't seen as much conflict as in 2022, Davren said, so a bylaw priority is to continue to educate residents. "This is about educating people so that they understand … this happened because of the way we're behaving. It's not about the coyotes themselves." The city is offering educational sessions on coyotes at the Burlington Central Library, the next of which is on Feb. 22, and residents can request animal control staff audit their yard for things that may attract coyotes. To prevent coyote conflicts, the Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry recommends people: put up fences in their yards; store garbage in places coyotes cannot access; clean up after pets; and remove food sources, among other things. If people do encounter coyotes, it recommends keeping distant, making noise and slowly backing away — never running or turning one's back. The province says people should report coyote conflicts to their municipalities, many of which also track coyote sightings. Burlington bylaw change The bylaw change in Burlington will also help, the city said. It was made to enable wildlife management professionals to use guns after the city realized it had not formally exempted them from rules prohibiting firearm usage. Davren said that meant the city had to send animal control bylaw officers out with wildlife management specialists should they wish to "take action" against a coyote, an unnecessary duplication. Wildlife control specialists offer a range of services including tracking and deterring wild animals, and often partner with municipalities. Davren added that the change will also make it simpler for farmers to contract such services if, for example, coyotes are preying on their wildlife. Davren emphasizes that this was legal "housekeeping," not a change in enforcement. "We don't have people running around killing coyotes in the city." Per the city's coyote strategy, Burlington only seeks to kill coyotes that have bitten people. Wildlife management professionals must still have the proper training and documentation to use guns, work with the city, and alert police of their activities, Davren said. A coyote in an urban neighbourhood in Edmonton. (Dale Brochu/CBC) Understanding coyotes is key: wildlife control specialist Wildlife-control specialist Michael von Kaitz says businesses like his, The Wildlife Management Group Inc., only kill coyotes or other animals as a last resort. In fact, von Kaitz said he can't recall the last time his company killed an animal for any reason other than it being "too ill to survive." Management is not a "wild west approach," and begins with understanding animal behaviour, he said. Von Kaitz's Burlington-based business mainly operates in southern Ontario and works with municipalities to control species including geese and coyotes. It's worked with Burlington on coyote management since early 2023, he said. Professional coyote management involves modifying habitats and deterring the animals with tools such as cougar scat and wolf urine, which smell like their predators, he said. It also means verifying reported sightings by tracking coyotes and monitoring what they're doing and eating. Often, von Kaitz said, a coyote will move on after showing aggression toward humans, and no longer be a problem. Through March 21, you can drop by <a href=" Central to learn about coyote-proofing your property, and what to do if you see a coyote. Whistles used for hazing coyotes are also available for free. Dates/details regarding pop-ups are available @ <a href=" <a href=" <a href=" &mdash; @cityburlington Coyotes are opportunistic and will take advantage of existing features in their environment to make breeding and hunting dens, such as yard waste people dump, he said. And while they tend to stick to green spaces, they will come close to people for food in the right circumstances. That's why it's so important not to feed them, von Kaitz said. "The last thing you want to do is have old coyotes teach new coyotes how to survive in [an urban] habitat." If coyotes start feeding on domestic animals or livestock, or displaying aggression toward people, wildlife specialists will act on cities' orders to shoot them, he said, pointing to a saying he said he learned from the province: "A fed coyote is a dead coyote."

Thousands of doctors go on strike in England a week before the UK general election

Enjoy the latest local, national and international news. Exclusive articles by Conrad Black, Barbara Kay and others. Plus, special edition NP Platformed and First Reading newsletters and virtual events. Unlimited online access to National Post and 15 news sites with one account. National Post ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition to view on any device, share and comment on. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. Support local journalism. Junior doctors, who form the backbone of hospital and clinic care, have been locked in the pay dispute with the government since late 2022. They went on strike for six days in January — the longest in NHS history — and hospitals had to cancel tens of thousands of appointments and operations. The latest strike begins Thursday and ends on Tuesday, just two days before voters cast their ballots to choose a new House of Commons. The British Medical Association, the doctors' union, say their pay has dropped by a quarter over the last 15 years and have called for a 35% pay uplift. The union says newly qualified doctors earn about 15 pounds ($19) an hour — the U.K. minimum wage is just over 10 pounds an hour — though salaries rise rapidly after the first year. Dr. Sumi Manirajan, deputy chair of the junior doctors committee at the union, said that years of underinvestment has resulted in young doctors leaving in droves to countries that offer better pay, with those left behind seriously overworked and underpaid. "Doctors that I trained with in London, some of the best in the country, have left to go to New Zealand. And actually what it makes me think of is why am I not doing the same? I want to be valued for the work that I do," she said. Manirajan, who recently graduated and works in obstetrics and gynecology, added that she sees many women waiting for more than a year for routine procedures. "These patients are in pain, and it hurts us to see us see these patients come in again and again with the same problem that we know we could treat if we had enough doctors," she said. The Conservative government says it gave the doctors pay raises of between 8.1% to 10.3% last year and said that it was a generous settlement. It maintained that authorities can't make a pay offer during the preelection period but the union refused to call off the strikes. Manirajan said that it was unfortunate that the government chose to call an election while knowing that the dispute was unresolved. The medics' union said it was ready to talk, and it has already had some discussions with the opposition Labour Party, which has a considerable lead in polls. "It is difficult to comprehend how either the Conservative Party or the Labour Party can deliver on their manifesto commitment to recover NHS performance over the next Parliament without first ending the dispute," said Siva Anandaciva, chief analyst at The King's Fund think tank. For more health news and content around diseases, conditions, wellness, healthy living, drugs, treatments and more, head to

world

Thousands of doctors go on strike in England a week before the UK general election. Enjoy the latest local, national and international news. Exclusive articles by Conrad Black, Barbara Kay and others. Plus, special edition NP Platformed and First Reading newsletters and virtual events. Unlimited online access to National Post and 15 news sites with one account. National Post ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition to view on any device, share and comment on. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. Support local journalism. Junior doctors, who form the backbone of hospital and clinic care, have been locked in the pay dispute with the government since late 2022. They went on strike for six days in January — the longest in NHS history — and hospitals had to cancel tens of thousands of appointments and operations. The latest strike begins Thursday and ends on Tuesday, just two days before voters cast their ballots to choose a new House of Commons. The British Medical Association, the doctors' union, say their pay has dropped by a quarter over the last 15 years and have called for a 35% pay uplift. The union says newly qualified doctors earn about 15 pounds ($19) an hour — the U.K. minimum wage is just over 10 pounds an hour — though salaries rise rapidly after the first year. Dr. Sumi Manirajan, deputy chair of the junior doctors committee at the union, said that years of underinvestment has resulted in young doctors leaving in droves to countries that offer better pay, with those left behind seriously overworked and underpaid. "Doctors that I trained with in London, some of the best in the country, have left to go to New Zealand. And actually what it makes me think of is why am I not doing the same? I want to be valued for the work that I do," she said. Manirajan, who recently graduated and works in obstetrics and gynecology, added that she sees many women waiting for more than a year for routine procedures. "These patients are in pain, and it hurts us to see us see these patients come in again and again with the same problem that we know we could treat if we had enough doctors," she said. The Conservative government says it gave the doctors pay raises of between 8.1% to 10.3% last year and said that it was a generous settlement. It maintained that authorities can't make a pay offer during the preelection period but the union refused to call off the strikes. Manirajan said that it was unfortunate that the government chose to call an election while knowing that the dispute was unresolved. The medics' union said it was ready to talk, and it has already had some discussions with the opposition Labour Party, which has a considerable lead in polls. "It is difficult to comprehend how either the Conservative Party or the Labour Party can deliver on their manifesto commitment to recover NHS performance over the next Parliament without first ending the dispute," said Siva Anandaciva, chief analyst at The King's Fund think tank. For more health news and content around diseases, conditions, wellness, healthy living, drugs, treatments and more, head to

Here's why your July 4th barbecue may be pricier this year

A traditional Independence Day barbecue for 10 people will cost $71.22 this year, on average, up 5% from 2023 and 30% from 2019, according to an American Farm Bureau Federation estimate. Beef and lemonade prices have risen significantly. Those for chicken breast and potato salad are down. Overall grocery inflation has fallen to a roughly pre-pandemic level. Americans firing up their grills for Fourth of July celebrations will likely pay more for some traditional barbecue staples this year. That's largely due to inflationary pressures in the U.S. economy and supply shocks related to specific foods such as beef and lemons, according to agricultural economists. The average cookout for 10 people will cost $71.22 this year, up 5% from 2023 and up about 30% from five years ago, according to an American Farm Bureau Federation estimate. The group analyzed prices for ground beef, chicken breast, pork chops, cheese, hamburger buns, homemade potato salad, potato chips, chocolate chip cookies, ice cream, strawberries, pork and beans, and lemonade: 2 pounds of ground beef, $12.77 (+11% vs. 2023) 2 pounds of chicken breasts, $7.83 (-4%) 3 pounds of pork chops, $15.49 (+8%) 1 pound of cheese, $3.57 (+1%) 1 package of hamburger buns, $2.41 (+7%) 2½ pounds of homemade potato salad, $3.32 (-4%) 32 ounces of pork and beans, $2.49 (+2%) 16 ounces of potato chips, $4.90 (+8%) 13-ounce package of chocolate chip cookies, $3.99 (+2%) ½ gallon of ice cream, $5.65 (+7%) 2 pints of strawberries, $4.61 (+1%) 2½ quarts of lemonade, $4.19 (+12%) Luke Sharrett/Bloomberg via Getty Images Ground beef and lemonade are the items for which Americans will see the biggest price increases for an Independence Day barbecue, according to Bernt Nelson, a Farm Bureau economist. Two pounds of ground beef cost $12.77, on average, up 11% from 2023, according to the group's analysis. That's largely due to low beef supply. The overall cattle inventory is the smallest it's been in 73 years, and the amount of red meat in cold storage is at its lowest in more than two decades, according to the Farm Bureau. "We had a really severe drought in 2022 that caused that reduction in supply," Schmidt said. "It's a long life cycle for cattle, so it takes time to rebuild that herd." Americans are spending a lot on travel and entertainment The average person would pay $2.16 for ingredients to prepare one quarter-pound hamburger with cheese, tomato and lettuce at home, according to a Wells Fargo analysis. Meanwhile, 2½ quarts of lemonade cost an average $4.19, up 12%. citrus greening disease outbreak in California, the U.S.' largest lemon producer, in late 2023 has pushed down supply, the Farm Bureau said. The U.S. Department of Agriculture estimates lemon production will fall 16% in 2024. Average lemon prices are up 13% from last year, while sugar prices rose 11% due partly to lower global production, the Farm Bureau said. "Overall inflation has also contributed to the increased prices for foods like chips, burger buns and many others," Nelson said. A two-pound pack of chicken breast will cost $7.83, on average, down 4% from 2023 and 13% from a record high in 2022, per the Farm Bureau analysis. Chicken supplies have historic and deadly outbreak of bird flu in 2022. Meat — including ground beef, pork chops and chicken breast — accounts for 50% of the total cost of an Independence Day barbecue, according to the Farm Bureau. Potato salad will also be cheaper than in 2023, largely because of lower prices for its key ingredient. Two pounds of potatoes cost $1.53, down 17%, the Farm Bureau said. Crop production is recovering from weather-related shortfalls that had pushed prices to recent record highs, it said. Prices for dining out have increased more than groceries in the past year: Up 4% versus 1%, respectively, according to the consumer price index. The average price of a quarter-pound burger at quick-service restaurants is $6.95, triple the cost of preparing one burger at home, Wells Fargo found. For a party of 10, party hosts would save $47.90 by cooking at home instead of buying a burger, it said. "This is going to be another great year to break out your grill and cook the burger yourself at home," Schmidt said. That said, for those who require the convenience of dining out, many quick-service joints are offering value options for diners, she added. Higher costs for aluminum have fed through to prices for 12-ounce drink cans, Schmidt said. She recommended considering a two-liter shareable bottle instead of individual aluminum cans. The price for a 12 oz. can of soda is up 4.8% over the past year, while that for two-liter bottles is down 6.5%, for example.

world

Here's why your July 4th barbecue may be pricier this year. A traditional Independence Day barbecue for 10 people will cost $71.22 this year, on average, up 5% from 2023 and 30% from 2019, according to an American Farm Bureau Federation estimate. Beef and lemonade prices have risen significantly. Those for chicken breast and potato salad are down. Overall grocery inflation has fallen to a roughly pre-pandemic level. Americans firing up their grills for Fourth of July celebrations will likely pay more for some traditional barbecue staples this year. That's largely due to inflationary pressures in the U.S. economy and supply shocks related to specific foods such as beef and lemons, according to agricultural economists. The average cookout for 10 people will cost $71.22 this year, up 5% from 2023 and up about 30% from five years ago, according to an American Farm Bureau Federation estimate. The group analyzed prices for ground beef, chicken breast, pork chops, cheese, hamburger buns, homemade potato salad, potato chips, chocolate chip cookies, ice cream, strawberries, pork and beans, and lemonade: 2 pounds of ground beef, $12.77 (+11% vs. 2023) 2 pounds of chicken breasts, $7.83 (-4%) 3 pounds of pork chops, $15.49 (+8%) 1 pound of cheese, $3.57 (+1%) 1 package of hamburger buns, $2.41 (+7%) 2½ pounds of homemade potato salad, $3.32 (-4%) 32 ounces of pork and beans, $2.49 (+2%) 16 ounces of potato chips, $4.90 (+8%) 13-ounce package of chocolate chip cookies, $3.99 (+2%) ½ gallon of ice cream, $5.65 (+7%) 2 pints of strawberries, $4.61 (+1%) 2½ quarts of lemonade, $4.19 (+12%) Luke Sharrett/Bloomberg via Getty Images Ground beef and lemonade are the items for which Americans will see the biggest price increases for an Independence Day barbecue, according to Bernt Nelson, a Farm Bureau economist. Two pounds of ground beef cost $12.77, on average, up 11% from 2023, according to the group's analysis. That's largely due to low beef supply. The overall cattle inventory is the smallest it's been in 73 years, and the amount of red meat in cold storage is at its lowest in more than two decades, according to the Farm Bureau. "We had a really severe drought in 2022 that caused that reduction in supply," Schmidt said. "It's a long life cycle for cattle, so it takes time to rebuild that herd." Americans are spending a lot on travel and entertainment The average person would pay $2.16 for ingredients to prepare one quarter-pound hamburger with cheese, tomato and lettuce at home, according to a Wells Fargo analysis. Meanwhile, 2½ quarts of lemonade cost an average $4.19, up 12%. citrus greening disease outbreak in California, the U.S.' largest lemon producer, in late 2023 has pushed down supply, the Farm Bureau said. The U.S. Department of Agriculture estimates lemon production will fall 16% in 2024. Average lemon prices are up 13% from last year, while sugar prices rose 11% due partly to lower global production, the Farm Bureau said. "Overall inflation has also contributed to the increased prices for foods like chips, burger buns and many others," Nelson said. A two-pound pack of chicken breast will cost $7.83, on average, down 4% from 2023 and 13% from a record high in 2022, per the Farm Bureau analysis. Chicken supplies have historic and deadly outbreak of bird flu in 2022. Meat — including ground beef, pork chops and chicken breast — accounts for 50% of the total cost of an Independence Day barbecue, according to the Farm Bureau. Potato salad will also be cheaper than in 2023, largely because of lower prices for its key ingredient. Two pounds of potatoes cost $1.53, down 17%, the Farm Bureau said. Crop production is recovering from weather-related shortfalls that had pushed prices to recent record highs, it said. Prices for dining out have increased more than groceries in the past year: Up 4% versus 1%, respectively, according to the consumer price index. The average price of a quarter-pound burger at quick-service restaurants is $6.95, triple the cost of preparing one burger at home, Wells Fargo found. For a party of 10, party hosts would save $47.90 by cooking at home instead of buying a burger, it said. "This is going to be another great year to break out your grill and cook the burger yourself at home," Schmidt said. That said, for those who require the convenience of dining out, many quick-service joints are offering value options for diners, she added. Higher costs for aluminum have fed through to prices for 12-ounce drink cans, Schmidt said. She recommended considering a two-liter shareable bottle instead of individual aluminum cans. The price for a 12 oz. can of soda is up 4.8% over the past year, while that for two-liter bottles is down 6.5%, for example.

San Francisco voters to weigh in on drug treatment measures, expanded police powers

Voters in San Francisco will weigh in on a pair of public safety measures on Tuesday's ballot that reflect frustration over crime and drug use in the politically liberal city, including a proposal to compel treatment for adults using illegal drugs who receive cash welfare benefits. The other ballot measure would expand police powers, granting city officers greater leeway to pursue suspects in vehicles, authorize police use of drones and surveillance cameras and reduce paperwork requirements including in use-of-force cases. Mayor London Breed, a centrist Democrat who is in a tough reelection battle, placed both measures on the ballot. She faces three serious opponents who say her administration has failed to deal with drug crimes, vandalism and theft. There is no primary in San Francisco — voters will rank all the candidates by preference in the November election. LIBERAL SAN FRANCISCO ON BRINK OF DRUG-TESTING WELFARE RECIPIENTS: 'THE PENDULUM IS SWINGING' Democratic leaders in liberal cities across the U.S. have had mixed results as they struggle to balance progressive criminal justice reforms with fed-up voters. In San Francisco, retail theft, record fentanyl overdose deaths, and the struggle to bounce back from the pandemic have frustrated residents and drawn negative attention from national media outlets. Voters ousted progressive District Attorney Chesa Boudin in a heated recall election in 2022, saying he was too lenient toward criminals. Across the San Francisco Bay in Oakland, progressive Mayor Sheng Thao faces a potential recall election amid a crime wave that has prompted Gov. Gavin Newsom to send in California Highway Patrol officers and state prosecutors to help. Supporters of the two propositions on Tuesday's ballot have far outspent opponents. They include tech-backed civic advocacy groups and CEOs like Chris Larsen of the cryptocurrency firm Ripple and Jeremy Stoppelman of Yelp. "These two propositions are incredibly popular," said Kanishka Cheng, CEO of TogetherSF, a civic advocacy group she co-founded at the start of the pandemic with billionaire venture capitalist Michael Moritz. Even if the measures are not perfect, she said, "people are so frustrated, they're willing to try something different. That's the sentiment I hear from voters every day." SAN FRANCISCO MAYOR PUSHES ADDICTION SCREENING FOR WELFARE RECIPIENTS, NEW TECHNOLOGY FOR POLICE Opponents accuse tech billionaires of trying to buy the election and say Breed is simply trying to shore up votes for November. The proposals will not make the public safer, they contend. Proposition F would require single adults without dependents on local welfare — about 9,000 people a year — to be screened for illegal drug use. If they're found to be using drugs, an addiction specialist and the recipient would agree on treatment options that include residential care, a 12-step program, individual counseling and replacement medication. There is no sobriety requirement, only that a person make a good-faith effort to participate in treatment if they want to receive cash assistance, which maxes out at just over $700 a month. Supporters include recovery advocates, who say it's far too easy for people to get and use illegal drugs in San Francisco and there are not enough options to help them become sober. Sara Shortt, a spokesperson for the No on F campaign, counters that the measure punishes people who need help and could result in them losing housing. "People will not be comfortable going to request services when they know they will be asked intrusive questions and then mandated to participate in a program," she said. Voters in San Francisco will decide on Propositions F and E, which address public safety measures such as expanding police powers and compel treatment for illegal drug use. (AP Photo/Godofredo A. Vásquez) Proposition E would make a number of changes to the police department, including reducing the powers of the citizen police oversight commission, which the mayor says is micromanaging the department. The measure would also allow police to install public surveillance cameras, use drones, reduce paperwork and engage in more vehicle pursuits, something they currently can do only in cases of a violent felony or immediate threat to public safety. Giving police more leeway is supported by people like Michael Hsu, whose athletic footwear and apparel store Footprint has been broken into multiple times, most recently on Jan. 1. Police arrived as the suspects were leaving but could not pursue them because no lives were at risk, and Hsu said the robbery cost him about $20,000. CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP But Yoel Haile, criminal justice director of the American Civil Liberties Union of Northern California, which heads the opposition, said expanding car chases will result in more people being hurt or even killed in the densely packed city. Meanwhile loosening paperwork requirements will mean less transparency and the use of technology will allow greater secret surveillance by police, he said, adding that the way to make neighborhoods safer is through more housing, treatment options and jobs.

usa

San Francisco voters to weigh in on drug treatment measures, expanded police powers. Voters in San Francisco will weigh in on a pair of public safety measures on Tuesday's ballot that reflect frustration over crime and drug use in the politically liberal city, including a proposal to compel treatment for adults using illegal drugs who receive cash welfare benefits. The other ballot measure would expand police powers, granting city officers greater leeway to pursue suspects in vehicles, authorize police use of drones and surveillance cameras and reduce paperwork requirements including in use-of-force cases. Mayor London Breed, a centrist Democrat who is in a tough reelection battle, placed both measures on the ballot. She faces three serious opponents who say her administration has failed to deal with drug crimes, vandalism and theft. There is no primary in San Francisco — voters will rank all the candidates by preference in the November election. LIBERAL SAN FRANCISCO ON BRINK OF DRUG-TESTING WELFARE RECIPIENTS: 'THE PENDULUM IS SWINGING' Democratic leaders in liberal cities across the U.S. have had mixed results as they struggle to balance progressive criminal justice reforms with fed-up voters. In San Francisco, retail theft, record fentanyl overdose deaths, and the struggle to bounce back from the pandemic have frustrated residents and drawn negative attention from national media outlets. Voters ousted progressive District Attorney Chesa Boudin in a heated recall election in 2022, saying he was too lenient toward criminals. Across the San Francisco Bay in Oakland, progressive Mayor Sheng Thao faces a potential recall election amid a crime wave that has prompted Gov. Gavin Newsom to send in California Highway Patrol officers and state prosecutors to help. Supporters of the two propositions on Tuesday's ballot have far outspent opponents. They include tech-backed civic advocacy groups and CEOs like Chris Larsen of the cryptocurrency firm Ripple and Jeremy Stoppelman of Yelp. "These two propositions are incredibly popular," said Kanishka Cheng, CEO of TogetherSF, a civic advocacy group she co-founded at the start of the pandemic with billionaire venture capitalist Michael Moritz. Even if the measures are not perfect, she said, "people are so frustrated, they're willing to try something different. That's the sentiment I hear from voters every day." SAN FRANCISCO MAYOR PUSHES ADDICTION SCREENING FOR WELFARE RECIPIENTS, NEW TECHNOLOGY FOR POLICE Opponents accuse tech billionaires of trying to buy the election and say Breed is simply trying to shore up votes for November. The proposals will not make the public safer, they contend. Proposition F would require single adults without dependents on local welfare — about 9,000 people a year — to be screened for illegal drug use. If they're found to be using drugs, an addiction specialist and the recipient would agree on treatment options that include residential care, a 12-step program, individual counseling and replacement medication. There is no sobriety requirement, only that a person make a good-faith effort to participate in treatment if they want to receive cash assistance, which maxes out at just over $700 a month. Supporters include recovery advocates, who say it's far too easy for people to get and use illegal drugs in San Francisco and there are not enough options to help them become sober. Sara Shortt, a spokesperson for the No on F campaign, counters that the measure punishes people who need help and could result in them losing housing. "People will not be comfortable going to request services when they know they will be asked intrusive questions and then mandated to participate in a program," she said. Voters in San Francisco will decide on Propositions F and E, which address public safety measures such as expanding police powers and compel treatment for illegal drug use. (AP Photo/Godofredo A. Vásquez) Proposition E would make a number of changes to the police department, including reducing the powers of the citizen police oversight commission, which the mayor says is micromanaging the department. The measure would also allow police to install public surveillance cameras, use drones, reduce paperwork and engage in more vehicle pursuits, something they currently can do only in cases of a violent felony or immediate threat to public safety. Giving police more leeway is supported by people like Michael Hsu, whose athletic footwear and apparel store Footprint has been broken into multiple times, most recently on Jan. 1. Police arrived as the suspects were leaving but could not pursue them because no lives were at risk, and Hsu said the robbery cost him about $20,000. CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP But Yoel Haile, criminal justice director of the American Civil Liberties Union of Northern California, which heads the opposition, said expanding car chases will result in more people being hurt or even killed in the densely packed city. Meanwhile loosening paperwork requirements will mean less transparency and the use of technology will allow greater secret surveillance by police, he said, adding that the way to make neighborhoods safer is through more housing, treatment options and jobs.

Congressman’s former commander confirms disputed Bronze Star

Rep. Troy Nehls, R-Texas, has faced criticism for touting military decorations that don't match his service record provided by the Pentagon. (Jess Rapfogel/AP) The commanding officer of a 2008 tour in Afghanistan that included then-U.S. Army Major Troy Nehls told The Texas Tribune that he recalls awarding the now-congressman his second Bronze Star award. That award — which recognizes service members who show heroism in the field — has been called into question after a CBS investigation reported Nehls had been touting military decorations that did not match his service record provided by the Pentagon. In campaign ads and in his House biography, Nehls, R-Richmond, has posted pictures of him in an Army uniform wearing two Bronze Star medals. He has also worn the Combat Infantryman Badge lapel pin, awarded to soldiers for service in combat. Texas Congressman defends military record amid combat badge scandal U.S. Rep. Troy Nehls has apparently stopped wearing a Combat Infantryman Badge that the Army revoked and removed from his service record last year. Isaac Yu, The Texas Tribune investigation found that the Pentagon reported Nehls only received one Bronze Star and that the Combat Infantryman Badge was awarded in error and rescinded in 2023. Nehls, who has been publicly criticized by members of his own party amid the claims of stolen valor, said on social media that he did have two Bronze Stars. But he has since stopped wearing the CIB. But Jason Burke, the Navy captain who led the 130-person joint task force Nehls served on during his tour, recalled awarding the medal to Nehls. Nehls received the medal at a ceremony with several other officers in the fall of 2008, shortly before Nehls finished his tour and returned to Texas, Burke told the Tribune. "You're getting that award if you've done a good job and met the criteria," said the now-retired Burke, who is listed on the award certificate as Nehls' commanding officer. "He earned it, and received it." Nehls, who represents a swath of Houston suburbs, served as Burke's second-in-command under a joint effort called Task Force Currahee. Their unit, which included both Army and Navy officers, worked on provincial reconstruction, building roads, clinics and schools in eastern Afghanistan's Ghazni Province. Burke said the team's convoys regularly came under Taliban ambushes and guerilla attacks. The Bronze Star award must be recommended by a commander, and any service member in any branch of the military working an operation involving a conflict with an opposing force of the U.S. is eligible. The CIB, by contrast, is only given to those in combat roles. It was relatively standard during the U.S.' war on terrorism, after the Sept. 11 attacks, for officers of certain ranks to receive some kind of award upon completing a tour, often a Bronze Star. Nehls' first star was awarded for Operation Iraqi Freedom in 2004, where he trained 13 staff members of an Iraqi government office to perform financial assessments, according to the certificate. A spokesperson for Nehls declined to comment on this story, pointing to a post on X Nehls made last month defending his record and posting photos of the certificates of his two Bronze stars, and his copy of the underlying nomination forms. Burke's sign-off can be seen on the 2008 documentation, known as Form 638, along with signatures from two higher-level officials. Congressman accuses Army of political attacks over combat badge Rep. Troy Nehls has received criticism for wearing a Combat Infantry Badge lapel pin after the service revoked the award last year. Leo Shane III CBS reported the Pentagon would conduct another review of Nehls' record. The most recent summary of his service and awards, provided to the Tribune by a Pentagon spokesperson on Friday, lists only one Bronze Star and no CIB. The systems for records keeping for military awards can be difficult to navigate. Soldiers often become responsible for making sure awards paperwork is turned over to a personnel officer. That means documentation for awards sometimes slips through the cracks, according to retired Army sergeant Anthony Anderson, who has investigated numerous instances of stolen valor. "I wouldn't say it's common, but it does happen," Anderson said. Anderson said he had previously spoken with Nehls' chief of staff, encouraging them to submit documentation of the second Bronze Star to the Pentagon to be added to Nehls record. He said he would be surprised if an officer in Nehls' position hadn't received a Bronze Star. Nehls' military record has become a thorn for him in recent months. He announced that he would stop wearing the Combat Infantryman Badge last week in response to reports that the badge had been revoked in 2023. Nehls was found to be ineligible for that badge because he had served in Afghanistan in a civil role, not as a combatant infantryman. Nehls did serve as an infantryman during his time with the Wisconsin National Guard in the 1990s, completing a tour in Bosnia. " Amid stolen valor accusations, ex-commanding officer confirms he issued Rep. Troy Nehls' second Bronze Star " was first published by The Texas Tribune, a nonprofit, nonpartisan media organization that informs Texans — and engages with them — about public policy, politics, government and statewide issues. Learn more at Sign up for The Brief, The Texas Tribune's daily newsletter that keeps readers up to speed on the most essential Texas news. In Other News Military families: Tell us how inflation has affected you Tell Military Times how inflation has affected your wallet and your choices. Troops may face inflated drug costs under Tricare, lawmakers say Is the Tricare pharmacy contractor hurting troops and their families by squeezing out competition? Do military families really need to move so much? A new report from a leading advocacy group argues it's time to give the pace of military moves, known as permanent changes of station, a fresh look. Military needs better recipe for feeding troops, auditors say A new government watchdog report argues the Pentagon can do more to steer troops toward nutritious options at military-run dining halls. Army imposes stricter rules for addressing extremism among troops

military

Congressman’s former commander confirms disputed Bronze Star. Rep. Troy Nehls, R-Texas, has faced criticism for touting military decorations that don't match his service record provided by the Pentagon. (Jess Rapfogel/AP) The commanding officer of a 2008 tour in Afghanistan that included then-U.S. Army Major Troy Nehls told The Texas Tribune that he recalls awarding the now-congressman his second Bronze Star award. That award — which recognizes service members who show heroism in the field — has been called into question after a CBS investigation reported Nehls had been touting military decorations that did not match his service record provided by the Pentagon. In campaign ads and in his House biography, Nehls, R-Richmond, has posted pictures of him in an Army uniform wearing two Bronze Star medals. He has also worn the Combat Infantryman Badge lapel pin, awarded to soldiers for service in combat. Texas Congressman defends military record amid combat badge scandal U.S. Rep. Troy Nehls has apparently stopped wearing a Combat Infantryman Badge that the Army revoked and removed from his service record last year. Isaac Yu, The Texas Tribune investigation found that the Pentagon reported Nehls only received one Bronze Star and that the Combat Infantryman Badge was awarded in error and rescinded in 2023. Nehls, who has been publicly criticized by members of his own party amid the claims of stolen valor, said on social media that he did have two Bronze Stars. But he has since stopped wearing the CIB. But Jason Burke, the Navy captain who led the 130-person joint task force Nehls served on during his tour, recalled awarding the medal to Nehls. Nehls received the medal at a ceremony with several other officers in the fall of 2008, shortly before Nehls finished his tour and returned to Texas, Burke told the Tribune. "You're getting that award if you've done a good job and met the criteria," said the now-retired Burke, who is listed on the award certificate as Nehls' commanding officer. "He earned it, and received it." Nehls, who represents a swath of Houston suburbs, served as Burke's second-in-command under a joint effort called Task Force Currahee. Their unit, which included both Army and Navy officers, worked on provincial reconstruction, building roads, clinics and schools in eastern Afghanistan's Ghazni Province. Burke said the team's convoys regularly came under Taliban ambushes and guerilla attacks. The Bronze Star award must be recommended by a commander, and any service member in any branch of the military working an operation involving a conflict with an opposing force of the U.S. is eligible. The CIB, by contrast, is only given to those in combat roles. It was relatively standard during the U.S.' war on terrorism, after the Sept. 11 attacks, for officers of certain ranks to receive some kind of award upon completing a tour, often a Bronze Star. Nehls' first star was awarded for Operation Iraqi Freedom in 2004, where he trained 13 staff members of an Iraqi government office to perform financial assessments, according to the certificate. A spokesperson for Nehls declined to comment on this story, pointing to a post on X Nehls made last month defending his record and posting photos of the certificates of his two Bronze stars, and his copy of the underlying nomination forms. Burke's sign-off can be seen on the 2008 documentation, known as Form 638, along with signatures from two higher-level officials. Congressman accuses Army of political attacks over combat badge Rep. Troy Nehls has received criticism for wearing a Combat Infantry Badge lapel pin after the service revoked the award last year. Leo Shane III CBS reported the Pentagon would conduct another review of Nehls' record. The most recent summary of his service and awards, provided to the Tribune by a Pentagon spokesperson on Friday, lists only one Bronze Star and no CIB. The systems for records keeping for military awards can be difficult to navigate. Soldiers often become responsible for making sure awards paperwork is turned over to a personnel officer. That means documentation for awards sometimes slips through the cracks, according to retired Army sergeant Anthony Anderson, who has investigated numerous instances of stolen valor. "I wouldn't say it's common, but it does happen," Anderson said. Anderson said he had previously spoken with Nehls' chief of staff, encouraging them to submit documentation of the second Bronze Star to the Pentagon to be added to Nehls record. He said he would be surprised if an officer in Nehls' position hadn't received a Bronze Star. Nehls' military record has become a thorn for him in recent months. He announced that he would stop wearing the Combat Infantryman Badge last week in response to reports that the badge had been revoked in 2023. Nehls was found to be ineligible for that badge because he had served in Afghanistan in a civil role, not as a combatant infantryman. Nehls did serve as an infantryman during his time with the Wisconsin National Guard in the 1990s, completing a tour in Bosnia. " Amid stolen valor accusations, ex-commanding officer confirms he issued Rep. Troy Nehls' second Bronze Star " was first published by The Texas Tribune, a nonprofit, nonpartisan media organization that informs Texans — and engages with them — about public policy, politics, government and statewide issues. Learn more at Sign up for The Brief, The Texas Tribune's daily newsletter that keeps readers up to speed on the most essential Texas news. In Other News Military families: Tell us how inflation has affected you Tell Military Times how inflation has affected your wallet and your choices. Troops may face inflated drug costs under Tricare, lawmakers say Is the Tricare pharmacy contractor hurting troops and their families by squeezing out competition? Do military families really need to move so much? A new report from a leading advocacy group argues it's time to give the pace of military moves, known as permanent changes of station, a fresh look. Military needs better recipe for feeding troops, auditors say A new government watchdog report argues the Pentagon can do more to steer troops toward nutritious options at military-run dining halls. Army imposes stricter rules for addressing extremism among troops

Embassy takes down AI-generated Canada Day social media post

Embassy takes down AI-generated Canada Day social media post Canada's embassy in Washington has taken down a social media post that included an image generated by artificial intelligence. Posted: Jul 02, 2024 12:32 PM EDT | Last Updated: 4 hours ago This cropped image of a GAC social media post shows an AI-generated image that was posted to the social media account of the Canadian embassy in Washington. (@CanEmbUSA/CBC) Social Sharing Canada's embassy in Washington has taken down a social media post that included an image generated by artificial intelligence. In a media statement, Global Affairs Canada (GAC) confirmed its June 30 post on X (formerly Twitter) encouraging people to celebrate Canada Day did not cite generative AI as its source. "This is a new technology that departments are exploring and as the technology evolves, Global Affairs will adapt its policy on the use of AI as recommended by [the Treasury Board Secretariat]," GAC said in the statement. The image — of a crowd of people waving Canadian flags — was a stock image GAC obtained through a subscription. The artist who created the image used AI to make it, GAC said. In the last federal budget, the Liberal government set aside about $2.4 billion to support the development of AI in Canada over the next five years. Federal government use of AI in hundreds of initiatives revealed by new research database Trudeau announces $2.4 billion for AI-related investments Ottawa will prevent AI tools from discriminating against potential hires, Anand says The government said $2 billion of that will be used to help researchers, startups and existing businesses access the computational power required to advance and develop AI. The federal government says it will spend another $200 million to help bring AI technologies to market in the agriculture, health care, manufacturing and clean technology sectors. The National Research Council is getting $100 million over five years to help small- and medium-sized businesses deploy new AI technologies. The government has set aside $50 million to retrain workers displaced by AI technologies. AI safety institute The budget document also earmarked $50 million to create an AI safety institute to "help Canada better understand and protect against the risks of advanced or nefarious AI systems." When Parliament returns in September, the Liberal government will continue its efforts to pass Bill C-27, the first federal bill specifically aimed at governing artificial intelligence. The law would update privacy laws and impose new obligations on "high-impact" systems that have the potential to adversely affect health and safety, human rights or the economy. The proposed law has been studied at committee since September 2023 and currently sits at second reading stage in the House of Commons. Last week, the federal government launched a consultation on artificial intelligence that will ask innovators, businesses and researchers to identify the best places to invest in order to ensure Canadian AI development remains competitive. The consultation runs from June 26 to Sept. 6. Peter Zimonjic is a senior writer for CBC News. He has worked as a reporter and columnist in London, England, for the Daily Mail, Sunday Times and Daily Telegraph and in Canada for Sun Media and the Ottawa Citizen. He is the author of Into The Darkness: An Account of 7/7, published by Random House.

politics

Embassy takes down AI-generated Canada Day social media post. Embassy takes down AI-generated Canada Day social media post Canada's embassy in Washington has taken down a social media post that included an image generated by artificial intelligence. Posted: Jul 02, 2024 12:32 PM EDT | Last Updated: 4 hours ago This cropped image of a GAC social media post shows an AI-generated image that was posted to the social media account of the Canadian embassy in Washington. (@CanEmbUSA/CBC) Social Sharing Canada's embassy in Washington has taken down a social media post that included an image generated by artificial intelligence. In a media statement, Global Affairs Canada (GAC) confirmed its June 30 post on X (formerly Twitter) encouraging people to celebrate Canada Day did not cite generative AI as its source. "This is a new technology that departments are exploring and as the technology evolves, Global Affairs will adapt its policy on the use of AI as recommended by [the Treasury Board Secretariat]," GAC said in the statement. The image — of a crowd of people waving Canadian flags — was a stock image GAC obtained through a subscription. The artist who created the image used AI to make it, GAC said. In the last federal budget, the Liberal government set aside about $2.4 billion to support the development of AI in Canada over the next five years. Federal government use of AI in hundreds of initiatives revealed by new research database Trudeau announces $2.4 billion for AI-related investments Ottawa will prevent AI tools from discriminating against potential hires, Anand says The government said $2 billion of that will be used to help researchers, startups and existing businesses access the computational power required to advance and develop AI. The federal government says it will spend another $200 million to help bring AI technologies to market in the agriculture, health care, manufacturing and clean technology sectors. The National Research Council is getting $100 million over five years to help small- and medium-sized businesses deploy new AI technologies. The government has set aside $50 million to retrain workers displaced by AI technologies. AI safety institute The budget document also earmarked $50 million to create an AI safety institute to "help Canada better understand and protect against the risks of advanced or nefarious AI systems." When Parliament returns in September, the Liberal government will continue its efforts to pass Bill C-27, the first federal bill specifically aimed at governing artificial intelligence. The law would update privacy laws and impose new obligations on "high-impact" systems that have the potential to adversely affect health and safety, human rights or the economy. The proposed law has been studied at committee since September 2023 and currently sits at second reading stage in the House of Commons. Last week, the federal government launched a consultation on artificial intelligence that will ask innovators, businesses and researchers to identify the best places to invest in order to ensure Canadian AI development remains competitive. The consultation runs from June 26 to Sept. 6. Peter Zimonjic is a senior writer for CBC News. He has worked as a reporter and columnist in London, England, for the Daily Mail, Sunday Times and Daily Telegraph and in Canada for Sun Media and the Ottawa Citizen. He is the author of Into The Darkness: An Account of 7/7, published by Random House.

EasyJet, Ryanair wins against Venice airport surcharge

EasyJet and Ryanair, along with Spanish low-cost airline Volotea and the Associazione Italiana Compagnie Aeree Low Fares (AICALF) won before the Italian council of state, obtaining the cancellation of the €2.5 million surcharge on boarding fees for those departing from Venice’s Marco Polo airport. The parties were represented by Watson Farley & Williams (WFW). The […]

aerospace,business

EasyJet, Ryanair wins against Venice airport surcharge. EasyJet and Ryanair, along with Spanish low-cost airline Volotea and the Associazione Italiana Compagnie Aeree Low Fares (AICALF) won before the Italian council of state, obtaining the cancellation of the €2.5 million surcharge on boarding fees for those departing from Venice’s Marco Polo airport. The parties were represented by Watson Farley & Williams (WFW). The […]

Cryptic crossword No 29,427

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Cryptic crossword No 29,427. Continue reading...

Metaplanet Buys Another $1.2M Worth of Bitcoin as Investment Strategy Progresses

Metaplanet (3350), a publicly listed Japanese investment adviser, said it bought more than 20.2 bitcoin (BTC) as part of a $6 million strategy to boost BTC holdings in its treasury. In a statement on its website, the Tokyo-based company said it bought 200 million yen ($1.2 million) worth of bitcoin, taking its total holdings to 161.3 BTC. It posted a statement about the purchase to its account on social media platform X shortly after the close of trading on the Tokyo Stock Exchange. A week ago, the company said it planned to increase its bitcoin holdings by buying an additional $6 million worth of BTC. At the time, it already owned $9 million worth of the world's largest cryptocurrency by market cap. The focus on bitcoin was engendered by changes in the investment environment resulting from the Covid pandemic, according to the Metaplanet website. The bitcoin-accumulation strategy mirrors the approach taken by Tysons Corner, Virginia-based software developer MicroStrategy, which has been buying BTC for almost four years and now owns over 226,000 BTC, more than 1% of the entire number of bitcoin that will ever be issued. interests in a variety of blockchain and digital asset businesses and significant holdings of digital assets, including bitcoin. CoinDesk operates as an independent subsidiary with an editorial committee to protect journalistic independence. CoinDesk employees, including journalists, may receive options in the Bullish group as part of their compensation.

crypto

Metaplanet Buys Another $1.2M Worth of Bitcoin as Investment Strategy Progresses. Metaplanet (3350), a publicly listed Japanese investment adviser, said it bought more than 20.2 bitcoin (BTC) as part of a $6 million strategy to boost BTC holdings in its treasury. In a statement on its website, the Tokyo-based company said it bought 200 million yen ($1.2 million) worth of bitcoin, taking its total holdings to 161.3 BTC. It posted a statement about the purchase to its account on social media platform X shortly after the close of trading on the Tokyo Stock Exchange. A week ago, the company said it planned to increase its bitcoin holdings by buying an additional $6 million worth of BTC. At the time, it already owned $9 million worth of the world's largest cryptocurrency by market cap. The focus on bitcoin was engendered by changes in the investment environment resulting from the Covid pandemic, according to the Metaplanet website. The bitcoin-accumulation strategy mirrors the approach taken by Tysons Corner, Virginia-based software developer MicroStrategy, which has been buying BTC for almost four years and now owns over 226,000 BTC, more than 1% of the entire number of bitcoin that will ever be issued. interests in a variety of blockchain and digital asset businesses and significant holdings of digital assets, including bitcoin. CoinDesk operates as an independent subsidiary with an editorial committee to protect journalistic independence. CoinDesk employees, including journalists, may receive options in the Bullish group as part of their compensation.

Humane, the startup behind the AI Pin, in talks with HP, telecoms to sell

artificial intelligence device, worn on the lapel, as a way to replace a user's smartphone, allowing users to place calls, send texts, make search queries and more, through voice control. The AI Pin costs $699 and requires a $24 monthly data subscription to But when Humane sent the AI Pin to gadget reviewers in April, it was met with a tepid reception, with many calling it untrustworthy and not very useful. Reviewers for instance said it was In April, a source familiar with the company told CNBC that although Humane was behind where it originally wanted to be, it's typical for hardware startups not to get products exactly right on launch. The source added that, although the company was likely behind by about six months, that wasn't surprising for such a venture. Last year, Humane raised $100 million in funding from

tech

Humane, the startup behind the AI Pin, in talks with HP, telecoms to sell. artificial intelligence device, worn on the lapel, as a way to replace a user's smartphone, allowing users to place calls, send texts, make search queries and more, through voice control. The AI Pin costs $699 and requires a $24 monthly data subscription to But when Humane sent the AI Pin to gadget reviewers in April, it was met with a tepid reception, with many calling it untrustworthy and not very useful. Reviewers for instance said it was In April, a source familiar with the company told CNBC that although Humane was behind where it originally wanted to be, it's typical for hardware startups not to get products exactly right on launch. The source added that, although the company was likely behind by about six months, that wasn't surprising for such a venture. Last year, Humane raised $100 million in funding from

Machine learning could aid efforts to answer long-standing astrophysical questions

Machine learning could aid efforts to answer long-standing astrophysical questions Date: July 3, 2024 Source: DOE/Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory Summary: Physicists have developed a computer program incorporating machine learning that could help identify blobs of plasma in outer space known as plasmoids. In a novel twist, the program has been trained using simulated data. Share: In an ongoing game of cosmic hide and seek, scientists have a new tool that may give them an edge. Physicists at the U.S. Department of Energy's (DOE) Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory (PPPL) have developed a computer program incorporating machine learning that could help identify blobs of plasma in outer space known as plasmoids. In a novel twist, the program has been trained using simulated data. The program will sift through reams of data gathered by spacecraft in the magnetosphere, the region of outer space strongly affected by Earth's magnetic field, and flag telltale signs of the elusive blobs. Using this technique, scientists hope to learn more about the processes governing magnetic reconnection, a process that occurs in the magnetosphere and throughout the universe that can damage communications satellites and the electrical grid. Scientists believe that machine learning could improve plasmoid-finding capability, aid the basic understanding of magnetic reconnection and allow researchers to better prepare for the aftermath of reconnection-caused disturbances. "As far as we know, this is the first time that anyone has used artificial intelligence trained on simulated data to look for plasmoids," said Kendra Bergstedt, a graduate student in the Princeton Program in Plasma Physics, which is based at PPPL. Bergstedt was the first author of the paper reporting the results in Earth and Space Science. The work pairs the Lab's growing expertise in computational sciences with its long history of exploring magnetic reconnection. Looking for a link Scientists want to find reliable, accurate methods for detecting plasmoids so they can determine whether they affect magnetic reconnection, a process consisting of magnetic field lines separating, violently reattaching and releasing tremendous amounts of energy. When it occurs near Earth, reconnection can trigger a cascade of charged particles falling into the atmosphere, disrupting satellites, mobile phones and the electrical grid. "Some researchers believe that plasmoids aid fast reconnection in large plasmas," said Hantao Ji, professor of astrophysical sciences at Princeton University and a distinguished research fellow at PPPL. "But those hypotheses haven't been proven yet." The researchers want to know whether plasmoids can change the rate at which reconnection occurs. They also want to gauge how much energy reconnection imparts to the plasma particles. "But to clarify the relationship between plasmoids and reconnection, we have to know where the plasmoids are," Bergstedt said. "That's what machine learning could help us do." The scientists used computer-generated training data to ensure the program could recognize a range of plasma signatures. Typically, plasmoids created by computer models are idealized versions based on mathematical formulas with shapes -- like perfect circles -- that do not often occur in nature. If the program were trained only to recognize these perfect versions, it might miss those with other shapes. To prevent those misses, Bergstedt and Ji decided to use artificial, deliberately imperfect data so the program would have an accurate baseline for future studies. "Compared to mathematical models, the real world is messy," Bergstedt said. "So we decided to let our program learn using data with fluctuations that you would get in actual observations. For instance, rather than beginning our simulations with a perfectly flat electrical current sheet, we give our sheet some wobbles. We're hoping that the machine learning approach can allow for more nuance than a strict mathematical model can." This research builds on past attempts in which Bergstedt and Ji wrote computer programs that incorporated more idealized models of plasmoids. The use of machine learning will only become more common in astrophysics research, according to the scientists. "It could particularly be helpful when making extrapolations from small numbers of measurements, as we sometimes do when studying reconnection," said Ji. "And the best way to learn how to use a new tool is to actually use it. We don't want to stand on the sidelines and miss an opportunity." Bergstedt and Ji plan to use the plasmoid-detecting program to examine data being gathered by NASA's Magnetospheric Multiscale (MMS) mission. Launched in 2015 to study reconnection, MMS consists of four spacecraft flying in formation through plasma in the magnetotail, the area in space pointing away from the sun that is controlled by Earth's magnetic field. The magnetotail is an ideal place to study reconnection because it combines accessibility with scale. "If we study reconnection by observing the sun, we can only take measurements from afar," Bergstedt said. "If we observe reconnection in a laboratory, we can put our instruments directly into the plasma, but the sizes of the plasmas would be smaller than those typically found in space." Studying reconnection in the magnetotail is an ideal middle option. "It's a large and naturally occurring plasma that we can measure directly using spacecraft that fly through it," Bergstedt said. As Bergstedt and Ji improve the plasmoid-detecting program, they hope to take two significant steps. The first is performing a procedure known as domain adaptation, which will help the program analyze datasets that it has never encountered before. The second step involves using the program to analyze data from the MMS spacecraft. "The methodology we demonstrated is mostly a proof of concept since we haven't aggressively optimized it," Bergstedt said. "We want to get the model working even better than it is now, start applying it to real data and then we'll just go from there!" This research was supported by the DOE's Fusion Energy Sciences program under contract DE-AC0209CH11466, by NASA under grants NNH15AB29I and 80HQTR21T0105, and by the National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship under grant DGE-2039656. 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

Machine learning could aid efforts to answer long-standing astrophysical questions. Machine learning could aid efforts to answer long-standing astrophysical questions Date: July 3, 2024 Source: DOE/Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory Summary: Physicists have developed a computer program incorporating machine learning that could help identify blobs of plasma in outer space known as plasmoids. In a novel twist, the program has been trained using simulated data. Share: In an ongoing game of cosmic hide and seek, scientists have a new tool that may give them an edge. Physicists at the U.S. Department of Energy's (DOE) Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory (PPPL) have developed a computer program incorporating machine learning that could help identify blobs of plasma in outer space known as plasmoids. In a novel twist, the program has been trained using simulated data. The program will sift through reams of data gathered by spacecraft in the magnetosphere, the region of outer space strongly affected by Earth's magnetic field, and flag telltale signs of the elusive blobs. Using this technique, scientists hope to learn more about the processes governing magnetic reconnection, a process that occurs in the magnetosphere and throughout the universe that can damage communications satellites and the electrical grid. Scientists believe that machine learning could improve plasmoid-finding capability, aid the basic understanding of magnetic reconnection and allow researchers to better prepare for the aftermath of reconnection-caused disturbances. "As far as we know, this is the first time that anyone has used artificial intelligence trained on simulated data to look for plasmoids," said Kendra Bergstedt, a graduate student in the Princeton Program in Plasma Physics, which is based at PPPL. Bergstedt was the first author of the paper reporting the results in Earth and Space Science. The work pairs the Lab's growing expertise in computational sciences with its long history of exploring magnetic reconnection. Looking for a link Scientists want to find reliable, accurate methods for detecting plasmoids so they can determine whether they affect magnetic reconnection, a process consisting of magnetic field lines separating, violently reattaching and releasing tremendous amounts of energy. When it occurs near Earth, reconnection can trigger a cascade of charged particles falling into the atmosphere, disrupting satellites, mobile phones and the electrical grid. "Some researchers believe that plasmoids aid fast reconnection in large plasmas," said Hantao Ji, professor of astrophysical sciences at Princeton University and a distinguished research fellow at PPPL. "But those hypotheses haven't been proven yet." The researchers want to know whether plasmoids can change the rate at which reconnection occurs. They also want to gauge how much energy reconnection imparts to the plasma particles. "But to clarify the relationship between plasmoids and reconnection, we have to know where the plasmoids are," Bergstedt said. "That's what machine learning could help us do." The scientists used computer-generated training data to ensure the program could recognize a range of plasma signatures. Typically, plasmoids created by computer models are idealized versions based on mathematical formulas with shapes -- like perfect circles -- that do not often occur in nature. If the program were trained only to recognize these perfect versions, it might miss those with other shapes. To prevent those misses, Bergstedt and Ji decided to use artificial, deliberately imperfect data so the program would have an accurate baseline for future studies. "Compared to mathematical models, the real world is messy," Bergstedt said. "So we decided to let our program learn using data with fluctuations that you would get in actual observations. For instance, rather than beginning our simulations with a perfectly flat electrical current sheet, we give our sheet some wobbles. We're hoping that the machine learning approach can allow for more nuance than a strict mathematical model can." This research builds on past attempts in which Bergstedt and Ji wrote computer programs that incorporated more idealized models of plasmoids. The use of machine learning will only become more common in astrophysics research, according to the scientists. "It could particularly be helpful when making extrapolations from small numbers of measurements, as we sometimes do when studying reconnection," said Ji. "And the best way to learn how to use a new tool is to actually use it. We don't want to stand on the sidelines and miss an opportunity." Bergstedt and Ji plan to use the plasmoid-detecting program to examine data being gathered by NASA's Magnetospheric Multiscale (MMS) mission. Launched in 2015 to study reconnection, MMS consists of four spacecraft flying in formation through plasma in the magnetotail, the area in space pointing away from the sun that is controlled by Earth's magnetic field. The magnetotail is an ideal place to study reconnection because it combines accessibility with scale. "If we study reconnection by observing the sun, we can only take measurements from afar," Bergstedt said. "If we observe reconnection in a laboratory, we can put our instruments directly into the plasma, but the sizes of the plasmas would be smaller than those typically found in space." Studying reconnection in the magnetotail is an ideal middle option. "It's a large and naturally occurring plasma that we can measure directly using spacecraft that fly through it," Bergstedt said. As Bergstedt and Ji improve the plasmoid-detecting program, they hope to take two significant steps. The first is performing a procedure known as domain adaptation, which will help the program analyze datasets that it has never encountered before. The second step involves using the program to analyze data from the MMS spacecraft. "The methodology we demonstrated is mostly a proof of concept since we haven't aggressively optimized it," Bergstedt said. "We want to get the model working even better than it is now, start applying it to real data and then we'll just go from there!" This research was supported by the DOE's Fusion Energy Sciences program under contract DE-AC0209CH11466, by NASA under grants NNH15AB29I and 80HQTR21T0105, and by the National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship under grant DGE-2039656. 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.

Restoration Couple Killed In Vintage Waco Crash

By clicking "Accept All Cookies", you agree to the storing of cookies on your device to enhance site navigation, analyze site usage, and assist in our marketing efforts. Privacy Preference Center When you visit any website, it may store or retrieve information on your browser, mostly in the form of cookies. This information might be about you, your preferences or your device and is mostly used to make the site work as you expect it to. The information does not usually directly identify you, but it can give you a more personalized web experience. Because we respect your right to privacy, you can choose not to allow some types of cookies. Click on the different category headings to find out more and change our default settings. However, blocking some types of cookies may impact your experience of the site and the services we are able to offer. These cookies enable the website to provide enhanced functionality and personalisation. They may be set by us or by third party providers whose services we have added to our pages. If you do not allow these cookies then some or all of these services may not function properly.

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Restoration Couple Killed In Vintage Waco Crash. By clicking "Accept All Cookies", you agree to the storing of cookies on your device to enhance site navigation, analyze site usage, and assist in our marketing efforts. Privacy Preference Center When you visit any website, it may store or retrieve information on your browser, mostly in the form of cookies. This information might be about you, your preferences or your device and is mostly used to make the site work as you expect it to. The information does not usually directly identify you, but it can give you a more personalized web experience. Because we respect your right to privacy, you can choose not to allow some types of cookies. Click on the different category headings to find out more and change our default settings. However, blocking some types of cookies may impact your experience of the site and the services we are able to offer. These cookies enable the website to provide enhanced functionality and personalisation. They may be set by us or by third party providers whose services we have added to our pages. If you do not allow these cookies then some or all of these services may not function properly.

Cryptic crossword No 29,413

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Cryptic crossword No 29,413. Continue reading...

What’s the difference between shyness and social anxiety?

pathdoc/Shutterstock What’s the difference? is a new editorial product that explains the similarities and differences between commonly confused health and medical terms, and why they matter. The terms “shyness” and “social anxiety” are often used interchangeably because they both involve feeling uncomfortable in social situations. However, feeling shy , or having a shy personality, is not the same as experiencing social anxiety (short for “social anxiety disorder”). Here are some of the similarities and differences, and what the distinction means. How are they similar? It can be normal to feel nervous or even stressed in new social situations or when interacting with new people. And everyone differs in how comfortable they feel when interacting with others. For people who are shy or socially anxious, social situations can be very uncomfortable, stressful or even threatening. There can be a strong desire to avoid these situations. People who are shy or socially anxious may respond with “flight” (by withdrawing from the situation or avoiding it entirely), “freeze” (by detaching themselves or feeling disconnected from their body), or “ fawn ” (by trying to appease or placate others). A complex interaction of biological and environmental factors is also thought to influence the development of shyness and social anxiety. For example, both shy children and adults with social anxiety have neural circuits that respond strongly to stressful social situations, such as being excluded or left out. People who are shy or socially anxious commonly report physical symptoms of stress in certain situations, or even when anticipating them. These include sweating, blushing, trembling, an increased heart rate or hyperventilation. How are they different? Social anxiety is a diagnosable mental health condition and is an example of an anxiety disorder. For people who struggle with social anxiety, social situations – including social interactions, being observed and performing in front of others – trigger intense fear or anxiety about being judged, criticised or rejected. To be diagnosed with social anxiety disorder, social anxiety needs to be persistent (lasting more than six months) and have a significant negative impact on important areas of life such as work, school, relationships, and identity or sense of self. Many adults with social anxiety report feeling shy, timid and lacking in confidence when they were a child. However, not all shy children go on to develop social anxiety. Also, feeling shy does not necessarily mean a person meets the criteria for social anxiety disorder. People vary in how shy or outgoing they are, depending on where they are, who they are with and how comfortable they feel in the situation. This is particularly true for children, who sometimes appear reserved and shy with strangers and peers, and outgoing with known and trusted adults. Individual differences in temperament, personality traits, early childhood experiences, family upbringing and environment, and parenting style, can also influence the extent to which people feel shy across social situations. Not all shy children go on to develop social anxiety. 249 Anurak/Shutterstock However, people with social anxiety have overwhelming fears about embarrassing themselves or being negatively judged by others; they experience these fears consistently and across multiple social situations. The intensity of this fear or anxiety often leads people to avoid situations. If avoiding a situation is not possible, they may engage in safety behaviours, such as looking at their phone, wearing sunglasses or rehearsing conversation topics. The effect social anxiety can have on a person’s life can be far-reaching. It may include low self-esteem, breakdown of friendships or romantic relationships, difficulties pursuing and progressing in a career, and dropping out of study. The impact this has on a person’s ability to lead a meaningful and fulfilling life, and the distress this causes, differentiates social anxiety from shyness. Children can show similar signs or symptoms of social anxiety to adults. But they may also feel upset and teary, irritable, have temper tantrums, cling to their parents, or refuse to speak in certain situations. If left untreated, social anxiety can set children and young people up for a future of missed opportunities, so early intervention is key. With professional and parental support , patience and guidance, children can be taught strategies to overcome social anxiety. Why does the distinction matter? Social anxiety disorder is a mental health condition that persists for people who do not receive adequate support or treatment. Without treatment, it can lead to difficulties in education and at work, and in developing meaningful relationships. Receiving a diagnosis of social anxiety disorder can be validating for some people as it recognises the level of distress and that its impact is more intense than shyness. A diagnosis can also be an important first step in accessing appropriate, evidence-based treatment. Different people have different support needs. However, clinical practice guidelines recommend cognitive-behavioural therapy (a kind of psychological therapy that teaches people practical coping skills). This is often used with exposure therapy (a kind of psychological therapy that helps people face their fears by breaking them down into a series of step-by-step activities). This combination is effective in-person , online and in brief treatments . Treatment is available online as well as in-person. ImYanis/Shutterstock For more support or further reading Online resources about social anxiety include: This Way Up’s online program for managing excessive shyness and fear of social situations Beyond Blue’s resources on social anxiety a guide to looking after yourself if you have social anxiety, from the Western Australian health department social anxiety online program for children and teens from the University of Queensland inroads, a self-guided online program for young adults who drink alcohol to manage their anxiety. We thank the Black Dog Institute Lived Experience Advisory Network members for providing feedback and input for this article and our research. Jill Newby receives funding from the Australian National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) and Medical Research Future Fund (MRFF), the HCF Research Foundation, and Perpetual Foundation. Kayla Steele 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,australia

What’s the difference between shyness and social anxiety?. pathdoc/Shutterstock What’s the difference? is a new editorial product that explains the similarities and differences between commonly confused health and medical terms, and why they matter. The terms “shyness” and “social anxiety” are often used interchangeably because they both involve feeling uncomfortable in social situations. However, feeling shy , or having a shy personality, is not the same as experiencing social anxiety (short for “social anxiety disorder”). Here are some of the similarities and differences, and what the distinction means. How are they similar? It can be normal to feel nervous or even stressed in new social situations or when interacting with new people. And everyone differs in how comfortable they feel when interacting with others. For people who are shy or socially anxious, social situations can be very uncomfortable, stressful or even threatening. There can be a strong desire to avoid these situations. People who are shy or socially anxious may respond with “flight” (by withdrawing from the situation or avoiding it entirely), “freeze” (by detaching themselves or feeling disconnected from their body), or “ fawn ” (by trying to appease or placate others). A complex interaction of biological and environmental factors is also thought to influence the development of shyness and social anxiety. For example, both shy children and adults with social anxiety have neural circuits that respond strongly to stressful social situations, such as being excluded or left out. People who are shy or socially anxious commonly report physical symptoms of stress in certain situations, or even when anticipating them. These include sweating, blushing, trembling, an increased heart rate or hyperventilation. How are they different? Social anxiety is a diagnosable mental health condition and is an example of an anxiety disorder. For people who struggle with social anxiety, social situations – including social interactions, being observed and performing in front of others – trigger intense fear or anxiety about being judged, criticised or rejected. To be diagnosed with social anxiety disorder, social anxiety needs to be persistent (lasting more than six months) and have a significant negative impact on important areas of life such as work, school, relationships, and identity or sense of self. Many adults with social anxiety report feeling shy, timid and lacking in confidence when they were a child. However, not all shy children go on to develop social anxiety. Also, feeling shy does not necessarily mean a person meets the criteria for social anxiety disorder. People vary in how shy or outgoing they are, depending on where they are, who they are with and how comfortable they feel in the situation. This is particularly true for children, who sometimes appear reserved and shy with strangers and peers, and outgoing with known and trusted adults. Individual differences in temperament, personality traits, early childhood experiences, family upbringing and environment, and parenting style, can also influence the extent to which people feel shy across social situations. Not all shy children go on to develop social anxiety. 249 Anurak/Shutterstock However, people with social anxiety have overwhelming fears about embarrassing themselves or being negatively judged by others; they experience these fears consistently and across multiple social situations. The intensity of this fear or anxiety often leads people to avoid situations. If avoiding a situation is not possible, they may engage in safety behaviours, such as looking at their phone, wearing sunglasses or rehearsing conversation topics. The effect social anxiety can have on a person’s life can be far-reaching. It may include low self-esteem, breakdown of friendships or romantic relationships, difficulties pursuing and progressing in a career, and dropping out of study. The impact this has on a person’s ability to lead a meaningful and fulfilling life, and the distress this causes, differentiates social anxiety from shyness. Children can show similar signs or symptoms of social anxiety to adults. But they may also feel upset and teary, irritable, have temper tantrums, cling to their parents, or refuse to speak in certain situations. If left untreated, social anxiety can set children and young people up for a future of missed opportunities, so early intervention is key. With professional and parental support , patience and guidance, children can be taught strategies to overcome social anxiety. Why does the distinction matter? Social anxiety disorder is a mental health condition that persists for people who do not receive adequate support or treatment. Without treatment, it can lead to difficulties in education and at work, and in developing meaningful relationships. Receiving a diagnosis of social anxiety disorder can be validating for some people as it recognises the level of distress and that its impact is more intense than shyness. A diagnosis can also be an important first step in accessing appropriate, evidence-based treatment. Different people have different support needs. However, clinical practice guidelines recommend cognitive-behavioural therapy (a kind of psychological therapy that teaches people practical coping skills). This is often used with exposure therapy (a kind of psychological therapy that helps people face their fears by breaking them down into a series of step-by-step activities). This combination is effective in-person , online and in brief treatments . Treatment is available online as well as in-person. ImYanis/Shutterstock For more support or further reading Online resources about social anxiety include: This Way Up’s online program for managing excessive shyness and fear of social situations Beyond Blue’s resources on social anxiety a guide to looking after yourself if you have social anxiety, from the Western Australian health department social anxiety online program for children and teens from the University of Queensland inroads, a self-guided online program for young adults who drink alcohol to manage their anxiety. We thank the Black Dog Institute Lived Experience Advisory Network members for providing feedback and input for this article and our research. Jill Newby receives funding from the Australian National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) and Medical Research Future Fund (MRFF), the HCF Research Foundation, and Perpetual Foundation. Kayla Steele 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.

Veteran wants medal law after police chief sacked

A Falklands war veteran has called for a change in the law after a disgraced chief constable was found to have worn a medal from the campaign to which he was not entitled. Tom Herring, the chairman of the South Atlantic Medal Association, has described the actions of former Northamptonshire chief constable Nick Adderley as "despicable". Mr Herring fought in the Battle for Mount Longdon during the Falklands War in 1982, which left 23 British soldiers dead.

world,uk

Veteran wants medal law after police chief sacked. A Falklands war veteran has called for a change in the law after a disgraced chief constable was found to have worn a medal from the campaign to which he was not entitled. Tom Herring, the chairman of the South Atlantic Medal Association, has described the actions of former Northamptonshire chief constable Nick Adderley as "despicable". Mr Herring fought in the Battle for Mount Longdon during the Falklands War in 1982, which left 23 British soldiers dead.

Helium Mobile Launches Tech Stack Licensing Program for Device Manufacturers

is the first device manufacturer with Helium Mobile inside Tech Stack enables manufacturers to access trusted technology, app & support Tech Stack licensing program will expand the Helium Network, broadening access to community-powered connectivity and affordable wireless service LOS ANGELES, June 18, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, Helium Mobile, a leader in decentralized wireless connectivity, launched its tech stack licensing program for device manufacturers. This is a significant milestone in Helium Mobile's mission to transform the $ 3.1T global wireless network infrastructure industry. By fostering a collaborative ecosystem, where third-party device manufacturers can easily enter the market, Helium Mobile is accelerating an infrastructure changeover that enables real people to build their network and be rewarded for their work. Continue Reading Helium Mobile Technology Licensing Program "Licensing the Helium Mobile tech stack is a pivotal step in our mission to deliver accessible and cost-effective wireless connectivity to communities across the US and around the world," said Amir Haleem, CEO at Helium Mobile / Nova Labs. "We believe that access to the internet is a basic human right, and for many people that access is through a smartphone. Enabling other manufacturers to leverage our technology will help accelerate a global wireless infrastructure revolution. This initiative is about empowering individuals and communities, driving progress, and building a more connected world." Helium Mobile Inside: Seamless Solution for Network Builders Save Time: Leveraging Helium Mobile's tech stack provides device manufacturers an expedited path to integrate advanced, decentralized connectivity solutions. In a deeply competitive environment, this enables manufacturers to focus on their core competencies without the distraction of navigating the Web3 tech environment. Security: The OpenRoaming-compatible tech stack incorporates robust security features including TrustZone, Secure Boot, and Full Disk Encryption. Trusted Partnership: With support and customer facing management tools, license holders can gain a competitive edge in a fast-paced market. By integrating Helium Mobile's tech stack, device manufacturers can confidently enter the decentralized field with a partner committed to ushering in the new era of connectivity. Helium Mobile Tech Stack Features: Firmware Integration and Updates: Manufacturers will have access to the robust firmware that powers Helium Mobile Hotspots. This includes continuous updates to ensure optimal performance and security, keeping devices at the cutting edge of technology. Helium Mobile Builder App Compatibility: The licensing package includes integration with the Helium Mobile Builder App, allowing end-customers to onboard and manage their hardware seamlessly. The user-friendly Builder app makes it easy for new devices to connect to the Helium Network. Hotspot Dashboard Management: End-customers will have access to the Helium Mobile Hotspot Dashboard, providing real-time management and monitoring capabilities. This dashboard offers comprehensive insights and control over the devices, ensuring network reliability and efficiency. Support: End-customers will have access to Helium Mobile's customer support team, providing best-in-class support from the team that knows the Hotspot technology inside and out. How to Join the Licensing Program: Manufacturers interested in participating can email [email protected] to set up an initial consultation and learn more about the process. Helium Mobile will offer comprehensive support to ensure a smooth integration of the tech stack and seamless production of Helium-compatible hotspots. For more information about Helium Mobile and its innovative solutions, please visit About Helium Mobile Helium Mobile, a mobile wireless carrier that runs on the Helium Network, is on a mission to create a world with continuous connectivity that is built and run by the people that use it — and priced so they can afford it. Helium Mobile subscribers and Hotspot deployers are equal parts of a community-powered network that creates dynamic wireless coverage with affordable talk, text, and data. Helium Mobile prioritizes data security and privacy because that is what our community wants. Subscribers who enable Discovery Mapping share location data anonymously and are rewarded for how that data informs the building of a better network. Deployers manage Helium Mobile Hotspots to build more network coverage and earn rewards for hosting these devices and supporting network transactions. To learn more about Helium Mobile, visit

business

Helium Mobile Launches Tech Stack Licensing Program for Device Manufacturers. is the first device manufacturer with Helium Mobile inside Tech Stack enables manufacturers to access trusted technology, app & support Tech Stack licensing program will expand the Helium Network, broadening access to community-powered connectivity and affordable wireless service LOS ANGELES, June 18, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, Helium Mobile, a leader in decentralized wireless connectivity, launched its tech stack licensing program for device manufacturers. This is a significant milestone in Helium Mobile's mission to transform the $ 3.1T global wireless network infrastructure industry. By fostering a collaborative ecosystem, where third-party device manufacturers can easily enter the market, Helium Mobile is accelerating an infrastructure changeover that enables real people to build their network and be rewarded for their work. Continue Reading Helium Mobile Technology Licensing Program "Licensing the Helium Mobile tech stack is a pivotal step in our mission to deliver accessible and cost-effective wireless connectivity to communities across the US and around the world," said Amir Haleem, CEO at Helium Mobile / Nova Labs. "We believe that access to the internet is a basic human right, and for many people that access is through a smartphone. Enabling other manufacturers to leverage our technology will help accelerate a global wireless infrastructure revolution. This initiative is about empowering individuals and communities, driving progress, and building a more connected world." Helium Mobile Inside: Seamless Solution for Network Builders Save Time: Leveraging Helium Mobile's tech stack provides device manufacturers an expedited path to integrate advanced, decentralized connectivity solutions. In a deeply competitive environment, this enables manufacturers to focus on their core competencies without the distraction of navigating the Web3 tech environment. Security: The OpenRoaming-compatible tech stack incorporates robust security features including TrustZone, Secure Boot, and Full Disk Encryption. Trusted Partnership: With support and customer facing management tools, license holders can gain a competitive edge in a fast-paced market. By integrating Helium Mobile's tech stack, device manufacturers can confidently enter the decentralized field with a partner committed to ushering in the new era of connectivity. Helium Mobile Tech Stack Features: Firmware Integration and Updates: Manufacturers will have access to the robust firmware that powers Helium Mobile Hotspots. This includes continuous updates to ensure optimal performance and security, keeping devices at the cutting edge of technology. Helium Mobile Builder App Compatibility: The licensing package includes integration with the Helium Mobile Builder App, allowing end-customers to onboard and manage their hardware seamlessly. The user-friendly Builder app makes it easy for new devices to connect to the Helium Network. Hotspot Dashboard Management: End-customers will have access to the Helium Mobile Hotspot Dashboard, providing real-time management and monitoring capabilities. This dashboard offers comprehensive insights and control over the devices, ensuring network reliability and efficiency. Support: End-customers will have access to Helium Mobile's customer support team, providing best-in-class support from the team that knows the Hotspot technology inside and out. How to Join the Licensing Program: Manufacturers interested in participating can email [email protected] to set up an initial consultation and learn more about the process. Helium Mobile will offer comprehensive support to ensure a smooth integration of the tech stack and seamless production of Helium-compatible hotspots. For more information about Helium Mobile and its innovative solutions, please visit About Helium Mobile Helium Mobile, a mobile wireless carrier that runs on the Helium Network, is on a mission to create a world with continuous connectivity that is built and run by the people that use it — and priced so they can afford it. Helium Mobile subscribers and Hotspot deployers are equal parts of a community-powered network that creates dynamic wireless coverage with affordable talk, text, and data. Helium Mobile prioritizes data security and privacy because that is what our community wants. Subscribers who enable Discovery Mapping share location data anonymously and are rewarded for how that data informs the building of a better network. Deployers manage Helium Mobile Hotspots to build more network coverage and earn rewards for hosting these devices and supporting network transactions. To learn more about Helium Mobile, visit

A new tuberculosis vaccine candidate recombinant protein with additional post-translational modifications occurring in Mycobacterium tuberculosis cells

A new tuberculosis vaccine candidate recombinant protein with additional post-translational modifications occurring in Mycobacterium tuberculosis cells Date: June 19, 2024 Source: Niigata University Summary: Tuberculosis is a serious health threat, and the efficacy of the BCG vaccine against tuberculosis diminishes in adulthood, making booster vaccines a realistic option. Mycobacterial DNA-binding protein 1 (MDP1), a protein found in Mycobacterium tuberculosis, elicits higher protective IFN-gamma responses in individuals who suppress tuberculosis, thus making it a vaccine candidate. Share: Tuberculosis is still one of the deadliest infectious diseases, causing over one million deaths each year worldwide. Additionally, about one-fourth of the world's population carries Mycobacterium tuberculosis ( M. tuberculosis ) without showing any symptoms, and most of these carriers do not develop the disease. The current anti-tuberculosis vaccine, BCG, is administered worldwide. However, considering that more than 10 million new tuberculosis cases are reported each year, its effectiveness is deemed insufficient. As a result, the development of vaccines to replace BCG is underway. However, no new vaccine has yet surpassed BCG, which is a highly effective live vaccine. Actually BCG is very effective in preventing tuberculosis in children, creating a booster vaccine to strengthen immunity in adults is considered a promising and realistic option. In developing tuberculosis vaccines, scientists have studied proteins from M. tuberculosis that trigger the protective immunity against tuberculosis. Especially IFN-gamma produced by T cells is known to be critical for protection against tuberculosis. Thus IFN-gamma responses are marker of vaccine candidate antigens and efficacy. However there's a paradoxical situation where proteins that induce higher IFN-gamma production in tuberculosis patients, who already have developed the disease, rather than in asymptomatic carriers who prevent its onset, are being viewed as potential vaccine candidates. Furthermore, many of vaccine studies ignore the native three-dimensional structure of the proteins and the modification they undergo after being translated in M. tuberculosis. On the productivity side, vaccine candidate molecules are being made in basic model organisms like Escherichia coli. However, certain molecules undergo specific changes after translation that are unique to the pathogen, such as M. tuberculosis. It's been noted that these modifications might be crucial for mounting effective defenses against actual pathogen attacks. Mycobacterial DNA-binding protein 1 (MDP1) is a major protein of both BCG and M. tuberculosis (Shaban et al., Sci Rep., 2024) with extensive post-translational modifications (Yoshida et al., BBRC., 2023). Recent studies show that IFN-gamma responses to MDP1 are higher in individuals who suppress tuberculosis progression compared to tuberculosis patients, making MDP1 a new vaccine candidate (Yasuda et al., Front Immunol., 2024). To evaluate MDP1 for a tuberculosis booster vaccine, Ozeki et al. produced recombinant MDP1 and tested its ability to induce IFN-gamma using blood from BCG-vaccinated adults. Ozeki et al., expressed MDP1 in two different hosts: M. smegmatis, a non-pathogenic, fast-growing mycobacteria, and E. coli. Importantly, the MDP1 expressed in M. smegmatis (mMDP1) showed significant post-translational modifications, closely resembling the native MDP1 found in M. tuberculosis, while the one expressed in E. coli (eMDP1) did not. When they cultured both variants of MDP1 with peripheral blood from adults vaccinated with BCG, they observed that mMDP1 triggered notably higher levels of IFN-gamma production compared to eMDP1. This implies that the immune system of BCG-vaccinated adults can recognize MDP1 with post-translational modifications. Importantly, mMDP1 demonstrated a superior capacity for IFN-gamma production compared to other vaccine candidate antigens, such as Antigen 85 complex, which is currently in development. When utilizing protein antigens as vaccines, adjuvants are typically employed to prevent degradation or enhance immunogenicity. We previously reported that MDP1, due to its binding affinity to bacterial DNA, has protected mice from M. tuberculosis infection when co-administered. In this study we also demonstrated that the combination of mMDP1 and G9.1, a novel type of CpG-DNA, elicits a significant level of IFN-gamma from peripheral blood of BCG-vaccinated adults. The results of this study suggest that combining mMDP1, which displays post-translational modifications, with G9.1 can reinvigorate the waning effect of BCG, indicating its potential as a booster vaccine. Journal Reference: Yuriko Ozeki, Akira Yokoyama, Akihito Nishiyama, Yutaka Yoshida, Yukiko Ohara, Tsukasa Mashima, Chikako Tomiyama, Amina K. Shaban, Atsuki Takeishi, Mayuko Osada-Oka, Takehiro Yamaguchi, Yoshitaka Tateishi, Jun-ichi Maeyama, Mariko Hakamata, Hiroshi Moro, Toshiaki Kikuchi, Daisuke Hayashi, Fumiko Suzuki, Toshiko Yamamoto, Sumiko Iho, Masato Katahira, Saburo Yamamoto, Sohkichi Matsumoto. Recombinant mycobacterial DNA-binding protein 1 with post-translational modifications boosts IFN-gamma production from BCG-vaccinated individuals' blood cells in combination with CpG-DNA. Scientific Reports, 2024; 14 (1) DOI: 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

A new tuberculosis vaccine candidate recombinant protein with additional post-translational modifications occurring in Mycobacterium tuberculosis cells. A new tuberculosis vaccine candidate recombinant protein with additional post-translational modifications occurring in Mycobacterium tuberculosis cells Date: June 19, 2024 Source: Niigata University Summary: Tuberculosis is a serious health threat, and the efficacy of the BCG vaccine against tuberculosis diminishes in adulthood, making booster vaccines a realistic option. Mycobacterial DNA-binding protein 1 (MDP1), a protein found in Mycobacterium tuberculosis, elicits higher protective IFN-gamma responses in individuals who suppress tuberculosis, thus making it a vaccine candidate. Share: Tuberculosis is still one of the deadliest infectious diseases, causing over one million deaths each year worldwide. Additionally, about one-fourth of the world's population carries Mycobacterium tuberculosis ( M. tuberculosis ) without showing any symptoms, and most of these carriers do not develop the disease. The current anti-tuberculosis vaccine, BCG, is administered worldwide. However, considering that more than 10 million new tuberculosis cases are reported each year, its effectiveness is deemed insufficient. As a result, the development of vaccines to replace BCG is underway. However, no new vaccine has yet surpassed BCG, which is a highly effective live vaccine. Actually BCG is very effective in preventing tuberculosis in children, creating a booster vaccine to strengthen immunity in adults is considered a promising and realistic option. In developing tuberculosis vaccines, scientists have studied proteins from M. tuberculosis that trigger the protective immunity against tuberculosis. Especially IFN-gamma produced by T cells is known to be critical for protection against tuberculosis. Thus IFN-gamma responses are marker of vaccine candidate antigens and efficacy. However there's a paradoxical situation where proteins that induce higher IFN-gamma production in tuberculosis patients, who already have developed the disease, rather than in asymptomatic carriers who prevent its onset, are being viewed as potential vaccine candidates. Furthermore, many of vaccine studies ignore the native three-dimensional structure of the proteins and the modification they undergo after being translated in M. tuberculosis. On the productivity side, vaccine candidate molecules are being made in basic model organisms like Escherichia coli. However, certain molecules undergo specific changes after translation that are unique to the pathogen, such as M. tuberculosis. It's been noted that these modifications might be crucial for mounting effective defenses against actual pathogen attacks. Mycobacterial DNA-binding protein 1 (MDP1) is a major protein of both BCG and M. tuberculosis (Shaban et al., Sci Rep., 2024) with extensive post-translational modifications (Yoshida et al., BBRC., 2023). Recent studies show that IFN-gamma responses to MDP1 are higher in individuals who suppress tuberculosis progression compared to tuberculosis patients, making MDP1 a new vaccine candidate (Yasuda et al., Front Immunol., 2024). To evaluate MDP1 for a tuberculosis booster vaccine, Ozeki et al. produced recombinant MDP1 and tested its ability to induce IFN-gamma using blood from BCG-vaccinated adults. Ozeki et al., expressed MDP1 in two different hosts: M. smegmatis, a non-pathogenic, fast-growing mycobacteria, and E. coli. Importantly, the MDP1 expressed in M. smegmatis (mMDP1) showed significant post-translational modifications, closely resembling the native MDP1 found in M. tuberculosis, while the one expressed in E. coli (eMDP1) did not. When they cultured both variants of MDP1 with peripheral blood from adults vaccinated with BCG, they observed that mMDP1 triggered notably higher levels of IFN-gamma production compared to eMDP1. This implies that the immune system of BCG-vaccinated adults can recognize MDP1 with post-translational modifications. Importantly, mMDP1 demonstrated a superior capacity for IFN-gamma production compared to other vaccine candidate antigens, such as Antigen 85 complex, which is currently in development. When utilizing protein antigens as vaccines, adjuvants are typically employed to prevent degradation or enhance immunogenicity. We previously reported that MDP1, due to its binding affinity to bacterial DNA, has protected mice from M. tuberculosis infection when co-administered. In this study we also demonstrated that the combination of mMDP1 and G9.1, a novel type of CpG-DNA, elicits a significant level of IFN-gamma from peripheral blood of BCG-vaccinated adults. The results of this study suggest that combining mMDP1, which displays post-translational modifications, with G9.1 can reinvigorate the waning effect of BCG, indicating its potential as a booster vaccine. Journal Reference: Yuriko Ozeki, Akira Yokoyama, Akihito Nishiyama, Yutaka Yoshida, Yukiko Ohara, Tsukasa Mashima, Chikako Tomiyama, Amina K. Shaban, Atsuki Takeishi, Mayuko Osada-Oka, Takehiro Yamaguchi, Yoshitaka Tateishi, Jun-ichi Maeyama, Mariko Hakamata, Hiroshi Moro, Toshiaki Kikuchi, Daisuke Hayashi, Fumiko Suzuki, Toshiko Yamamoto, Sumiko Iho, Masato Katahira, Saburo Yamamoto, Sohkichi Matsumoto. Recombinant mycobacterial DNA-binding protein 1 with post-translational modifications boosts IFN-gamma production from BCG-vaccinated individuals' blood cells in combination with CpG-DNA. Scientific Reports, 2024; 14 (1) DOI: 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.

TEAMSTERS AT GARDNER CRYOGENICS FORCED TO STRIKE

June 14, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Members of Teamsters Local 773 at Gardner Cryogenics in Bethlehem, Pa., have been forced out on strike after the company refused to offer an acceptable collective bargaining agreement. Gardner Cryogenics Teamsters manufacture specialized tankers for transporting liquid helium and liquid hydrogen. The 184 workers joined Local 773 in February of this year. "Our members have an extremely specialized skill that deserves fair compensation," said Dennis Hower, President of Local 773. "This greedy company thinks we will break, but that will not happen. Nothing our members are asking for is unreasonable, and we will win the benefits, wages, and working conditions that we deserve." Gardner Cryogenics' parent company, Air Products, reported a staggering $12.6 billion in sales last year. Yet, the company is offering Local 773 members wages that are significantly below industry standards and health care benefits that fall well below average. "We want to return to work. All of us are dedicated craftsmen and women who take great pride in the product that we build," said Rob Reznick, a production technician at Gardner Cryogenics and a member of Local 773. "We are taking a stand because we have accepted substandard wages and costly health insurance year after year. We will not waver from this fight. We are in it for the long haul!" In a reckless and alarming move, Gardner Cryogenics has resorted to hiring untrained scab laborers. These individuals, lacking the necessary skills and experience, have been observed mishandling and dropping tanks, raising serious safety concerns. "When a tank is dropped, an accident inspection is required, but the replacements the company has brought in are untrained and don't know how to do these inspections," said Hower. "We've witnessed the company send these tanks out to customers after being dropped without inspections. This is dangerous for consumers and the public." Teamsters Local 733 represents workers in a wide variety of industries throughout

motors

TEAMSTERS AT GARDNER CRYOGENICS FORCED TO STRIKE. June 14, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Members of Teamsters Local 773 at Gardner Cryogenics in Bethlehem, Pa., have been forced out on strike after the company refused to offer an acceptable collective bargaining agreement. Gardner Cryogenics Teamsters manufacture specialized tankers for transporting liquid helium and liquid hydrogen. The 184 workers joined Local 773 in February of this year. "Our members have an extremely specialized skill that deserves fair compensation," said Dennis Hower, President of Local 773. "This greedy company thinks we will break, but that will not happen. Nothing our members are asking for is unreasonable, and we will win the benefits, wages, and working conditions that we deserve." Gardner Cryogenics' parent company, Air Products, reported a staggering $12.6 billion in sales last year. Yet, the company is offering Local 773 members wages that are significantly below industry standards and health care benefits that fall well below average. "We want to return to work. All of us are dedicated craftsmen and women who take great pride in the product that we build," said Rob Reznick, a production technician at Gardner Cryogenics and a member of Local 773. "We are taking a stand because we have accepted substandard wages and costly health insurance year after year. We will not waver from this fight. We are in it for the long haul!" In a reckless and alarming move, Gardner Cryogenics has resorted to hiring untrained scab laborers. These individuals, lacking the necessary skills and experience, have been observed mishandling and dropping tanks, raising serious safety concerns. "When a tank is dropped, an accident inspection is required, but the replacements the company has brought in are untrained and don't know how to do these inspections," said Hower. "We've witnessed the company send these tanks out to customers after being dropped without inspections. This is dangerous for consumers and the public." Teamsters Local 733 represents workers in a wide variety of industries throughout

Paris 2024 Olympics 100m: Farzaneh Fasihi – Iran’s record-breaking sprinter

The starter's gun goes off, and she lunges forward as swiftly as she can, her legs churning faster than ever before. When she crosses the finish line, she collapses; not from exhaustion, but from the overwhelming emotion of breaking her own 100-metre sprint record, clocking a lightning-fast time of 11.12 seconds to win the silver medal. "On the night before a race, memories of my life gush through my mind. All the hardships I've endured and all my successes pass before my eyes like a film reel," Fasihi told Al Jazeera, speaking in a Zoom interview from Belgrade, Serbia. She is at a training camp ahead of the Paris 2024 Olympics, which kick off July 26, and where Iran's fastest female runner of all time will compete in her favourite event, the 100-metre sprint. Farzaneh Fasihi of Iran wins a sliver medal in the 100-metres at the fifth Islamic Solidarity Games in Konya, Turkey on August 09, 2022 [Mustafa Ciftci/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images] "I didn't want to do it' Born in 1993 in Isfahan, Iran, Fasihi, 31, hails from an athletic family. Her father was a volleyball player, and her brother a swimming and diving champion. "Before I got married, my father attended all my training sessions," she recalls. "My mother also attended all my competitions. Without their support, I could not have succeeded." From age five to 12, Fasihi did gymnastics. She recalls how her first foray into competitive sprinting was more by chance than design. "In middle school, my gym teacher forced me to participate in a running competition. I didn't want to do it," Fasihi remembers. That day, she broke the Isfahan provincial record, igniting her passion for track and field. In 2016, she made her international debut. Fasihi's team performed well above expectations, winning the silver medal in the 4×400 metre relay at the Asia Indoor Athletics Championship in Doha, Qatar. But her standout performance did not catapult her sprinting career to new heights. With little support from the Iranian track and field federation, she left it all behind and became a personal fitness trainer. That all changed in late 2018, when she decided to give competitive sprinting a second try. Fasihi constantly works on her technique and power, which are essential for an elite 100-metre sprinter. Athlete training facilities in Iran are not up to the same standards as other nations that invest heavily in sport [Maryam Majd ATP Images via Getty Images] In 2020, with a support structure now firmly established with Hosseini, Fasihi's career literally took off. She participated in the World Athletics Indoor Championships, where the relatively unknown runner scorched the track with a sensational entry record time of 7.29 seconds in the 60-metre sprint held in Belgrade, Serbia. Not only had Fasihi come out of nowhere to post a fast time – but she had also created history by becoming the first Iranian woman to compete at the championship. Her shock performance in Belgrade was where she was first given the nickname "Jaguar," a testament to her ferocious speed off the starting block. A year later, in 2021, she signed with the Serbian athletics club BAK, becoming the first female legionnaire – which effectively means a club signs and sponsors a foreign athlete to relocate and compete for them – in Iran track and field history. "Becoming a legionnaire was a new path. It was a great risk, but I felt deep inside that I had to do it," she said, hoping that it would inspire other female Iranian athletes. Setting the record straight – this one's 'for the people' In 2023, Fasihi would then go on to win gold at the 60-metre race at the Asian Indoor Athletics Championships in Astana, Kazakhstan, clocking a scintillating time of 7.28 seconds. As outstanding and celebratory as that personal-best performance was – the setting of a new Asian 60-metre sprinting record would ordinarily be cause for wild celebrations – the day would be remembered for something far more profound. As Fasihi walked to the podium, she turned directly to the camera and shouted: "For the people of Iran. For the happiness of the people of Iran!" Her moment of protest went viral on social media, with Fasihi declining to carry the Iranian flag and instead bowing her head as she shed silent tears, refusing to sing the national anthem on the victory dias. This was her statement, or way, to express the tragedy of the young Iranian woman Mahsa Amini, who in 2022 collapsed and died, allegedly after she was detained by Iran's morality police for wearing an "improper hijab" (headscarf). Fasihi has broken the Iranian 60 and 100-metre sprinting record on multiple occasions and is currently the number one ranked sprinter in Asia for 60-metres. She lives and trains in the capital, Tehran [Majid Asgaripour/WANA via Reuters] Olympic dreaming Two years earlier, Fasihi had already taken the first step towards her Olympic dream when she was selected through the so-called universality placement to participate in Tokyo 2020. Universality placement is a policy set by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) allowing athletes from underrepresented countries to participate, even if they have not met the standard qualifying criteria. The policy exists to ensure broader global representation and inclusivity at the Olympic games. In Tokyo, Fasihi competed in the 100-metre sprint, marking Iran's return to this event after a 57-year hiatus. In the 1964 Summer Olympics, also in Tokyo, Simin Safamehr had made history as the first woman athlete to represent Iran at the games, coincidentally competing in the 100-metre sprint, as well as the long jump. Fasihi placed 50th in Tokyo, all the while facing scrutiny over her hijab, triggering a firestorm of debate in the Iranian social media space as some claimed the strict dress code slowed her down, hindering her performance and limiting her media exposure and sponsorship opportunities. But the Tokyo Olympics was also an opportunity for her to meet her sprinting idol, Jamaican track and field superstar Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce. "I liked her even more when we met. Her lifestyle is impressive as she is both a professional athlete, a wife and mother, and helps many charities." For Fasihi, her performance in Tokyo was below her best – but it only fueled her ambition to do better next time. Fasihi leads the field in her heat of the women's 100-metre race at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, staged in 2021 due to COVID-19. She is delighted to have qualified on merit for the Paris 2024 Olympics, rather than relying on the underrepresented nations exception [Matthias Schrader/AP] Despite the systemic challenges, especially the lack of official government support for elite female athletes in Iran, Fasihi remains steadfast in achieving her goals. She self-finances her training, participates in competitions and is working to secure modest sponsorships. Fasihi believes that extensive investments in sport by countries like China, India, and Japan will yield impressive results in Asian athletics, but notes the disparity in resources across the continent. "In Qatar, for example, athletes work with American trainers and the federation invites analysts, physiotherapists, and sports medicine physicians from around the world. Even China and Japan coordinate training camps in Florida [in the United States]," she said. In May 2024, Fasihi competed in the Doha Diamond League's 100-metre race, but came last in the final against a star-studded line-up of sprinters from the US, United Kingdom, Hungary, and Jamaica. At the Paris Olympics, she will face off against the world's best athletes. She is not someone who harbours unrealistic expectations. She only focuses on what she can control – and that's her performance.

world

Paris 2024 Olympics 100m: Farzaneh Fasihi – Iran’s record-breaking sprinter. The starter's gun goes off, and she lunges forward as swiftly as she can, her legs churning faster than ever before. When she crosses the finish line, she collapses; not from exhaustion, but from the overwhelming emotion of breaking her own 100-metre sprint record, clocking a lightning-fast time of 11.12 seconds to win the silver medal. "On the night before a race, memories of my life gush through my mind. All the hardships I've endured and all my successes pass before my eyes like a film reel," Fasihi told Al Jazeera, speaking in a Zoom interview from Belgrade, Serbia. She is at a training camp ahead of the Paris 2024 Olympics, which kick off July 26, and where Iran's fastest female runner of all time will compete in her favourite event, the 100-metre sprint. Farzaneh Fasihi of Iran wins a sliver medal in the 100-metres at the fifth Islamic Solidarity Games in Konya, Turkey on August 09, 2022 [Mustafa Ciftci/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images] "I didn't want to do it' Born in 1993 in Isfahan, Iran, Fasihi, 31, hails from an athletic family. Her father was a volleyball player, and her brother a swimming and diving champion. "Before I got married, my father attended all my training sessions," she recalls. "My mother also attended all my competitions. Without their support, I could not have succeeded." From age five to 12, Fasihi did gymnastics. She recalls how her first foray into competitive sprinting was more by chance than design. "In middle school, my gym teacher forced me to participate in a running competition. I didn't want to do it," Fasihi remembers. That day, she broke the Isfahan provincial record, igniting her passion for track and field. In 2016, she made her international debut. Fasihi's team performed well above expectations, winning the silver medal in the 4×400 metre relay at the Asia Indoor Athletics Championship in Doha, Qatar. But her standout performance did not catapult her sprinting career to new heights. With little support from the Iranian track and field federation, she left it all behind and became a personal fitness trainer. That all changed in late 2018, when she decided to give competitive sprinting a second try. Fasihi constantly works on her technique and power, which are essential for an elite 100-metre sprinter. Athlete training facilities in Iran are not up to the same standards as other nations that invest heavily in sport [Maryam Majd ATP Images via Getty Images] In 2020, with a support structure now firmly established with Hosseini, Fasihi's career literally took off. She participated in the World Athletics Indoor Championships, where the relatively unknown runner scorched the track with a sensational entry record time of 7.29 seconds in the 60-metre sprint held in Belgrade, Serbia. Not only had Fasihi come out of nowhere to post a fast time – but she had also created history by becoming the first Iranian woman to compete at the championship. Her shock performance in Belgrade was where she was first given the nickname "Jaguar," a testament to her ferocious speed off the starting block. A year later, in 2021, she signed with the Serbian athletics club BAK, becoming the first female legionnaire – which effectively means a club signs and sponsors a foreign athlete to relocate and compete for them – in Iran track and field history. "Becoming a legionnaire was a new path. It was a great risk, but I felt deep inside that I had to do it," she said, hoping that it would inspire other female Iranian athletes. Setting the record straight – this one's 'for the people' In 2023, Fasihi would then go on to win gold at the 60-metre race at the Asian Indoor Athletics Championships in Astana, Kazakhstan, clocking a scintillating time of 7.28 seconds. As outstanding and celebratory as that personal-best performance was – the setting of a new Asian 60-metre sprinting record would ordinarily be cause for wild celebrations – the day would be remembered for something far more profound. As Fasihi walked to the podium, she turned directly to the camera and shouted: "For the people of Iran. For the happiness of the people of Iran!" Her moment of protest went viral on social media, with Fasihi declining to carry the Iranian flag and instead bowing her head as she shed silent tears, refusing to sing the national anthem on the victory dias. This was her statement, or way, to express the tragedy of the young Iranian woman Mahsa Amini, who in 2022 collapsed and died, allegedly after she was detained by Iran's morality police for wearing an "improper hijab" (headscarf). Fasihi has broken the Iranian 60 and 100-metre sprinting record on multiple occasions and is currently the number one ranked sprinter in Asia for 60-metres. She lives and trains in the capital, Tehran [Majid Asgaripour/WANA via Reuters] Olympic dreaming Two years earlier, Fasihi had already taken the first step towards her Olympic dream when she was selected through the so-called universality placement to participate in Tokyo 2020. Universality placement is a policy set by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) allowing athletes from underrepresented countries to participate, even if they have not met the standard qualifying criteria. The policy exists to ensure broader global representation and inclusivity at the Olympic games. In Tokyo, Fasihi competed in the 100-metre sprint, marking Iran's return to this event after a 57-year hiatus. In the 1964 Summer Olympics, also in Tokyo, Simin Safamehr had made history as the first woman athlete to represent Iran at the games, coincidentally competing in the 100-metre sprint, as well as the long jump. Fasihi placed 50th in Tokyo, all the while facing scrutiny over her hijab, triggering a firestorm of debate in the Iranian social media space as some claimed the strict dress code slowed her down, hindering her performance and limiting her media exposure and sponsorship opportunities. But the Tokyo Olympics was also an opportunity for her to meet her sprinting idol, Jamaican track and field superstar Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce. "I liked her even more when we met. Her lifestyle is impressive as she is both a professional athlete, a wife and mother, and helps many charities." For Fasihi, her performance in Tokyo was below her best – but it only fueled her ambition to do better next time. Fasihi leads the field in her heat of the women's 100-metre race at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, staged in 2021 due to COVID-19. She is delighted to have qualified on merit for the Paris 2024 Olympics, rather than relying on the underrepresented nations exception [Matthias Schrader/AP] Despite the systemic challenges, especially the lack of official government support for elite female athletes in Iran, Fasihi remains steadfast in achieving her goals. She self-finances her training, participates in competitions and is working to secure modest sponsorships. Fasihi believes that extensive investments in sport by countries like China, India, and Japan will yield impressive results in Asian athletics, but notes the disparity in resources across the continent. "In Qatar, for example, athletes work with American trainers and the federation invites analysts, physiotherapists, and sports medicine physicians from around the world. Even China and Japan coordinate training camps in Florida [in the United States]," she said. In May 2024, Fasihi competed in the Doha Diamond League's 100-metre race, but came last in the final against a star-studded line-up of sprinters from the US, United Kingdom, Hungary, and Jamaica. At the Paris Olympics, she will face off against the world's best athletes. She is not someone who harbours unrealistic expectations. She only focuses on what she can control – and that's her performance.

Tanzania’s political parties have few women in leadership and candidate lists: some solutions

Tanzania, in keeping with global political trends, reserves 30% of seats in parliament for women. These so-called special seats were introduced with multiparty politics in 1992, in response to the low numbers of women elected to positions of power. There were only eight elected female parliamentarians after the first multiparty elections in 1995. Ten years later, 17 women were elected to parliament, representing 7% of legislative seats. Fast forward to the 2020 general elections: women make up 37.4% of parliament. However, only 27 women ( 10.2% ) were elected directly from the 264 constituencies. Special seats are credited for increasing women’s representation. This has enabled the passing of a couple of “gender sensitive” laws. However, the special seats system is not the magic bullet for achieving gender equality in political representation across the board. While political parties have met the legal requirements for nominating women for special seats, concerns linger about the parties’ internal commitment to advancing women’s political participation. In a recent paper I set out to assess whether the main political parties voluntarily sought to increase women’s participation in their internal leadership positions and candidate lists. In particular, I examined whether their constitutions contained voluntary gender quotas beyond fulfilling the quotas in the national statutes. I found that the constitutions of both parties recognised women’s rights to representation as enshrined in international and regional conventions as well as national laws , but these commitments largely start and end with the establishment of a women’s wing. Men dominate the parties’ decision making organs at national and lower levels. Since its establishment in 1992, Chama cha Demokrasia na Maendeleo (Chadema or Party of Democracy and Development) has never had a woman among its six main national leaders. The ruling Chama cha Mapinduzi (CCM, the Revolutionary Party) named its first female national chair and the first female deputy general secretary-mainland only in 2021. That is 44 years after the party was formed in 1977. Where the parties stand On the face of it, Tanzania has advanced women’s representation. President Samia Suluhu Hassan is one of the few female presidents the African continent has ever had. But that’s not by CCM’s constitutional design. The office of the president became vacant on 17 March 2021, when John Pombe Magufuli suddenly died in power. Suluhu, then the first female vice president in the history of Tanzania, became president. She was elected CCM’s chair in keeping with the party’s tradition that the president is the party leader. In addition, for about two years, Christina Mndeme held the position of deputy general secretary-mainland. She was the first woman to hold such a position. As gender representation is not embedded in CCM’s constitution, progress was shortlived. CCM decision-makers: For instance, while CCM had two women (33%) among its six national party leaders in 2021 to December 2022, the number dropped to one (16%) after the December 2023 internal elections under Suluhu’s watch. The national structures of the two main political parties show that commitment to women’s participation is weak. Women now make up 28% of the national general assembly, 23% of the national executive committee, 25% of the central committee, and 16% of the national secretariat. Chadema decision-makers: Over at Chadema, women comprised 10% of its national convention after the party’s 2019 election. Only 8.6% of the governing council are women, 15.6% of the central committee, and 10% of the national secretariat. CCM would appear to be ahead with 16%-28% of women in key decision-making organs compared to Chadema (8%-15%). But both parties are still below the 30% critical mass principle established in the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action of 1995. They are also way below the 50/50 men and women representation required under the international and regional conventions. Similarly, the CCM and Chadema constitutions do not set any numerical gender representation goals in electing their leaders and in nomination of candidates to local and general elections. Currently, women make up only 10.5% of party chairpersons and only 10.5% of party secretary generals of 19 registered political parties. Women made up 9.2% of all candidates for all positions in the 2020 general election.. All-male affair At lower levels of party decision making, the story is the same. Women form a small minority in boards of trustees, advisory councils and key departments. CCM’s board of trustees has a chair and eight members. At the time of my survey, only one was a woman. Chadema fares better on this score with equal representation of three men and three women. This is both voluntary and temporary because the party’s constitution is silent on the gender composition of the board of trustees. CCM’s advisory council is composed of former presidents who, by custom, served as CCM chairs for both Mainland and Zanzibar. The council also includes former national party deputy chairs. Since its formation in 1977, CCM’s advisory council has been an all-male council. Finally, representation at departmental level reveals the same skew. Four of CCM’s five departments are headed by men. Men are at the helm of all Chadema’s four departments, known as directorates. Despite the difficulties in obtaining data, the available information pointed towards the same under-representation of women in the lower administrative tiers of the two parties. Next steps The low level of women’s representation requires CCM and Chadema, as well as other political parties, to adopt voluntary gender quotas for leadership positions and candidates’ lists in line with the law governing political party affairs . Alternatively, the law governing political party affairs should set out the gender representation numerical goals for parties’ leadership positions, decision-making organs and candidates’ lists, including rewards and penalties. Victoria Melkisedeck Lihiru 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.

politics,africa

Tanzania’s political parties have few women in leadership and candidate lists: some solutions. Tanzania, in keeping with global political trends, reserves 30% of seats in parliament for women. These so-called special seats were introduced with multiparty politics in 1992, in response to the low numbers of women elected to positions of power. There were only eight elected female parliamentarians after the first multiparty elections in 1995. Ten years later, 17 women were elected to parliament, representing 7% of legislative seats. Fast forward to the 2020 general elections: women make up 37.4% of parliament. However, only 27 women ( 10.2% ) were elected directly from the 264 constituencies. Special seats are credited for increasing women’s representation. This has enabled the passing of a couple of “gender sensitive” laws. However, the special seats system is not the magic bullet for achieving gender equality in political representation across the board. While political parties have met the legal requirements for nominating women for special seats, concerns linger about the parties’ internal commitment to advancing women’s political participation. In a recent paper I set out to assess whether the main political parties voluntarily sought to increase women’s participation in their internal leadership positions and candidate lists. In particular, I examined whether their constitutions contained voluntary gender quotas beyond fulfilling the quotas in the national statutes. I found that the constitutions of both parties recognised women’s rights to representation as enshrined in international and regional conventions as well as national laws , but these commitments largely start and end with the establishment of a women’s wing. Men dominate the parties’ decision making organs at national and lower levels. Since its establishment in 1992, Chama cha Demokrasia na Maendeleo (Chadema or Party of Democracy and Development) has never had a woman among its six main national leaders. The ruling Chama cha Mapinduzi (CCM, the Revolutionary Party) named its first female national chair and the first female deputy general secretary-mainland only in 2021. That is 44 years after the party was formed in 1977. Where the parties stand On the face of it, Tanzania has advanced women’s representation. President Samia Suluhu Hassan is one of the few female presidents the African continent has ever had. But that’s not by CCM’s constitutional design. The office of the president became vacant on 17 March 2021, when John Pombe Magufuli suddenly died in power. Suluhu, then the first female vice president in the history of Tanzania, became president. She was elected CCM’s chair in keeping with the party’s tradition that the president is the party leader. In addition, for about two years, Christina Mndeme held the position of deputy general secretary-mainland. She was the first woman to hold such a position. As gender representation is not embedded in CCM’s constitution, progress was shortlived. CCM decision-makers: For instance, while CCM had two women (33%) among its six national party leaders in 2021 to December 2022, the number dropped to one (16%) after the December 2023 internal elections under Suluhu’s watch. The national structures of the two main political parties show that commitment to women’s participation is weak. Women now make up 28% of the national general assembly, 23% of the national executive committee, 25% of the central committee, and 16% of the national secretariat. Chadema decision-makers: Over at Chadema, women comprised 10% of its national convention after the party’s 2019 election. Only 8.6% of the governing council are women, 15.6% of the central committee, and 10% of the national secretariat. CCM would appear to be ahead with 16%-28% of women in key decision-making organs compared to Chadema (8%-15%). But both parties are still below the 30% critical mass principle established in the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action of 1995. They are also way below the 50/50 men and women representation required under the international and regional conventions. Similarly, the CCM and Chadema constitutions do not set any numerical gender representation goals in electing their leaders and in nomination of candidates to local and general elections. Currently, women make up only 10.5% of party chairpersons and only 10.5% of party secretary generals of 19 registered political parties. Women made up 9.2% of all candidates for all positions in the 2020 general election.. All-male affair At lower levels of party decision making, the story is the same. Women form a small minority in boards of trustees, advisory councils and key departments. CCM’s board of trustees has a chair and eight members. At the time of my survey, only one was a woman. Chadema fares better on this score with equal representation of three men and three women. This is both voluntary and temporary because the party’s constitution is silent on the gender composition of the board of trustees. CCM’s advisory council is composed of former presidents who, by custom, served as CCM chairs for both Mainland and Zanzibar. The council also includes former national party deputy chairs. Since its formation in 1977, CCM’s advisory council has been an all-male council. Finally, representation at departmental level reveals the same skew. Four of CCM’s five departments are headed by men. Men are at the helm of all Chadema’s four departments, known as directorates. Despite the difficulties in obtaining data, the available information pointed towards the same under-representation of women in the lower administrative tiers of the two parties. Next steps The low level of women’s representation requires CCM and Chadema, as well as other political parties, to adopt voluntary gender quotas for leadership positions and candidates’ lists in line with the law governing political party affairs . Alternatively, the law governing political party affairs should set out the gender representation numerical goals for parties’ leadership positions, decision-making organs and candidates’ lists, including rewards and penalties. Victoria Melkisedeck Lihiru 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.

US Clean Water Act leaves about 55% of water flowing out of rivers vulnerable to pollution

AMHERST, Mass. – The Supreme Court ruled last year that rivers that only flow in response to weather events—called ephemeral streams—do not fall under the protection of the Clean Water Act. New research published in the journal Science, led by University of Massachusetts Amherst recent doctoral graduate Craig Brinkerhoff and co-authored by colleagues at Yale University, suggests that this now leaves many U.S. waterways vulnerable to pollution. Consider the Connecticut River, says Colin Gleason, Armstrong Professor of civil and environmental engineering at UMass Amherst and an author on the paper. The Connecticut has rules regulating where and what kinds of sediments, nutrients and pollutants can be dumped into the river, "and if you now just go up into the hills and dump it in a dry gully… there's every chance it ends up in the main stem of the Connecticut that you've worked so hard to protect once it rains," he explains. While perennial streams flow continually, an ephemeral stream does not contain groundwater, so these non-perennial streams only run when they fill up with rain. The researchers set out to determine just how much water these sometimes-dry river beds contribute to a river system's total output. They found that, on average, ephemeral streams contribute 55% of the water that comes out of the mouth of regional river systems across the United States, but there is a strong east-west divide. River basins west of the Mississippi are more influenced by ephemeral streams than eastern rivers. For instance, 94% of the water coming out of the river systems in Black Rock Desert, Nevada, and Humboldt County, California, comes from ephemeral streams. This makes sense, says Brinkerhoff. "Normally, when we think about ephemeral streams, we think of dry riverbeds in the desert," he explains. "The groundwater table is always way below the land surface." But the researchers were surprised to discover just how influential these ephemeral streams were on the East Coast as well: "Even on the East Coast, even in a humid place where there's a ton of groundwater, ephemeral streams are still exerting a big influence," Brinkerhoff continues. Gleason points to his home watershed to illustrate this point. "On a day in which every stream in the Connecticut River is flowing with its average annual condition, 59% of the water entering Long Island Sound was sourced from these ephemeral streams—a.k.a., dry gullies in the woods," he says. However, these ephemeral streams are no longer regulated by the Clean Water Act (CWA). Last summer, in the case of Sackett v. Environmental Protection Agency, a majority of the Supreme Court defined the bodies of water that fall under CWA protection as "only those relatively permanent, standing or continuously flowing bodies of water forming geographical features that are described in ordinary parlance as streams, oceans, rivers, and lakes." "The Clean Water Act regulates where and how much we can dump into water bodies—water bodies being rivers, lakes, wetlands, reservoirs, etc.," says Brinkerhoff. And the implications of this new research for water pollution are clear: "[Ephemeral streams are] not flowing most of the time, but then you get a big enough rainstorm and all of a sudden you're pushing the stuff that's been accumulating in those rivers downstream. In theory, pollution in those ephemeral streams will ultimately influence water many kilometers away that is, at least nominally, still regulated by the Clean Water Act," he says. Doug Kysar, Joseph M. Field '55 Professor of Law at Yale Law School, and one of the study's authors, says that this work helps provide a constitutional basis to include ephemeral streams in the CWA. "Water pollution is a transboundary issue that clearly implicates interstate commerce, such that Congress could regulate ephemeral streams even if they are not the kind of 'navigable waters' that Congress has historically exerted federal authority over." However, he also says that it's more likely that this responsibility will fall to state and local governments. "The irony is that the federal Clean Water Act was adopted precisely because state and local governments were thought to be doing a poor job of protecting the nation's waterways," he adds. "Our research helps to explain why that would be the case, as it shows just how far downstream from an ephemeral waterway the ultimate impacts of pollution can be felt. States don't necessarily have incentives to adopt costly water protections when the benefits will be felt by ecosystems out of state." Using hydrology models, theory and field data, the researchers built a model that identifies every ephemeral stream in the contiguous U.S. and determines the percentage of a river's flow (for its annual average condition) that came from these ephemeral streams. One thing the researchers emphasize is that the size of the river basin used for their modeling does influence the results. The 55% figure is only true when you divide river basins into a certain size—if they had used smaller basins, the ephemeral influence would be larger, and if they used bigger basins, the influence would be less. But even using the scale they did—which is the second-largest river basin scale defined by the U.S. Geological Survey—ephemeral streams still influenced more than half of rivers' total water output. In other words, 55% is a quite surprising finding for rivers so large, the researchers say. Previous thinking was that ephemeral streams only influence their immediate areas. "Our study provides more concrete evidence that all of these things are connected," says Brinkerhoff. "We can't regulate water bodies ad hoc." 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.

lifestyle

US Clean Water Act leaves about 55% of water flowing out of rivers vulnerable to pollution. AMHERST, Mass. – The Supreme Court ruled last year that rivers that only flow in response to weather events—called ephemeral streams—do not fall under the protection of the Clean Water Act. New research published in the journal Science, led by University of Massachusetts Amherst recent doctoral graduate Craig Brinkerhoff and co-authored by colleagues at Yale University, suggests that this now leaves many U.S. waterways vulnerable to pollution. Consider the Connecticut River, says Colin Gleason, Armstrong Professor of civil and environmental engineering at UMass Amherst and an author on the paper. The Connecticut has rules regulating where and what kinds of sediments, nutrients and pollutants can be dumped into the river, "and if you now just go up into the hills and dump it in a dry gully… there's every chance it ends up in the main stem of the Connecticut that you've worked so hard to protect once it rains," he explains. While perennial streams flow continually, an ephemeral stream does not contain groundwater, so these non-perennial streams only run when they fill up with rain. The researchers set out to determine just how much water these sometimes-dry river beds contribute to a river system's total output. They found that, on average, ephemeral streams contribute 55% of the water that comes out of the mouth of regional river systems across the United States, but there is a strong east-west divide. River basins west of the Mississippi are more influenced by ephemeral streams than eastern rivers. For instance, 94% of the water coming out of the river systems in Black Rock Desert, Nevada, and Humboldt County, California, comes from ephemeral streams. This makes sense, says Brinkerhoff. "Normally, when we think about ephemeral streams, we think of dry riverbeds in the desert," he explains. "The groundwater table is always way below the land surface." But the researchers were surprised to discover just how influential these ephemeral streams were on the East Coast as well: "Even on the East Coast, even in a humid place where there's a ton of groundwater, ephemeral streams are still exerting a big influence," Brinkerhoff continues. Gleason points to his home watershed to illustrate this point. "On a day in which every stream in the Connecticut River is flowing with its average annual condition, 59% of the water entering Long Island Sound was sourced from these ephemeral streams—a.k.a., dry gullies in the woods," he says. However, these ephemeral streams are no longer regulated by the Clean Water Act (CWA). Last summer, in the case of Sackett v. Environmental Protection Agency, a majority of the Supreme Court defined the bodies of water that fall under CWA protection as "only those relatively permanent, standing or continuously flowing bodies of water forming geographical features that are described in ordinary parlance as streams, oceans, rivers, and lakes." "The Clean Water Act regulates where and how much we can dump into water bodies—water bodies being rivers, lakes, wetlands, reservoirs, etc.," says Brinkerhoff. And the implications of this new research for water pollution are clear: "[Ephemeral streams are] not flowing most of the time, but then you get a big enough rainstorm and all of a sudden you're pushing the stuff that's been accumulating in those rivers downstream. In theory, pollution in those ephemeral streams will ultimately influence water many kilometers away that is, at least nominally, still regulated by the Clean Water Act," he says. Doug Kysar, Joseph M. Field '55 Professor of Law at Yale Law School, and one of the study's authors, says that this work helps provide a constitutional basis to include ephemeral streams in the CWA. "Water pollution is a transboundary issue that clearly implicates interstate commerce, such that Congress could regulate ephemeral streams even if they are not the kind of 'navigable waters' that Congress has historically exerted federal authority over." However, he also says that it's more likely that this responsibility will fall to state and local governments. "The irony is that the federal Clean Water Act was adopted precisely because state and local governments were thought to be doing a poor job of protecting the nation's waterways," he adds. "Our research helps to explain why that would be the case, as it shows just how far downstream from an ephemeral waterway the ultimate impacts of pollution can be felt. States don't necessarily have incentives to adopt costly water protections when the benefits will be felt by ecosystems out of state." Using hydrology models, theory and field data, the researchers built a model that identifies every ephemeral stream in the contiguous U.S. and determines the percentage of a river's flow (for its annual average condition) that came from these ephemeral streams. One thing the researchers emphasize is that the size of the river basin used for their modeling does influence the results. The 55% figure is only true when you divide river basins into a certain size—if they had used smaller basins, the ephemeral influence would be larger, and if they used bigger basins, the influence would be less. But even using the scale they did—which is the second-largest river basin scale defined by the U.S. Geological Survey—ephemeral streams still influenced more than half of rivers' total water output. In other words, 55% is a quite surprising finding for rivers so large, the researchers say. Previous thinking was that ephemeral streams only influence their immediate areas. "Our study provides more concrete evidence that all of these things are connected," says Brinkerhoff. "We can't regulate water bodies ad hoc." 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.

Don't Wait to Invest Just Because You're in Debt

As we launch into the new year with a new set of financial goals -- or recommitting to some old ones -- it's a good time to discuss a common misperception: that you should focus on paying off all your debt before making any investments. I bring that up now because paying off debt typically tops the list of New Year's resolutions. Yes, knocking out debt is a laudable goal. However, knocking it all out before you begin to save is typically not a sound approach. And that's especially true if you're young and just beginning your financial journey. Let's dig into this a bit. Here are things to consider if you're assessing the idea of beginning your investing journey in 2024, even while you are carrying some debt: Time Is Your Friend, Until It Isn't I say that with conviction. Sitting at the back end of decades of compound returns, I know I left a lot of money on the table. At the time, I completely justified the decisions I made. Some of those decisions were about financial survival. Others were about living life to the fullest -- at the time. However, looking back over my 36 years in the workforce, I can see that if I had squeezed out an extra $50 per month, I would have in the neighborhood of an extra $160,000 now. Wow. Today, to turn $50 a month into $160,000 before I retire, I'd need a Lotto win. Some Debt Should Be Prioritized With interest rates skyrocketing in recent years, it's important to focus your debt-elimination efforts on the most harmful type of debt: high-interest credit cards. If you are carrying balances on that type of debt, that's the one time I would entertain the idea of holding off on starting to invest. Your Vision Should Be Invigorating It can be difficult to get excited about stashing money away for the future when you could put it to good use today. However, a clear focus on the future, the things you want to achieve and the lifestyle you want to live could allow you to treat investing like an opportunity rather than a burden. An Employer Match Is a No-Brainer If "free money" in the form of an employer match is available, don't miss out. Using my example from above, in that hypothetical scenario, your $50 decision could translate into more than $300,000 with the help of your employer's matching contribution. Contributing at a level that provides the maximum available employer match should be a priority, even with debt. It's a Marathon, Not a Sprint With all the turmoil that we have seen in the financial markets over the past few years, it's important not to lose your focus and let short-term news and results shape or dampen your enthusiasm for investing and the future you are building. This is a good topic for a separate article but important to note here. If I could go back and talk to a younger version of myself, I would acknowledge that there were legitimate reasons I couldn't afford to invest. However, sitting on the other end of the journey, the truth, I would say, is that you can't afford not to invest. I can't go back and change the numerous small decisions that would have had a huge impact on the choices I have today. Maybe, you can do better from the start. Keep Up With Military Pay Updates Military pay benefits are constantly changing. Make sure you're up-to-date with everything you've earned.

business,military

Don't Wait to Invest Just Because You're in Debt. As we launch into the new year with a new set of financial goals -- or recommitting to some old ones -- it's a good time to discuss a common misperception: that you should focus on paying off all your debt before making any investments. I bring that up now because paying off debt typically tops the list of New Year's resolutions. Yes, knocking out debt is a laudable goal. However, knocking it all out before you begin to save is typically not a sound approach. And that's especially true if you're young and just beginning your financial journey. Let's dig into this a bit. Here are things to consider if you're assessing the idea of beginning your investing journey in 2024, even while you are carrying some debt: Time Is Your Friend, Until It Isn't I say that with conviction. Sitting at the back end of decades of compound returns, I know I left a lot of money on the table. At the time, I completely justified the decisions I made. Some of those decisions were about financial survival. Others were about living life to the fullest -- at the time. However, looking back over my 36 years in the workforce, I can see that if I had squeezed out an extra $50 per month, I would have in the neighborhood of an extra $160,000 now. Wow. Today, to turn $50 a month into $160,000 before I retire, I'd need a Lotto win. Some Debt Should Be Prioritized With interest rates skyrocketing in recent years, it's important to focus your debt-elimination efforts on the most harmful type of debt: high-interest credit cards. If you are carrying balances on that type of debt, that's the one time I would entertain the idea of holding off on starting to invest. Your Vision Should Be Invigorating It can be difficult to get excited about stashing money away for the future when you could put it to good use today. However, a clear focus on the future, the things you want to achieve and the lifestyle you want to live could allow you to treat investing like an opportunity rather than a burden. An Employer Match Is a No-Brainer If "free money" in the form of an employer match is available, don't miss out. Using my example from above, in that hypothetical scenario, your $50 decision could translate into more than $300,000 with the help of your employer's matching contribution. Contributing at a level that provides the maximum available employer match should be a priority, even with debt. It's a Marathon, Not a Sprint With all the turmoil that we have seen in the financial markets over the past few years, it's important not to lose your focus and let short-term news and results shape or dampen your enthusiasm for investing and the future you are building. This is a good topic for a separate article but important to note here. If I could go back and talk to a younger version of myself, I would acknowledge that there were legitimate reasons I couldn't afford to invest. However, sitting on the other end of the journey, the truth, I would say, is that you can't afford not to invest. I can't go back and change the numerous small decisions that would have had a huge impact on the choices I have today. Maybe, you can do better from the start. Keep Up With Military Pay Updates Military pay benefits are constantly changing. Make sure you're up-to-date with everything you've earned.

Romanian organized crime group targeting places of worship: police

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' Romanian mobsters are traveling the country and targeting religious institutions in brazen daylight robberies, police suspect. In April and May, they hit two Buddhist temples, two mosques and one Hindu temple in the Washington, D.C., area, according to authorities. Montgomery (Maryland) County Police suspect that the Romanian Organized Crime Group, who call themselves the ROMAs, targeted seven similar places in 2023, with police saying they made arrests in about half of the incidents, Fox 5 DC reported. Since arresting group members Alex Dumitru, 23, and Natalian Dumitru, 18, in connection with two of the burglaries last month, Montgomery County Police Lieutenant Andrew Suh told Fox News Digital that no more houses of worship or residences connected to temples or churches had been targeted in the area. But Suh said that the international group, which has a presence nationwide, has operated in the D.C. area for about a decade and for his entire career with the department — and that quelling its activity is like "cutting the heads of a hydra." ROMANIAN MOB IS COMING FROM YOUR DEBIT CARDS, WITH ATM-STYLE SKIMMERS NOW AT SELF-CHECKOUTS: AUTHORITIES WARN Surveillance footage from the Wat Thai Buddhist Temple in Silver Spring, Maryland, shows a group of thieves brazenly walk into a Buddhist monk's home while a funeral service takes place nearby and steal $20,000 in donations from a safe. (Fox 5 DC) Evidence found in the brothers' homes connected them to two of the crimes, the department wrote in a press release. Both were arrested on first-degree burglary charges and bailed out with $10,000 personal bonds. Surveillance video from the Wat Thai Buddhist Temple in Silver Spring last month shows members of the crew brazenly walking inside while dozens are inside for a funeral luncheon. The thieves didn't take off their shoes at the door in the surveillance footage, making it somewhat apparent that they weren't members. The suspects then snuck into resident monk Ruangrit Thaithae's residence and allegedly snatched $20,000 in donations from a safe in the span of 20 minutes, according to local reports. The monk was reportedly planning to deposit the money from temple members the next day. While one suspect distracted a temple member, the others are accused of making off with the safe and other valuable items. BOTTLE-POPPING BURGLAR SIPS PROSECCO, STEALS CASH REGISTER AS HE SMASHES HIS WAY THROUGH PUB: VIDEO "I would like to tell them that even if the law enforcement can't catch them, the karma will," Ruangrit Thaithae, known as Monk Jack, told Fox 5 DC. "In Buddhism, we believe in karma. Karma will catch them soon." (Fox 5 DC) "I would like to tell them that even if the law enforcement can't catch them, the karma will," Thaithae, known as Monk Jack, told the outlet. "In Buddhism, we believe in karma. Karma will catch them soon." "I think they're still young, so if they stop doing these things and do the good things for their life, for their family and for people, they will be good," Thaithae said. "They still have time. They can be a good person. For the past, that's OK, but in the future, if they stop and do good things, because they are making people suffer." CALIFORNIA BURGLARIES COMMITTED BY SOUTH AMERICAN THEFT RING INVOLVE HIDDEN CAMERAS IN SHRUBBERY: AUTHORITIES Natalian Dumitru, 18, and his brother Alex Dumitru, 23, were charged with first-degree burglary in two of the five heists on temples and other places of worship. (Montgomery County Police Department) Although the group targeted religious hubs, Suh said that his department didn't consider these burglaries hate crimes. Instead, they were crimes of opportunity. "This organization is generally just focused on obtaining monetary rewards," Suh said. "They don't have a political motivation or a stance — they're just focused on dollars." Although the group has gone quiet since the recent arrests of its members, Suh said that it had many branches, and that in all likelihood, some fraud operations were still taking place. Another temple in Accokeek, Maryland, sent Fox 5 surveillance stills of a group of men breaking in around mid-March. Although the men damaged the door, the monks caught on to what was happening and scared them off. Three suspects are pictured on security footage provided by one of the victimized Montgomery County, Maryland, religious institutions to Fox 5 DC. (Fox 5 DC) "Houses of worship are upset because often they're using their funds to help the community, right? They're running food drives and food pantries, child support programs, supporting the elderly," Montgomery County faith leader Kate Chance told Fox 5. "And often folks see them as easy targets because they're just kind-hearted individuals who often don't report these sorts of incidents." Chance said religious hubs should apply for an area grant that would give them up to $20,000 for security upgrades. Chris Swecker, who served 24 years as an FBI special agent and was the former assistant director of the FBI, said that he'd never seen organized criminals target houses of worship in his career. However, he was all too familiar with the Romanian Organized Crime Group, calling them "hit-and-run artists." Wat Thai Washington, D.C., a Buddhist temple in Silver Spring, Maryland. (Fox 5 DC) "As you can see, they're pretty brazen — they know where to go to find value and they're preying on people who are peaceful and docile," Swecker told Fox News Digital. "They don't expect people to do bad things and leave their gold objects in plain view that are easy to access. The congregation would never think about taking those things, but the ROMA know they can do it." "They're not big, violent extortionists getting violent retribution," Swecker explained. "They're smart enough to know property crime won't get them big time and won't garner as much federal attention." CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP The Romanian Mafia has footholds throughout the U.S. Earlier this year, California prosecutors warned that members were panhandling outside big-box stores, then stealing credit card information using skimmers at self-checkouts inside the stores. Swecker noted that taking down organized crime was once a "staple" of the FBI, and that a transient group "moving from jurisdiction to jurisdiction" would be a "perfect thing for the FBI to pursue." But he said it seemed like the bureau had "sort of abdicated. I never hear about RICO arrests, big takedowns."

usa

Romanian organized crime group targeting places of worship: police. 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' Romanian mobsters are traveling the country and targeting religious institutions in brazen daylight robberies, police suspect. In April and May, they hit two Buddhist temples, two mosques and one Hindu temple in the Washington, D.C., area, according to authorities. Montgomery (Maryland) County Police suspect that the Romanian Organized Crime Group, who call themselves the ROMAs, targeted seven similar places in 2023, with police saying they made arrests in about half of the incidents, Fox 5 DC reported. Since arresting group members Alex Dumitru, 23, and Natalian Dumitru, 18, in connection with two of the burglaries last month, Montgomery County Police Lieutenant Andrew Suh told Fox News Digital that no more houses of worship or residences connected to temples or churches had been targeted in the area. But Suh said that the international group, which has a presence nationwide, has operated in the D.C. area for about a decade and for his entire career with the department — and that quelling its activity is like "cutting the heads of a hydra." ROMANIAN MOB IS COMING FROM YOUR DEBIT CARDS, WITH ATM-STYLE SKIMMERS NOW AT SELF-CHECKOUTS: AUTHORITIES WARN Surveillance footage from the Wat Thai Buddhist Temple in Silver Spring, Maryland, shows a group of thieves brazenly walk into a Buddhist monk's home while a funeral service takes place nearby and steal $20,000 in donations from a safe. (Fox 5 DC) Evidence found in the brothers' homes connected them to two of the crimes, the department wrote in a press release. Both were arrested on first-degree burglary charges and bailed out with $10,000 personal bonds. Surveillance video from the Wat Thai Buddhist Temple in Silver Spring last month shows members of the crew brazenly walking inside while dozens are inside for a funeral luncheon. The thieves didn't take off their shoes at the door in the surveillance footage, making it somewhat apparent that they weren't members. The suspects then snuck into resident monk Ruangrit Thaithae's residence and allegedly snatched $20,000 in donations from a safe in the span of 20 minutes, according to local reports. The monk was reportedly planning to deposit the money from temple members the next day. While one suspect distracted a temple member, the others are accused of making off with the safe and other valuable items. BOTTLE-POPPING BURGLAR SIPS PROSECCO, STEALS CASH REGISTER AS HE SMASHES HIS WAY THROUGH PUB: VIDEO "I would like to tell them that even if the law enforcement can't catch them, the karma will," Ruangrit Thaithae, known as Monk Jack, told Fox 5 DC. "In Buddhism, we believe in karma. Karma will catch them soon." (Fox 5 DC) "I would like to tell them that even if the law enforcement can't catch them, the karma will," Thaithae, known as Monk Jack, told the outlet. "In Buddhism, we believe in karma. Karma will catch them soon." "I think they're still young, so if they stop doing these things and do the good things for their life, for their family and for people, they will be good," Thaithae said. "They still have time. They can be a good person. For the past, that's OK, but in the future, if they stop and do good things, because they are making people suffer." CALIFORNIA BURGLARIES COMMITTED BY SOUTH AMERICAN THEFT RING INVOLVE HIDDEN CAMERAS IN SHRUBBERY: AUTHORITIES Natalian Dumitru, 18, and his brother Alex Dumitru, 23, were charged with first-degree burglary in two of the five heists on temples and other places of worship. (Montgomery County Police Department) Although the group targeted religious hubs, Suh said that his department didn't consider these burglaries hate crimes. Instead, they were crimes of opportunity. "This organization is generally just focused on obtaining monetary rewards," Suh said. "They don't have a political motivation or a stance — they're just focused on dollars." Although the group has gone quiet since the recent arrests of its members, Suh said that it had many branches, and that in all likelihood, some fraud operations were still taking place. Another temple in Accokeek, Maryland, sent Fox 5 surveillance stills of a group of men breaking in around mid-March. Although the men damaged the door, the monks caught on to what was happening and scared them off. Three suspects are pictured on security footage provided by one of the victimized Montgomery County, Maryland, religious institutions to Fox 5 DC. (Fox 5 DC) "Houses of worship are upset because often they're using their funds to help the community, right? They're running food drives and food pantries, child support programs, supporting the elderly," Montgomery County faith leader Kate Chance told Fox 5. "And often folks see them as easy targets because they're just kind-hearted individuals who often don't report these sorts of incidents." Chance said religious hubs should apply for an area grant that would give them up to $20,000 for security upgrades. Chris Swecker, who served 24 years as an FBI special agent and was the former assistant director of the FBI, said that he'd never seen organized criminals target houses of worship in his career. However, he was all too familiar with the Romanian Organized Crime Group, calling them "hit-and-run artists." Wat Thai Washington, D.C., a Buddhist temple in Silver Spring, Maryland. (Fox 5 DC) "As you can see, they're pretty brazen — they know where to go to find value and they're preying on people who are peaceful and docile," Swecker told Fox News Digital. "They don't expect people to do bad things and leave their gold objects in plain view that are easy to access. The congregation would never think about taking those things, but the ROMA know they can do it." "They're not big, violent extortionists getting violent retribution," Swecker explained. "They're smart enough to know property crime won't get them big time and won't garner as much federal attention." CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP The Romanian Mafia has footholds throughout the U.S. Earlier this year, California prosecutors warned that members were panhandling outside big-box stores, then stealing credit card information using skimmers at self-checkouts inside the stores. Swecker noted that taking down organized crime was once a "staple" of the FBI, and that a transient group "moving from jurisdiction to jurisdiction" would be a "perfect thing for the FBI to pursue." But he said it seemed like the bureau had "sort of abdicated. I never hear about RICO arrests, big takedowns."

Europe’s largest Bitcoin miner Northern Data eyes IPO in 2025: report

Germany's Bitcoin mining company Northern Data is reportedly in talks with potential advisers about a U.S. initial public offering planned for next year. Northern Data AG is mulling the possibility of conducting an initial public offering ( AI ) cloud computing and data center businesses in the U.S. next year, according to a Bloomberg report, which cites sources familiar with the matter. The IPO is expected to value the entity between $10 billion and $16 billion, according to the sources. They added that the Frankfurt-headquartered Bitcoin miner might sell a minority stake in the unit to investors before the listing. The miner is currently in talks with several potential advisers to pitch for a role and could mandate lead banks within the coming months, the sources said, noting that no final decision has been made thus far. Bitcoin miner Bitdeer to launch 570 MW power facility in Ohio

crypto

Europe’s largest Bitcoin miner Northern Data eyes IPO in 2025: report. Germany's Bitcoin mining company Northern Data is reportedly in talks with potential advisers about a U.S. initial public offering planned for next year. Northern Data AG is mulling the possibility of conducting an initial public offering ( AI ) cloud computing and data center businesses in the U.S. next year, according to a Bloomberg report, which cites sources familiar with the matter. The IPO is expected to value the entity between $10 billion and $16 billion, according to the sources. They added that the Frankfurt-headquartered Bitcoin miner might sell a minority stake in the unit to investors before the listing. The miner is currently in talks with several potential advisers to pitch for a role and could mandate lead banks within the coming months, the sources said, noting that no final decision has been made thus far. Bitcoin miner Bitdeer to launch 570 MW power facility in Ohio

South Dakota Partners with Trualta to Support Family Caregivers

Trualta's innovative education platform offers short lessons on many caregiver skills, including fall prevention, medication management, and bathing. It also offers virtual support groups and webinars. "SD DHS's Division of Long Term Services and Supports is excited to offer on-demand trainings and resources to help families and caregivers build the skills and confidence to provide care for their loved ones at home," said Lesley Farmen, Administration of Community Living (ACL) Program Administrator and State Dementia Coordinator. Trualta's innovative education platform offers short lessons on many caregiver skills, including fall prevention, medication management, and bathing. It also offers virtual support groups and webinars. Trualta helps families caring for loved ones with conditions such as Alzheimer's disease or dementia, an intellectual or developmental disability, heart disease, diabetes, a recent stroke, and more. "We are thrilled to offer our family caregiver education platform in Jonathan Davis, Trualta CEO. "This is a significant step forward in our mission to empower caregivers with invaluable knowledge and support, deepening our commitment to help as many caregivers as possible to better manage challenging care situations at home." The mission of the South Dakota Department of Human Services (SD DHS) is to enhance the quality of life for people with disabilities and those who are aging. Department staff work with individuals, families, and SD DHS partners to help individuals learn about available services and how to access them. In partnership with its stakeholders and through its five divisions, SD DHS helps individuals meet the goals they set for the life they want.

lifestyle

South Dakota Partners with Trualta to Support Family Caregivers. Trualta's innovative education platform offers short lessons on many caregiver skills, including fall prevention, medication management, and bathing. It also offers virtual support groups and webinars. "SD DHS's Division of Long Term Services and Supports is excited to offer on-demand trainings and resources to help families and caregivers build the skills and confidence to provide care for their loved ones at home," said Lesley Farmen, Administration of Community Living (ACL) Program Administrator and State Dementia Coordinator. Trualta's innovative education platform offers short lessons on many caregiver skills, including fall prevention, medication management, and bathing. It also offers virtual support groups and webinars. Trualta helps families caring for loved ones with conditions such as Alzheimer's disease or dementia, an intellectual or developmental disability, heart disease, diabetes, a recent stroke, and more. "We are thrilled to offer our family caregiver education platform in Jonathan Davis, Trualta CEO. "This is a significant step forward in our mission to empower caregivers with invaluable knowledge and support, deepening our commitment to help as many caregivers as possible to better manage challenging care situations at home." The mission of the South Dakota Department of Human Services (SD DHS) is to enhance the quality of life for people with disabilities and those who are aging. Department staff work with individuals, families, and SD DHS partners to help individuals learn about available services and how to access them. In partnership with its stakeholders and through its five divisions, SD DHS helps individuals meet the goals they set for the life they want.

Vermont day care provider gets 3 to 10 years for baby's antihistamine death

A Vermont day care provider convicted of manslaughter in the death of an infant she was caring for in her home was sentenced on Tuesday to three to 10 years in prison. 15-YEAR-OLD ARRESTED IN VERMONT WOMAN'S FATAL SHOOTING Stacey Vaillancourt was accused of sedating Harper Rose Briar with an antihistamine in 2019. The 6-month-old was found unresponsive while in Vaillancourt's care, and an autopsy determined she had high concentrations of diphenhydramine, the sedating ingredient in some over-the-counter antihistamines including the brand Benadryl. The drug is not recommended for infants without a doctor's order, and there was no such order for Harper. At trial , Vaillancourt’s defense attorney said there was no evidence to prove Vaillancourt sedated the infant, but the prosecutor told jurors that no one else could have done it. Vaillancourt denied giving the infant anything that wasn’t provided by her parents. A jury in December convicted the former child care provider of manslaughter and child cruelty. A phone message was left with Vaillancourt's attorney seeking comment on the sentence.

usa

Vermont day care provider gets 3 to 10 years for baby's antihistamine death. A Vermont day care provider convicted of manslaughter in the death of an infant she was caring for in her home was sentenced on Tuesday to three to 10 years in prison. 15-YEAR-OLD ARRESTED IN VERMONT WOMAN'S FATAL SHOOTING Stacey Vaillancourt was accused of sedating Harper Rose Briar with an antihistamine in 2019. The 6-month-old was found unresponsive while in Vaillancourt's care, and an autopsy determined she had high concentrations of diphenhydramine, the sedating ingredient in some over-the-counter antihistamines including the brand Benadryl. The drug is not recommended for infants without a doctor's order, and there was no such order for Harper. At trial , Vaillancourt’s defense attorney said there was no evidence to prove Vaillancourt sedated the infant, but the prosecutor told jurors that no one else could have done it. Vaillancourt denied giving the infant anything that wasn’t provided by her parents. A jury in December convicted the former child care provider of manslaughter and child cruelty. A phone message was left with Vaillancourt's attorney seeking comment on the sentence.

Is Labour ready for government? Understanding Keir Starmer’s narrative of renewal

Is Labour ready for government? This question is being asked regularly of the public by pollsters YouGov , especially as the UK approaches the general election on July 4. For many, the answer is a measure of the extent to which Keir Starmer has changed the party since he became leader. The idea is that if a leader can modernise their party via policy review and personnel changes, then they could similarly change and improve the country . It is, effectively, a test of leadership skills, alongside a demonstration that they can stamp their authority on their party. To determine whether Starmer has sufficiently demonstrated this leadership skill, we can briefly look back at how Tony Blair and David Cameron modernised their parties before entering government. Has Starmer also engaged in such deep renewal while in opposition? Want more election coverage from The Conversation’s academic experts? Over the coming weeks, we’ll bring you informed analysis of developments in the campaign and we’ll fact check the claims being made. Sign up for our new, weekly election newsletter , delivered every Friday throughout the campaign and beyond. Rhetorically speaking, the importance of the idea of wholesale change led from the centre is designed to create a narrative following a previous defeat. In essence, it is a story told by the leadership of how they accepted defeat but have now reflected and changed in response . For Blair and Cameron, it was about understanding what message the public was sending when they decided not to vote for them. Blair interpreted the 1992 defeat as a message that voters did not yet trust the Labour party with the powers of government. The party was seen as lacking preparedness and as not sharing the values of the post-Thatcher electorate. They feared that, at heart, Labour was still prone to nationalisation, which risked reversing the Thatcher reforms of the 1980s. Cameron interpreted his party’s 2005 defeat as a signal that the Conservative party needed to take its divisions seriously, move beyond the debates and divisions over Europe, and embrace certain aspects of social liberalism . By doing so, Cameron aimed to show the Conservatives were not a risk to the socially liberal country. Both leaders, therefore, took the defeats their party endured as a sign that they had to change to become compatible with the values of the country and, in turn, the high offices of power which they sought. In preparation for the election ahead, Starmer has been at pains to show how his party has changed since its 2019 defeat. For Starmer, this is about disowning Jeremy Corbyn and Corbynism by portraying his leadership as a more mature and sensible alternative. Labour’s most successful renewal projects Historically, Labour renewal projects have been about moving beyond the perception that it was an out-of-date, ideologically driven party. Those leaders who have aimed to change the narrative have sought to show that Labour not only accepted the modern world, but in fact embraced it and could lead from the front by embedding social democracy within it. Harold Wilson attempted this with the rhetoric of “scientific socialism” during his white heat of technology speech in 1963. Blair controversially reformed clause four of the Labour party constitution to signal that he was moving the party away from socialism. It changed the party’s identity beyond recognition, but Blair’s aim was to show that the party he led had been reformed and could be trusted. Starmer’s problem is that he lacks a clear indicator of a similarly substantive change. Despite this, his arguments seek to portray Labour as a modern party that has changed in opposition and is now ready to address the problems of the modern world. For example, dealing with economic reconstruction following the COVID legacy, as well as accepting that Brexit and its consequences are facts of life, while promising reforming ties with the European Union. A key part of embracing this reality has been the acceptance that the fiscal position of the UK will be challenging , leaving Labour with tough decisions over spending priorities – something that was less of a concern for Blair in 1997. Part of the problem facing Starmer is the perception that he reverses on key pledges . He may announce large projects such as reforms of social care , the House of Lords , and mental health but the public feel unsure of whether he would then water them down or reverse entirely due to the fiscal concerns. This is not a luxury he can not afford during an election campaign. This tendency risks creating confusion among voters, who may lose sight of the overarching message of change and renewal. Indeed, the reversals risk creating the perception that Labour is simply testing ideas on the voter before deciding to go another route. The consequence of this is that it puts Labour’s credibility into question. It appears uncertain what they stand for. Consistency is a key part of presenting a credible governing agenda ahead of an election. Meanwhile, across the aisle However, if we were to conclude that Labour was not yet ready for government, we need to contextualise this against the position of the Conservatives. The Tories have been in office for 14 turbulent years, first presiding over austerity , then the Scottish independence referendum , Brexit , and COVID . Since the last general election, they have had three different leaders (five since 2015) , with one being the shortest in history . It has not been an easy period of office and there are signs that global conflict will bedevil whoever takes office after the July election. But the key point here is the Conservatives are suffering from an absence of innovation , a lack of internal cohesion, fluctuating leadership, and a sense that it is time for a change. Put simply, the Conservatives have become less fit for office than the Labour party because of this sense of leadership fatigue and policy vacuum. The lack of consistency in his message still clouds Starmer’s attempts to convince voters that he should be prime minister , even if they can sense a change in tone and attitude from the Corbyn years. However, the degeneration of the Conservatives suggests that their road takes them back to the opposition benches, regardless. Andrew S. Roe-Crines 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.

politics,uk

Is Labour ready for government? Understanding Keir Starmer’s narrative of renewal. Is Labour ready for government? This question is being asked regularly of the public by pollsters YouGov , especially as the UK approaches the general election on July 4. For many, the answer is a measure of the extent to which Keir Starmer has changed the party since he became leader. The idea is that if a leader can modernise their party via policy review and personnel changes, then they could similarly change and improve the country . It is, effectively, a test of leadership skills, alongside a demonstration that they can stamp their authority on their party. To determine whether Starmer has sufficiently demonstrated this leadership skill, we can briefly look back at how Tony Blair and David Cameron modernised their parties before entering government. Has Starmer also engaged in such deep renewal while in opposition? Want more election coverage from The Conversation’s academic experts? Over the coming weeks, we’ll bring you informed analysis of developments in the campaign and we’ll fact check the claims being made. Sign up for our new, weekly election newsletter , delivered every Friday throughout the campaign and beyond. Rhetorically speaking, the importance of the idea of wholesale change led from the centre is designed to create a narrative following a previous defeat. In essence, it is a story told by the leadership of how they accepted defeat but have now reflected and changed in response . For Blair and Cameron, it was about understanding what message the public was sending when they decided not to vote for them. Blair interpreted the 1992 defeat as a message that voters did not yet trust the Labour party with the powers of government. The party was seen as lacking preparedness and as not sharing the values of the post-Thatcher electorate. They feared that, at heart, Labour was still prone to nationalisation, which risked reversing the Thatcher reforms of the 1980s. Cameron interpreted his party’s 2005 defeat as a signal that the Conservative party needed to take its divisions seriously, move beyond the debates and divisions over Europe, and embrace certain aspects of social liberalism . By doing so, Cameron aimed to show the Conservatives were not a risk to the socially liberal country. Both leaders, therefore, took the defeats their party endured as a sign that they had to change to become compatible with the values of the country and, in turn, the high offices of power which they sought. In preparation for the election ahead, Starmer has been at pains to show how his party has changed since its 2019 defeat. For Starmer, this is about disowning Jeremy Corbyn and Corbynism by portraying his leadership as a more mature and sensible alternative. Labour’s most successful renewal projects Historically, Labour renewal projects have been about moving beyond the perception that it was an out-of-date, ideologically driven party. Those leaders who have aimed to change the narrative have sought to show that Labour not only accepted the modern world, but in fact embraced it and could lead from the front by embedding social democracy within it. Harold Wilson attempted this with the rhetoric of “scientific socialism” during his white heat of technology speech in 1963. Blair controversially reformed clause four of the Labour party constitution to signal that he was moving the party away from socialism. It changed the party’s identity beyond recognition, but Blair’s aim was to show that the party he led had been reformed and could be trusted. Starmer’s problem is that he lacks a clear indicator of a similarly substantive change. Despite this, his arguments seek to portray Labour as a modern party that has changed in opposition and is now ready to address the problems of the modern world. For example, dealing with economic reconstruction following the COVID legacy, as well as accepting that Brexit and its consequences are facts of life, while promising reforming ties with the European Union. A key part of embracing this reality has been the acceptance that the fiscal position of the UK will be challenging , leaving Labour with tough decisions over spending priorities – something that was less of a concern for Blair in 1997. Part of the problem facing Starmer is the perception that he reverses on key pledges . He may announce large projects such as reforms of social care , the House of Lords , and mental health but the public feel unsure of whether he would then water them down or reverse entirely due to the fiscal concerns. This is not a luxury he can not afford during an election campaign. This tendency risks creating confusion among voters, who may lose sight of the overarching message of change and renewal. Indeed, the reversals risk creating the perception that Labour is simply testing ideas on the voter before deciding to go another route. The consequence of this is that it puts Labour’s credibility into question. It appears uncertain what they stand for. Consistency is a key part of presenting a credible governing agenda ahead of an election. Meanwhile, across the aisle However, if we were to conclude that Labour was not yet ready for government, we need to contextualise this against the position of the Conservatives. The Tories have been in office for 14 turbulent years, first presiding over austerity , then the Scottish independence referendum , Brexit , and COVID . Since the last general election, they have had three different leaders (five since 2015) , with one being the shortest in history . It has not been an easy period of office and there are signs that global conflict will bedevil whoever takes office after the July election. But the key point here is the Conservatives are suffering from an absence of innovation , a lack of internal cohesion, fluctuating leadership, and a sense that it is time for a change. Put simply, the Conservatives have become less fit for office than the Labour party because of this sense of leadership fatigue and policy vacuum. The lack of consistency in his message still clouds Starmer’s attempts to convince voters that he should be prime minister , even if they can sense a change in tone and attitude from the Corbyn years. However, the degeneration of the Conservatives suggests that their road takes them back to the opposition benches, regardless. Andrew S. Roe-Crines 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.

Factor4 Announces Expansion of Partnership with Whittle Group

June 7, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Factor4, a leading provider of gift and loyalty solutions, is proud to announce the expansion of its partnership with the Whittle Group, a renowned innovator in payment technology. This strategic collaboration has already proven successful over the past couple of years, with Factor4 delivering exceptional gift and loyalty card solutions to merchants / ISOs across various terminal types. One of the key developments resulting from this partnership is the Gift and Loyalty – Tetra application built with Whittle Group's technology, which seamlessly operates on Ingenico Desk 3500, Desk 5000 and Move 5000 payment terminals. Building on this success, Factor4 is now poised to extend its offerings to additional Ingenico terminal models, including the Desk 2600, Lane 3600, Link 2500, and Link 2500i, in the upcoming releases. This expansion aims to better serve Factor4's merchants/partners utilizing these terminal types, providing them with advanced gift and loyalty solutions tailored to their needs. Looking ahead, Factor4 is excited to announce plans for further expansion onto the Ingenico AXIUM terminal line of products, demonstrating the company's commitment to continuous innovation and customer satisfaction. Dan Battista, CEO of Factor4, expressed his enthusiasm for the expanded partnership, stating, "We are thrilled to further strengthen our collaboration with Whittle Group. This expansion allows us to offer even more comprehensive gift and loyalty solutions to our merchants, ISO partners – empowering them to enhance customer experiences and drive business growth." In response to this exciting news, Paul Whittle, President of Whittle Group, provided the following statement: "Factor4 is a long-time partner of Whittle Group. We are pleased that Dan and team have selected Whittle Group to continue to provide the terminal applications and other technology, enabling exciting expansions in Factor4's products." For more information about Factor4 and its gift and loyalty solutions, visit Factor4's website. To learn more about Whittle Group and its payment technology offerings, visit About Factor4: Factor4 is a leading provider of gift card and loyalty solutions for businesses of all sizes. With a focus on innovation and customer satisfaction, Factor4 empowers merchants to enhance customer experiences and drive revenue growth through customizable gift card programs. About Whittle Group: Whittle Group is a pioneer in payment technology, delivering cutting-edge Card Present solutions to businesses worldwide including custom terminal applications and SaaS offerings. With a commitment to excellence and innovation, Whittle Group enables businesses to streamline payment processes and improve customer engagement.

business,lifestyle

Factor4 Announces Expansion of Partnership with Whittle Group. June 7, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Factor4, a leading provider of gift and loyalty solutions, is proud to announce the expansion of its partnership with the Whittle Group, a renowned innovator in payment technology. This strategic collaboration has already proven successful over the past couple of years, with Factor4 delivering exceptional gift and loyalty card solutions to merchants / ISOs across various terminal types. One of the key developments resulting from this partnership is the Gift and Loyalty – Tetra application built with Whittle Group's technology, which seamlessly operates on Ingenico Desk 3500, Desk 5000 and Move 5000 payment terminals. Building on this success, Factor4 is now poised to extend its offerings to additional Ingenico terminal models, including the Desk 2600, Lane 3600, Link 2500, and Link 2500i, in the upcoming releases. This expansion aims to better serve Factor4's merchants/partners utilizing these terminal types, providing them with advanced gift and loyalty solutions tailored to their needs. Looking ahead, Factor4 is excited to announce plans for further expansion onto the Ingenico AXIUM terminal line of products, demonstrating the company's commitment to continuous innovation and customer satisfaction. Dan Battista, CEO of Factor4, expressed his enthusiasm for the expanded partnership, stating, "We are thrilled to further strengthen our collaboration with Whittle Group. This expansion allows us to offer even more comprehensive gift and loyalty solutions to our merchants, ISO partners – empowering them to enhance customer experiences and drive business growth." In response to this exciting news, Paul Whittle, President of Whittle Group, provided the following statement: "Factor4 is a long-time partner of Whittle Group. We are pleased that Dan and team have selected Whittle Group to continue to provide the terminal applications and other technology, enabling exciting expansions in Factor4's products." For more information about Factor4 and its gift and loyalty solutions, visit Factor4's website. To learn more about Whittle Group and its payment technology offerings, visit About Factor4: Factor4 is a leading provider of gift card and loyalty solutions for businesses of all sizes. With a focus on innovation and customer satisfaction, Factor4 empowers merchants to enhance customer experiences and drive revenue growth through customizable gift card programs. About Whittle Group: Whittle Group is a pioneer in payment technology, delivering cutting-edge Card Present solutions to businesses worldwide including custom terminal applications and SaaS offerings. With a commitment to excellence and innovation, Whittle Group enables businesses to streamline payment processes and improve customer engagement.

Lisa Beare fills B.C. portfolio vacated by Selina Robinson, who quit over Gaza remark

British Columbia Premier David Eby has named a new post-secondary education minister to replace Selina Robinson, who recently resigned over comments about the Middle East. Eby says in a statement that Lisa Beare, previously the minister of citizens' services, will fill the post-secondary education and future skills portfolio. George Chow moves into the citizens' services position left open by Beare's appointment. Robinson stepped down as a minister on Feb. 5 amid an outcry by pro-Palestinian groups and others in response to remarks she made during an online panel. Her comment that modern Israel was founded on "a crappy piece of land" triggered accusations of Islamophobia and racism from critics. Police said this month they had launched an investigation into reports of a death threat against Robinson, although no further information about the threat was released. Beare represents Maple Ridge-Pitt Meadows in the legislature. 3 men accused in Montreal car theft ring walk free due to court delays Even though authorities are trying to crack down on car thefts in Montreal, three men accused of operating a luxury car theft ring in the city walked free last month because it took too long for their case to go to trial. Brain wave-powered tech allows Canadian kids 'trapped in their own bodies' to play The Brain Computer Interface program at Holland Bloorview Kids Rehabilitation Hospital in Toronto develops technology that allows Giselle and dozens of other physically disabled children to use their minds to move and play. 'How did this happen?' Canadian couple stranded in Turks and Caicos after passports stolen A celebratory trip has turned into a nightmare for a Mississauga couple stranded in the Turks and Caicos Islands after their Canadian passports were stolen during a break-in at their rental property. 'Very pleasant surprise': Canada's inflation rate tumbled to 2.9 per cent in January Canada's inflation rate fell more than expected last month as price growth moderated across the economy, including outright price declines for gasoline, airfares and clothing. First Neuralink human trial subject can control a computer mouse with brain implant, Elon Musk says Elon Musk says Neuralink's first human trial participant can control a computer mouse with their brain, nearly one month after having the company's chip implanted. Man charged after allegedly driving drunk to Toronto area police station hours after prior arrest 8-year-old prodigy Ashwath Kaushik makes history after beating chess grandmaster Lisa Beare fills B.C. portfolio vacated by Selina Robinson, who quit over Gaza remark McGill University floor fellows dumbfounded after being told their jobs are being eliminated Impaired driving charge laid after three-car crash in Manitoba

canada

Lisa Beare fills B.C. portfolio vacated by Selina Robinson, who quit over Gaza remark. British Columbia Premier David Eby has named a new post-secondary education minister to replace Selina Robinson, who recently resigned over comments about the Middle East. Eby says in a statement that Lisa Beare, previously the minister of citizens' services, will fill the post-secondary education and future skills portfolio. George Chow moves into the citizens' services position left open by Beare's appointment. Robinson stepped down as a minister on Feb. 5 amid an outcry by pro-Palestinian groups and others in response to remarks she made during an online panel. Her comment that modern Israel was founded on "a crappy piece of land" triggered accusations of Islamophobia and racism from critics. Police said this month they had launched an investigation into reports of a death threat against Robinson, although no further information about the threat was released. Beare represents Maple Ridge-Pitt Meadows in the legislature. 3 men accused in Montreal car theft ring walk free due to court delays Even though authorities are trying to crack down on car thefts in Montreal, three men accused of operating a luxury car theft ring in the city walked free last month because it took too long for their case to go to trial. Brain wave-powered tech allows Canadian kids 'trapped in their own bodies' to play The Brain Computer Interface program at Holland Bloorview Kids Rehabilitation Hospital in Toronto develops technology that allows Giselle and dozens of other physically disabled children to use their minds to move and play. 'How did this happen?' Canadian couple stranded in Turks and Caicos after passports stolen A celebratory trip has turned into a nightmare for a Mississauga couple stranded in the Turks and Caicos Islands after their Canadian passports were stolen during a break-in at their rental property. 'Very pleasant surprise': Canada's inflation rate tumbled to 2.9 per cent in January Canada's inflation rate fell more than expected last month as price growth moderated across the economy, including outright price declines for gasoline, airfares and clothing. First Neuralink human trial subject can control a computer mouse with brain implant, Elon Musk says Elon Musk says Neuralink's first human trial participant can control a computer mouse with their brain, nearly one month after having the company's chip implanted. Man charged after allegedly driving drunk to Toronto area police station hours after prior arrest 8-year-old prodigy Ashwath Kaushik makes history after beating chess grandmaster Lisa Beare fills B.C. portfolio vacated by Selina Robinson, who quit over Gaza remark McGill University floor fellows dumbfounded after being told their jobs are being eliminated Impaired driving charge laid after three-car crash in Manitoba

Spain advances to knockout round at Euro 2024 with statement win over defending champion Italy

Italy's head coach Luciano Spalletti shakes hands with Italy's Giacomo Raspadori after a Group B match between Spain and Italy at the Euro 2024 soccer tournament in Gelsenkirchen, Germany, Thursday, June 20, 2024. (AP Photo/Andreea Alexandru) GELSENKIRCHEN, Germany -- Europe beware — Spain might just be back. The three-time European champion advanced to the round of 16 at Euro 2024 after a 1-0 win against holders Italy on Thursday. A 55th-minute own goal by Riccardo Calafiori settled the Group B game at the Veltins Arena in Gelsenkirchen. But that didn't begin to tell the full story of a statement performance from Spain, which surely marks it as one of the favorites to win a record-extending fourth European Championship. "I think it was the best Spain performance I have taken charge of," coach Luis de la Fuente said. "I don't see a ceiling on this team. The sky is the limit." Spain totally dominated defending champion Italy, with 16-year-old winger Lamine Yamal further enhancing his reputation as one of soccer's most exciting young stars. Player of the match Nico Williams also tormented Italy's defenders and was the width of the crossbar away from scoring in the second half. It took Italy goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma to keep the score down with a string of fine saves until inadvertently pushing the ball into the legs of Calafiori, who couldn't prevent it from ricocheting into his own goal. "They deserved to win and we were never in the game," Italy coach Luciano Spalletti said. "There was too much of a gulf. We were constantly stretched, we were never able to squeeze the gaps between the various units and they were able to cause us problems. They caused us more problems than the score line suggests, let's not beat around the bush." Spain produced a throwback performance that brought to mind the years when it ruled international soccer when winning back-to-back Euros and the World Cup from 2008 through 2012. Having failed to dominate possession for the first time in 136 competitive games in its opening 3-0 win over Croatia, Spain was back to its old ways in starving Italy of the ball and dictating play in a largely lopsided game. Chances came thick and fast in the first half, with Donnarumma pulling off a number of saves to keep the score goalless. For all of Spain's superiority, it took Calafiori's own goal to break the deadlock after halftime. Donnarumma pushed Alvaro Morata's glancing header into the legs of Calafiori, who could only watch as the ball rebounded into the back of the net. Williams was then millimeters away from extending the lead with a curling shot that hit the bar. "We dominated across the board," Williams said. "Italy are an excellent side but we played very well and deserved to win." Williams is just one of the bright young stars in De la Fuente's team. Yamal is another and the Barcelona teenager, who has a $1 billion buyout clause, showcased his talents with slaloming runs and tricks. Barcelona midfielder Pedri looks like the modern-day answer to Spain great Andres Iniesta. "I want to underline the quality of this generation of players, particularly those in this squad. Spanish players are the best in the world," De la Fuente said. Spain has endured frustrating times since it last won the Euros in 2012, with early exits from the last three World Cups. At the last Euros, it lost on penalties to Italy in the semifinals. But there have been signs of its resurgence in recent times, having won the UEFA Nations League last year. Now it looks well-positioned to push for another major title in Germany. "Essentially we haven't achieved anything yet," De la Fuente said. "Football can be very cruel. We have to be cautious, humble and show resect." England drew 1-1 with Denmark in Group C after Harry Kane scored and then made a mistake that led to the Danes' leveler. Kane struck a record-extending 64th goal for his country to fire England ahead in Frankfurt. But his loose pass then allowed Morten Hjulmand to equalize from long range. In the other Group C game, Luka Jovic scored in stoppage time to salvage a 1-1 for Serbia against Slovenia. England leads the group on four points and is likely to advance to the round of 16.

sports

Spain advances to knockout round at Euro 2024 with statement win over defending champion Italy. Italy's head coach Luciano Spalletti shakes hands with Italy's Giacomo Raspadori after a Group B match between Spain and Italy at the Euro 2024 soccer tournament in Gelsenkirchen, Germany, Thursday, June 20, 2024. (AP Photo/Andreea Alexandru) GELSENKIRCHEN, Germany -- Europe beware — Spain might just be back. The three-time European champion advanced to the round of 16 at Euro 2024 after a 1-0 win against holders Italy on Thursday. A 55th-minute own goal by Riccardo Calafiori settled the Group B game at the Veltins Arena in Gelsenkirchen. But that didn't begin to tell the full story of a statement performance from Spain, which surely marks it as one of the favorites to win a record-extending fourth European Championship. "I think it was the best Spain performance I have taken charge of," coach Luis de la Fuente said. "I don't see a ceiling on this team. The sky is the limit." Spain totally dominated defending champion Italy, with 16-year-old winger Lamine Yamal further enhancing his reputation as one of soccer's most exciting young stars. Player of the match Nico Williams also tormented Italy's defenders and was the width of the crossbar away from scoring in the second half. It took Italy goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma to keep the score down with a string of fine saves until inadvertently pushing the ball into the legs of Calafiori, who couldn't prevent it from ricocheting into his own goal. "They deserved to win and we were never in the game," Italy coach Luciano Spalletti said. "There was too much of a gulf. We were constantly stretched, we were never able to squeeze the gaps between the various units and they were able to cause us problems. They caused us more problems than the score line suggests, let's not beat around the bush." Spain produced a throwback performance that brought to mind the years when it ruled international soccer when winning back-to-back Euros and the World Cup from 2008 through 2012. Having failed to dominate possession for the first time in 136 competitive games in its opening 3-0 win over Croatia, Spain was back to its old ways in starving Italy of the ball and dictating play in a largely lopsided game. Chances came thick and fast in the first half, with Donnarumma pulling off a number of saves to keep the score goalless. For all of Spain's superiority, it took Calafiori's own goal to break the deadlock after halftime. Donnarumma pushed Alvaro Morata's glancing header into the legs of Calafiori, who could only watch as the ball rebounded into the back of the net. Williams was then millimeters away from extending the lead with a curling shot that hit the bar. "We dominated across the board," Williams said. "Italy are an excellent side but we played very well and deserved to win." Williams is just one of the bright young stars in De la Fuente's team. Yamal is another and the Barcelona teenager, who has a $1 billion buyout clause, showcased his talents with slaloming runs and tricks. Barcelona midfielder Pedri looks like the modern-day answer to Spain great Andres Iniesta. "I want to underline the quality of this generation of players, particularly those in this squad. Spanish players are the best in the world," De la Fuente said. Spain has endured frustrating times since it last won the Euros in 2012, with early exits from the last three World Cups. At the last Euros, it lost on penalties to Italy in the semifinals. But there have been signs of its resurgence in recent times, having won the UEFA Nations League last year. Now it looks well-positioned to push for another major title in Germany. "Essentially we haven't achieved anything yet," De la Fuente said. "Football can be very cruel. We have to be cautious, humble and show resect." England drew 1-1 with Denmark in Group C after Harry Kane scored and then made a mistake that led to the Danes' leveler. Kane struck a record-extending 64th goal for his country to fire England ahead in Frankfurt. But his loose pass then allowed Morten Hjulmand to equalize from long range. In the other Group C game, Luka Jovic scored in stoppage time to salvage a 1-1 for Serbia against Slovenia. England leads the group on four points and is likely to advance to the round of 16.

These Stone Age humans were more gatherer than hunter

Unlike many of their mostly meat-eating peers, a group of late Stone Age hunter-gatherers living in what is now northeastern Morocco had a largely plant-based diet. But despite dining for millennia on local, wild plants — such as acorns, pistachios and wild oats, the Iberomaurusians never started cultivating those plants. The finding aligns with recent challenges to scientists' theory that heavy reliance on plants ultimately leads to their domestication (SN: 11/9/21 ). Before humans figured out farming, they relied on hunting and gathering to sustain themselves, with most protein coming from animals. Over time, they shifted from foraging to cultivating certain plants, eventually leading to the plants' domestication — so goes the typical story of agriculture's emergence. Archaeologists once assumed that the Iberomaurusians also relied mostly on animals. But data from human remains at a site in Morocco points to a predominantly plant-based diet, researchers report April 29 in Nature Ecology & Evolution. The site — called Taforalt, which is located in a cave — is a "very important site to study human evolution and understand human behavior during this time," says Zineb Moubtahij, an archaeologist at Géosciences Environment Toulouse, a research laboratory in France. The Iberomaurusians lived around this area for a long time, starting around 23,000 years ago. They used part of the cave to bury the deceased. To learn about the Iberomaurusians' diets, Moubtahij and colleagues turned to teeth and bones from these remains, which date to between 15,077 and 13,892 years old. The team looked at levels of certain forms, or isotopes, of elements — including zinc, carbon and nitrogen — that were deposited from food into tissues and bones. The researchers also looked at isotopes in the remains of herbivores and carnivores from the site, such as sheep and foxes, and compared those to the human isotope levels. The analysis showed that the Iberomaurusians' diets were closer to that of herbivores, suggesting a heavy reliance on plants not animals. The group wasn't completely vegetarian; meat was still on the menu, Moubtahij says. But compared with other hunter-gatherers from this time, the Iberomaurusians' diet leaned more on the gatherer side and less on the hunter side. Previous work has suggested that the Iberomaurusians loved their plant foods, says Teresa Steele, a paleoanthropologist at the University of California, Davis not involved in this study. In 2014, researchers analyzed the decayed teeth of some Iberomaurusians. Their frequent cavities indicated a diet rich in starchy, fermentable foods. But it's "always nice to see further verification of things we have less direct evidence about," she says. Curiously, the group relied on wild plants for many millennia without ever domesticating them. The archaeological record suggests the plants' features didn't change over time. That's in contrast with humans in southwestern Asia, who began farming around 12,000 to 11,000 years ago ( SN: 7/4/13). It wasn't until around 7,600 years ago that agriculture arrived in what is now Morocco, and the farmed plants had been brought from other lands. Why the Iberomaurusians' reliance on plants didn't lead to domestication is a mystery, Moubtahij says. Because there are relatively few well-preserved human remains from around this time in history — the late Pleistocene — scientists have limited evidence to piece together how agriculture arose in different places. "It's really important that we have these sort of studies that show us that there were alternative pathways and food production systems," says Michael Westaway, an archaeologist at the University of Queensland in Australia who was not involved in the work. One thing is clear: "Not all roads lead to agriculture."

science

These Stone Age humans were more gatherer than hunter. Unlike many of their mostly meat-eating peers, a group of late Stone Age hunter-gatherers living in what is now northeastern Morocco had a largely plant-based diet. But despite dining for millennia on local, wild plants — such as acorns, pistachios and wild oats, the Iberomaurusians never started cultivating those plants. The finding aligns with recent challenges to scientists' theory that heavy reliance on plants ultimately leads to their domestication (SN: 11/9/21 ). Before humans figured out farming, they relied on hunting and gathering to sustain themselves, with most protein coming from animals. Over time, they shifted from foraging to cultivating certain plants, eventually leading to the plants' domestication — so goes the typical story of agriculture's emergence. Archaeologists once assumed that the Iberomaurusians also relied mostly on animals. But data from human remains at a site in Morocco points to a predominantly plant-based diet, researchers report April 29 in Nature Ecology & Evolution. The site — called Taforalt, which is located in a cave — is a "very important site to study human evolution and understand human behavior during this time," says Zineb Moubtahij, an archaeologist at Géosciences Environment Toulouse, a research laboratory in France. The Iberomaurusians lived around this area for a long time, starting around 23,000 years ago. They used part of the cave to bury the deceased. To learn about the Iberomaurusians' diets, Moubtahij and colleagues turned to teeth and bones from these remains, which date to between 15,077 and 13,892 years old. The team looked at levels of certain forms, or isotopes, of elements — including zinc, carbon and nitrogen — that were deposited from food into tissues and bones. The researchers also looked at isotopes in the remains of herbivores and carnivores from the site, such as sheep and foxes, and compared those to the human isotope levels. The analysis showed that the Iberomaurusians' diets were closer to that of herbivores, suggesting a heavy reliance on plants not animals. The group wasn't completely vegetarian; meat was still on the menu, Moubtahij says. But compared with other hunter-gatherers from this time, the Iberomaurusians' diet leaned more on the gatherer side and less on the hunter side. Previous work has suggested that the Iberomaurusians loved their plant foods, says Teresa Steele, a paleoanthropologist at the University of California, Davis not involved in this study. In 2014, researchers analyzed the decayed teeth of some Iberomaurusians. Their frequent cavities indicated a diet rich in starchy, fermentable foods. But it's "always nice to see further verification of things we have less direct evidence about," she says. Curiously, the group relied on wild plants for many millennia without ever domesticating them. The archaeological record suggests the plants' features didn't change over time. That's in contrast with humans in southwestern Asia, who began farming around 12,000 to 11,000 years ago ( SN: 7/4/13). It wasn't until around 7,600 years ago that agriculture arrived in what is now Morocco, and the farmed plants had been brought from other lands. Why the Iberomaurusians' reliance on plants didn't lead to domestication is a mystery, Moubtahij says. Because there are relatively few well-preserved human remains from around this time in history — the late Pleistocene — scientists have limited evidence to piece together how agriculture arose in different places. "It's really important that we have these sort of studies that show us that there were alternative pathways and food production systems," says Michael Westaway, an archaeologist at the University of Queensland in Australia who was not involved in the work. One thing is clear: "Not all roads lead to agriculture."

Hackers make good on threat and release corporate data stolen from London Drugs; company

Brett Callow, a B.C.-based threat analyst with anti-virus software company Lockbit has been described by British authorities as "the world's most harmful cybercrime group." Callow said LockBit released more than 300 gigabytes of data on Thursday, describing it as an "absolutely huge amount" of information that could represent hundreds of thousands or possibly even millions of individual records. He said that if the data proved to be from London Drugs, the move suggested LockBit had "given up" on being able to monetize the attack. The release also showed the hackers' future victims what could happen if they refused to pay up, Callow said. The statement from London Drugs said it was "unwilling and unable" to pay a ransom to hackers it described as "a sophisticated group of global cybercriminals." It said London Drugs was notifying employees whose personal information may have been affected and offering them credit monitoring and identity theft protection services. The company said there was no indication any patient or customer databases were compromised in the breach that forced London Drugs to shut down its stores across Western Canada after it was discovered on April 28. #Hackers release corporate data stolen from London Drugs, company says. #LondonDrugs #Cybersecurity #Cybercrimes It said it was reviewing the files that may have been stolen and it would contact affected employees to tell them what personal information had been compromised. Callow said London Drugs employees who were worried about the potential release of their personal information should be "very skeptical" of any communications they receive and avoid clicking on links in any unfamiliar text messages or emails. He said it was possible that leaked data could be downloaded and used for identity-related fraud, but there was no evidence this was happening routinely with such releases. "For the most part, the data simply seems to sit there and generally not be misused. So this isn't a no-risk situation by any means for the individuals whose information has been compromised, but the good news is that it is fairly low risk." Callow said the National Crime Agency of the United Kingdom led a consortium of law enforcement agencies in disrupting LockBit's activities in February. At the time, a statement from the agency said it had infiltrated LockBit's network and taken control of its services, "compromising their entire criminal enterprise." It described LockBit as "the world's most harmful cybercrime group," providing a global network of hackers with the tools they need to carry out attacks. A subsequent statement issued earlier this month identified a man from Russia as the "administrator and developer of the LockBit ransomware group." It said the man would be subject to a series of asset freezes and travel bans, and U.S. authorities were offering a reward of up to US$10 million for information leading to his arrest and conviction. The agency said LockBit had "attempted to rebuild," but the group was running at limited capacity and the global threat it poses was "significantly reduced." Still, it said the group had created a "new leak site." The statement said data obtained from LockBit systems showed hackers conducted more than 7,000 attacks using their services between June 2022 and last February. The Canadian RCMP is listed among law enforcement agencies around the world that have participated in the taskforce targeting LockBit. It's very difficult for police in Canada to pursue cybercriminals, such as those behind LockBit, who are based outside the country, Callow said in an interview. Russia doesn't extradite its citizens, he noted. The hardest-hit countries in the attacks were the United Kingdom, United States, France, Germany and China, the U.K. agency said. London Drugs closed all 79 of its stores in B.C., Alberta, Saskatchewan, and Manitoba when it became aware of the cyberattack. All of the stores weren't open again until May 7.

canada

Hackers make good on threat and release corporate data stolen from London Drugs; company. Brett Callow, a B.C.-based threat analyst with anti-virus software company Lockbit has been described by British authorities as "the world's most harmful cybercrime group." Callow said LockBit released more than 300 gigabytes of data on Thursday, describing it as an "absolutely huge amount" of information that could represent hundreds of thousands or possibly even millions of individual records. He said that if the data proved to be from London Drugs, the move suggested LockBit had "given up" on being able to monetize the attack. The release also showed the hackers' future victims what could happen if they refused to pay up, Callow said. The statement from London Drugs said it was "unwilling and unable" to pay a ransom to hackers it described as "a sophisticated group of global cybercriminals." It said London Drugs was notifying employees whose personal information may have been affected and offering them credit monitoring and identity theft protection services. The company said there was no indication any patient or customer databases were compromised in the breach that forced London Drugs to shut down its stores across Western Canada after it was discovered on April 28. #Hackers release corporate data stolen from London Drugs, company says. #LondonDrugs #Cybersecurity #Cybercrimes It said it was reviewing the files that may have been stolen and it would contact affected employees to tell them what personal information had been compromised. Callow said London Drugs employees who were worried about the potential release of their personal information should be "very skeptical" of any communications they receive and avoid clicking on links in any unfamiliar text messages or emails. He said it was possible that leaked data could be downloaded and used for identity-related fraud, but there was no evidence this was happening routinely with such releases. "For the most part, the data simply seems to sit there and generally not be misused. So this isn't a no-risk situation by any means for the individuals whose information has been compromised, but the good news is that it is fairly low risk." Callow said the National Crime Agency of the United Kingdom led a consortium of law enforcement agencies in disrupting LockBit's activities in February. At the time, a statement from the agency said it had infiltrated LockBit's network and taken control of its services, "compromising their entire criminal enterprise." It described LockBit as "the world's most harmful cybercrime group," providing a global network of hackers with the tools they need to carry out attacks. A subsequent statement issued earlier this month identified a man from Russia as the "administrator and developer of the LockBit ransomware group." It said the man would be subject to a series of asset freezes and travel bans, and U.S. authorities were offering a reward of up to US$10 million for information leading to his arrest and conviction. The agency said LockBit had "attempted to rebuild," but the group was running at limited capacity and the global threat it poses was "significantly reduced." Still, it said the group had created a "new leak site." The statement said data obtained from LockBit systems showed hackers conducted more than 7,000 attacks using their services between June 2022 and last February. The Canadian RCMP is listed among law enforcement agencies around the world that have participated in the taskforce targeting LockBit. It's very difficult for police in Canada to pursue cybercriminals, such as those behind LockBit, who are based outside the country, Callow said in an interview. Russia doesn't extradite its citizens, he noted. The hardest-hit countries in the attacks were the United Kingdom, United States, France, Germany and China, the U.K. agency said. London Drugs closed all 79 of its stores in B.C., Alberta, Saskatchewan, and Manitoba when it became aware of the cyberattack. All of the stores weren't open again until May 7.

How the BBC reports polling day

The BBC, like other broadcasters, is not allowed to report details of campaigning or election issues while polls are open on the day of the general election, 4 July. The BBC prepares detailed election guidelines which are written and published for each election, and they include guidance about polling day. On polling day, the BBC does not report on any of the election campaigns from 06:00 BST until polls close at 22:00 BST on TV, radio or bbc.co.uk, or on social media and other channels. However, online sites do not have to remove archived reports, including, for instance, programmes on iPlayer. The lists of candidates, as well as the manifesto guides, remain available online during polling day. Coverage of what is happening on the day is usually restricted to uncontroversial factual accounts, such as the appearance of politicians at polling stations, or the weather. It tends to focus on giving information that will help voters with the process of going to polling stations. Subjects which have been at issue or part of the campaign - or other controversial matters relating to the election - must not be covered on polling day itself until the polls have closed. That means no opinion poll on any issue relating to politics or the election can be published until the polls have closed. While the polls are open, it is a criminal offence to publish "exit polls" which includes surveys on how people have said they have voted in the election and may also offer a prediction on the election result based on what voters have said. The BBC, however, is still able to report on events which are not directly related to the elections; and if there are stories about the mechanics of polling day, especially if they might contain important information to help voters, such as an incident at their local polling station, then that too can be reported, but, of course, with impartiality and editorial justification. From 22:00 BST, after the close of the polls, the election guidelines no longer apply - but the BBC must still report on the election, of course, with the impartiality requirements set out by both Ofcom and the BBC's own Editorial Guidelines.

world

How the BBC reports polling day. The BBC, like other broadcasters, is not allowed to report details of campaigning or election issues while polls are open on the day of the general election, 4 July. The BBC prepares detailed election guidelines which are written and published for each election, and they include guidance about polling day. On polling day, the BBC does not report on any of the election campaigns from 06:00 BST until polls close at 22:00 BST on TV, radio or bbc.co.uk, or on social media and other channels. However, online sites do not have to remove archived reports, including, for instance, programmes on iPlayer. The lists of candidates, as well as the manifesto guides, remain available online during polling day. Coverage of what is happening on the day is usually restricted to uncontroversial factual accounts, such as the appearance of politicians at polling stations, or the weather. It tends to focus on giving information that will help voters with the process of going to polling stations. Subjects which have been at issue or part of the campaign - or other controversial matters relating to the election - must not be covered on polling day itself until the polls have closed. That means no opinion poll on any issue relating to politics or the election can be published until the polls have closed. While the polls are open, it is a criminal offence to publish "exit polls" which includes surveys on how people have said they have voted in the election and may also offer a prediction on the election result based on what voters have said. The BBC, however, is still able to report on events which are not directly related to the elections; and if there are stories about the mechanics of polling day, especially if they might contain important information to help voters, such as an incident at their local polling station, then that too can be reported, but, of course, with impartiality and editorial justification. From 22:00 BST, after the close of the polls, the election guidelines no longer apply - but the BBC must still report on the election, of course, with the impartiality requirements set out by both Ofcom and the BBC's own Editorial Guidelines.

Powerful Webb Telescope captures most distant known galaxy, scientists say

The craft will embark on journey to Saturn's largest moon, Titan, in 2028. The James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) has captured what scientists believe is the most distant known galaxy, after observing what astronomers call a "Cosmic Dawn" for the past two years. NASA said in a press release that a "Cosmic Dawn" is the period in the first few hundred million years after the big bang, when the first galaxies were born. The galaxies, NASA said, give scientists insight into how gas, stars and black holes changed when the universe was in its infancy. A team of international astronomers used the Webb telescope in October 2023 and January 2024 to observe galaxies as part of the JWST Advanced Deep Extragalactic Survey (JAMES) program. POWERFUL WEBB TELESCOPE SPIES SPECTACULAR STAR BIRTH CLUSTER BEYOND THE MILKY WAY Scientists used NASA's James Webb Space Telescope's NIRSpec (Near-Infrared Spectrograph) to obtain a spectrum of the distant galaxy JADES-GS-z14-0 in order to accurately measure its redshift and therefore determine its age. The redshift can be determined from the location of a critical wavelength known as the Lyman-alpha break. This galaxy dates back to less than 300 million years after the big bang. (Credit: NASA, ESA, CSA, J. Olmsted (STScI). Science: S. Carniani (Scuola Normale Superiore), JADES Collaboration.) During that period, the team collected the spectrum of what NASA referred to as a record-breaking galaxy, only 290 million years after the big bang. The spectrum was measured by how much a galaxy's light is stretched by the expansion of the universe, and in the case of the most distant galaxy known, it was measured with a redshift of about 14. Two of the astronomers on the team, Stefano Carniani from Scuola Normale Superiore in Pisa, Italy, and Kevin Hainline from the University of Arizona in Tucson, Arizona, told NASA that in January 2024, Webb's Near-Infrared Spectrograph (NIRSpec) observed the galaxy known to astronomers as JADES-GS-z14-0, for nearly 10 hours. MERGER OF MASSIVE BLACK HOLES FROM EARLY UNIVERSE UNCOVERED BY WEBB TELESCOPE, SCIENTISTS SAY The NIRCam data was used to determine which galaxies to study further with spectroscopic observations. One such galaxy, JADES-GS-z14-0 (shown in the pullout), was determined to be at a redshift of 14.32 (+0.08/-0.20), making it the current record-holder for the most distant known galaxy. This corresponds to a time less than 300 million years after the big bang. (Credit: NASA, ESA, CSA, J. Olmsted (STScI). Science: S. Carniani (Scuola Normale Superiore), JADES Collaboration.) When the spectrum first processed, the astronomers said, there was unambiguous evidence the galaxy had a redshift of 14.32, which would shatter the most-distant galaxy record of 13.2, held by JADES-GS-z13-0. The discovery of the spectrum was "incredibly exciting" for the entire team because of the mystery surrounding the source. They also said the most important aspect of the galaxy was how luminous the galaxy was from such a far distance. The galaxy is estimated to be more than 1,600 light years across, and the light is suspected to be coming from young stars and not emission from a growing supermassive black hole. WITNESS THE MESMERIZING CONJUNCTION OF THE MOON AND VENUS IN SPACE The first anniversary image from NASA's James Webb Space Telescope displays star birth like it's never been seen before, full of detailed, impressionistic texture. The subject is the Rho Ophiuchi cloud complex, the closest star-forming region to Earth. It is a relatively small, quiet stellar nursery, but you'd never know it from Webb's chaotic close-up. Jets bursting from young stars crisscross the image, impacting the surrounding interstellar gas and lighting up molecular hydrogen, shown in red. Some stars display the telltale shadow of a circumstellar disk, the makings of future planetary systems. (Credits: NASA, ESA, CSA, STScI, Klaus Pontoppidan (STScI)) The starlight also implies the galaxy is several hundreds of millions of times the mass of the Sun, the astronomers claim, leading to more mysteries of how it can make such a bright and massive galaxy in less than 300 million years. The astronomers learned through the data that the color of the galaxy was reddened by dust and was not as blue as it could be in early phases of the galaxy. Wavelengths of light collected by Webb's Mid-Infrared Instrument (MIRI) indicated the brightness of the source was above what would be extrapolated from the measurements of other instruments on the telescope, suggesting the presence of ionized gas emission from hydrogen and oxygen. They say oxygen being present at such an early stage suggests multiple generations of massive stars already lived their lives before the telescope was able to observe the galaxy, the astronomers said. "All of these observations, together, tell us that JADES-GS-z14-0 is not like the types of galaxies that have been predicted by theoretical models and computer simulations to exist in the very early universe," the astronomers said in the press release. "Given the observed brightness of the source, we can forecast how it might grow over cosmic time, and so far, we have not found any suitable analogs from the hundreds of other galaxies we've observed at high redshift in our survey. "It is likely that astronomers will find many such luminous galaxies, possibly at even earlier times, over the next decade with Webb," the team added. "We're thrilled to see the extraordinary diversity of galaxies that existed at Cosmic Dawn!" CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP The findings are still being studied and have not been through the peer-review process, according to NASA. The Webb Telescope, the successor to the Hubble and the largest telescope ever launched into space, is a joint project of NASA and the European Space Agency.

science

Powerful Webb Telescope captures most distant known galaxy, scientists say. The craft will embark on journey to Saturn's largest moon, Titan, in 2028. The James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) has captured what scientists believe is the most distant known galaxy, after observing what astronomers call a "Cosmic Dawn" for the past two years. NASA said in a press release that a "Cosmic Dawn" is the period in the first few hundred million years after the big bang, when the first galaxies were born. The galaxies, NASA said, give scientists insight into how gas, stars and black holes changed when the universe was in its infancy. A team of international astronomers used the Webb telescope in October 2023 and January 2024 to observe galaxies as part of the JWST Advanced Deep Extragalactic Survey (JAMES) program. POWERFUL WEBB TELESCOPE SPIES SPECTACULAR STAR BIRTH CLUSTER BEYOND THE MILKY WAY Scientists used NASA's James Webb Space Telescope's NIRSpec (Near-Infrared Spectrograph) to obtain a spectrum of the distant galaxy JADES-GS-z14-0 in order to accurately measure its redshift and therefore determine its age. The redshift can be determined from the location of a critical wavelength known as the Lyman-alpha break. This galaxy dates back to less than 300 million years after the big bang. (Credit: NASA, ESA, CSA, J. Olmsted (STScI). Science: S. Carniani (Scuola Normale Superiore), JADES Collaboration.) During that period, the team collected the spectrum of what NASA referred to as a record-breaking galaxy, only 290 million years after the big bang. The spectrum was measured by how much a galaxy's light is stretched by the expansion of the universe, and in the case of the most distant galaxy known, it was measured with a redshift of about 14. Two of the astronomers on the team, Stefano Carniani from Scuola Normale Superiore in Pisa, Italy, and Kevin Hainline from the University of Arizona in Tucson, Arizona, told NASA that in January 2024, Webb's Near-Infrared Spectrograph (NIRSpec) observed the galaxy known to astronomers as JADES-GS-z14-0, for nearly 10 hours. MERGER OF MASSIVE BLACK HOLES FROM EARLY UNIVERSE UNCOVERED BY WEBB TELESCOPE, SCIENTISTS SAY The NIRCam data was used to determine which galaxies to study further with spectroscopic observations. One such galaxy, JADES-GS-z14-0 (shown in the pullout), was determined to be at a redshift of 14.32 (+0.08/-0.20), making it the current record-holder for the most distant known galaxy. This corresponds to a time less than 300 million years after the big bang. (Credit: NASA, ESA, CSA, J. Olmsted (STScI). Science: S. Carniani (Scuola Normale Superiore), JADES Collaboration.) When the spectrum first processed, the astronomers said, there was unambiguous evidence the galaxy had a redshift of 14.32, which would shatter the most-distant galaxy record of 13.2, held by JADES-GS-z13-0. The discovery of the spectrum was "incredibly exciting" for the entire team because of the mystery surrounding the source. They also said the most important aspect of the galaxy was how luminous the galaxy was from such a far distance. The galaxy is estimated to be more than 1,600 light years across, and the light is suspected to be coming from young stars and not emission from a growing supermassive black hole. WITNESS THE MESMERIZING CONJUNCTION OF THE MOON AND VENUS IN SPACE The first anniversary image from NASA's James Webb Space Telescope displays star birth like it's never been seen before, full of detailed, impressionistic texture. The subject is the Rho Ophiuchi cloud complex, the closest star-forming region to Earth. It is a relatively small, quiet stellar nursery, but you'd never know it from Webb's chaotic close-up. Jets bursting from young stars crisscross the image, impacting the surrounding interstellar gas and lighting up molecular hydrogen, shown in red. Some stars display the telltale shadow of a circumstellar disk, the makings of future planetary systems. (Credits: NASA, ESA, CSA, STScI, Klaus Pontoppidan (STScI)) The starlight also implies the galaxy is several hundreds of millions of times the mass of the Sun, the astronomers claim, leading to more mysteries of how it can make such a bright and massive galaxy in less than 300 million years. The astronomers learned through the data that the color of the galaxy was reddened by dust and was not as blue as it could be in early phases of the galaxy. Wavelengths of light collected by Webb's Mid-Infrared Instrument (MIRI) indicated the brightness of the source was above what would be extrapolated from the measurements of other instruments on the telescope, suggesting the presence of ionized gas emission from hydrogen and oxygen. They say oxygen being present at such an early stage suggests multiple generations of massive stars already lived their lives before the telescope was able to observe the galaxy, the astronomers said. "All of these observations, together, tell us that JADES-GS-z14-0 is not like the types of galaxies that have been predicted by theoretical models and computer simulations to exist in the very early universe," the astronomers said in the press release. "Given the observed brightness of the source, we can forecast how it might grow over cosmic time, and so far, we have not found any suitable analogs from the hundreds of other galaxies we've observed at high redshift in our survey. "It is likely that astronomers will find many such luminous galaxies, possibly at even earlier times, over the next decade with Webb," the team added. "We're thrilled to see the extraordinary diversity of galaxies that existed at Cosmic Dawn!" CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP The findings are still being studied and have not been through the peer-review process, according to NASA. The Webb Telescope, the successor to the Hubble and the largest telescope ever launched into space, is a joint project of NASA and the European Space Agency.

Dogwifhat on Vegas Sphere team ‘90% confident’ plan will go ahead

The organizers behind the crowdfunding campaign that raised nearly $700,000 in March to put the mascot of Solana memecoin Dogwifhat (WIF) on the Las Vegas Sphere remain confident the advertising deal will go ahead despite the lengthy wait. Mihir — one of the five organizers listed on the official "sphere wif hat" Akash Gupta Mihir said representatives from the Sphere had crafted new "crypto-specific" terms after hearing of the campaign, adding that there had been internal meetings to develop their crypto-related policies in response to the initiative. "We are [still] working with them to fit their criteria and requirements," he added. He declined to comment further on the specifics of the discussions with the Sphere due to concerns that it may impact ongoing talks or promote unnecessary speculation on the price of WIF. Mihir added there was a small chance the deal could still fall through, owing to doubts around requirements the WIF community or partnering companies could not agree to, but said so far, this "had not been the case." A spokesperson for the Sphere declined to comment. Dogwifhat backers waiting since March Contributors who put funds toward the crowdfunding initiative have taken to X in recent weeks, with some raising concern over a lack of communication from organizers about progress and how their donated funds would be handled should the discussions fall through. Mihir said all funds would be repaid to all donors if negotiations were to fail for any reason, noting a public message he made in the official Dogwifhat Telegram group posted on June 18. Mihir reassured sphere wif hat contributors that funds would be returned if the deal fell through. Source: Telegram Mihir also said he "wished to dispel the rumor" that the team may not allowed to use the official On March 18, pseudonymous crypto trader Gigantic Rebirth, also known as GCR, snapped up a one-of-one NFT of the original image of Achi for $4.3 million. despite having fallen more than 62% from its all-time high of $4.83 on March 31.

crypto

Dogwifhat on Vegas Sphere team ‘90% confident’ plan will go ahead. The organizers behind the crowdfunding campaign that raised nearly $700,000 in March to put the mascot of Solana memecoin Dogwifhat (WIF) on the Las Vegas Sphere remain confident the advertising deal will go ahead despite the lengthy wait. Mihir — one of the five organizers listed on the official "sphere wif hat" Akash Gupta Mihir said representatives from the Sphere had crafted new "crypto-specific" terms after hearing of the campaign, adding that there had been internal meetings to develop their crypto-related policies in response to the initiative. "We are [still] working with them to fit their criteria and requirements," he added. He declined to comment further on the specifics of the discussions with the Sphere due to concerns that it may impact ongoing talks or promote unnecessary speculation on the price of WIF. Mihir added there was a small chance the deal could still fall through, owing to doubts around requirements the WIF community or partnering companies could not agree to, but said so far, this "had not been the case." A spokesperson for the Sphere declined to comment. Dogwifhat backers waiting since March Contributors who put funds toward the crowdfunding initiative have taken to X in recent weeks, with some raising concern over a lack of communication from organizers about progress and how their donated funds would be handled should the discussions fall through. Mihir said all funds would be repaid to all donors if negotiations were to fail for any reason, noting a public message he made in the official Dogwifhat Telegram group posted on June 18. Mihir reassured sphere wif hat contributors that funds would be returned if the deal fell through. Source: Telegram Mihir also said he "wished to dispel the rumor" that the team may not allowed to use the official On March 18, pseudonymous crypto trader Gigantic Rebirth, also known as GCR, snapped up a one-of-one NFT of the original image of Achi for $4.3 million. despite having fallen more than 62% from its all-time high of $4.83 on March 31.

Fokker Next Gen Pivots To Clean-Sheet Hydrogen-Combustion Airliner.

aerospace

Fokker Next Gen Pivots To Clean-Sheet Hydrogen-Combustion Airliner..

Ambassador says Canada is 'ready and prepared' for a second Trump presidency

Posted: May 21, 2024 5:13 PM EDT | Last Updated: 25 minutes ago Canadian Ambassador to the United States Kirsten Hillman, centre, flanked by Minister of Export Promotion, International Trade and Economic Development Mary Ng (L) and Minister of Innovation, Science and Industry Francois-Philippe Champagne, speak to the media on Tuesday, Jan. 23, 2024. (Christinne Muschi/The Canadian Press) Social Sharing Canada's ambassador to the United States says Ottawa isn't worried about the prospect of Donald Trump returning to the White House. "The relationship between our two countries is not about one individual and another individual," Kirsten Hillman said Tuesday in Philadelphia, where Prime Minister Justin Trudeau addressed a conference of the Service Employees International Union (SEIU), which has members in both Canada and the U.S. Hillman said the Canadian government is obviously aware of the upcoming U.S. presidential election contest between incumbent Joe Biden and former president Trump — who is vowing to champion a staunchly protectionist "America First" trade policy. "A U.S. presidential election, given the depth of integration between our two countries, is always important," Hilmman said. "But what matters here is that we are ready and prepared and able, as we've demonstrated, to work with both of the candidates that are up for election in the fall." NATO at 75: Is Canada losing its grip on the world's greatest military alliance? Hillman, along with Industry Minister Francois Philippe Champagne and International Trade Minister Mary Ng, has been spearheading the government's Team Canada approach by preparing for whatever outcome the U.S. race produces. Hillman, Champagne and Ng, along with other federal ministers, have been meeting with American business and political leaders at the national, state and local levels to strengthen the economic bonds between the two countries and prepare for potential sources of tension, such as a second Trump White House. When he announced his Team Canada plans at a cabinet retreat in Montreal in January, Trudeau acknowledged Trump "represents a certain amount of unpredictability" but said Canada needs to able to deal "with whatever gets tossed at us and make sure we're defending Canadian interests and opportunities in a strong relationship." Trudeau echoed that statement in Philadelphia. The prime minister avoided any direct mention of U.S. politics in his speech to SEIU delegates, focusing instead on what he sees as his government's policy victories on child care and workers' rights and on the strong ties between business and trade unions on both sides of the border. "We must never take for granted the peace, the stability and the enduring friendship that characterizes the Canada-U.S. relationship," Trudeau told delegates. Later, at a news conference, Trudeau would not respond to a reporter's question about whether Trump was being irresponsible by campaigning on a pledge to slap a ten per cent tariff on goods entering the U.S. He said Canada has seen that kind of policy before. Canada will defend itself from unfair tariffs: Trudeau "We don't have to be hypothetical about it," Trudeau said. "We can just cast our mind back to six, seven years ago, when President Trump brought in 232 tariffs on Canadian steel and aluminum, hurting Canadian steel workers, hurting Canadian aluminum workers." Trudeau said Canada fought against those tariffs and won. He said Canada will be there to defend itself from "unfair or punitive tariffs," which he called a "lose-lose" prospect "on both sides of the border." Prime Minister Justin Trudeau delivers a speech at the Service Employees International Union's (SEIU) Quadrennial North American Convention In Philadelphia on Tuesday, May 21, 2024. (Sean Kilpatrick/The Canadian Press) Trudeau met with U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris, who also addressed SEIU delegates Tuesday. Harris' office says the two discussed U.S.-Canada cooperation on a range of bilateral, regional and global issues, including Haiti, the Arctic and Ukraine. The SEIU has formally endorsed Biden and Harris for re-election in 2024. While Harris' speech was punctuated by chants of 'four more years" from the crowd, a vocal group of pro-Palestinian protesters at the back of the meeting hall made themselves heard throughout much of her speech. Some workers wearing blue union vests tried to prevent attendees from shooting video of the demonstration.

politics

Ambassador says Canada is 'ready and prepared' for a second Trump presidency. Posted: May 21, 2024 5:13 PM EDT | Last Updated: 25 minutes ago Canadian Ambassador to the United States Kirsten Hillman, centre, flanked by Minister of Export Promotion, International Trade and Economic Development Mary Ng (L) and Minister of Innovation, Science and Industry Francois-Philippe Champagne, speak to the media on Tuesday, Jan. 23, 2024. (Christinne Muschi/The Canadian Press) Social Sharing Canada's ambassador to the United States says Ottawa isn't worried about the prospect of Donald Trump returning to the White House. "The relationship between our two countries is not about one individual and another individual," Kirsten Hillman said Tuesday in Philadelphia, where Prime Minister Justin Trudeau addressed a conference of the Service Employees International Union (SEIU), which has members in both Canada and the U.S. Hillman said the Canadian government is obviously aware of the upcoming U.S. presidential election contest between incumbent Joe Biden and former president Trump — who is vowing to champion a staunchly protectionist "America First" trade policy. "A U.S. presidential election, given the depth of integration between our two countries, is always important," Hilmman said. "But what matters here is that we are ready and prepared and able, as we've demonstrated, to work with both of the candidates that are up for election in the fall." NATO at 75: Is Canada losing its grip on the world's greatest military alliance? Hillman, along with Industry Minister Francois Philippe Champagne and International Trade Minister Mary Ng, has been spearheading the government's Team Canada approach by preparing for whatever outcome the U.S. race produces. Hillman, Champagne and Ng, along with other federal ministers, have been meeting with American business and political leaders at the national, state and local levels to strengthen the economic bonds between the two countries and prepare for potential sources of tension, such as a second Trump White House. When he announced his Team Canada plans at a cabinet retreat in Montreal in January, Trudeau acknowledged Trump "represents a certain amount of unpredictability" but said Canada needs to able to deal "with whatever gets tossed at us and make sure we're defending Canadian interests and opportunities in a strong relationship." Trudeau echoed that statement in Philadelphia. The prime minister avoided any direct mention of U.S. politics in his speech to SEIU delegates, focusing instead on what he sees as his government's policy victories on child care and workers' rights and on the strong ties between business and trade unions on both sides of the border. "We must never take for granted the peace, the stability and the enduring friendship that characterizes the Canada-U.S. relationship," Trudeau told delegates. Later, at a news conference, Trudeau would not respond to a reporter's question about whether Trump was being irresponsible by campaigning on a pledge to slap a ten per cent tariff on goods entering the U.S. He said Canada has seen that kind of policy before. Canada will defend itself from unfair tariffs: Trudeau "We don't have to be hypothetical about it," Trudeau said. "We can just cast our mind back to six, seven years ago, when President Trump brought in 232 tariffs on Canadian steel and aluminum, hurting Canadian steel workers, hurting Canadian aluminum workers." Trudeau said Canada fought against those tariffs and won. He said Canada will be there to defend itself from "unfair or punitive tariffs," which he called a "lose-lose" prospect "on both sides of the border." Prime Minister Justin Trudeau delivers a speech at the Service Employees International Union's (SEIU) Quadrennial North American Convention In Philadelphia on Tuesday, May 21, 2024. (Sean Kilpatrick/The Canadian Press) Trudeau met with U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris, who also addressed SEIU delegates Tuesday. Harris' office says the two discussed U.S.-Canada cooperation on a range of bilateral, regional and global issues, including Haiti, the Arctic and Ukraine. The SEIU has formally endorsed Biden and Harris for re-election in 2024. While Harris' speech was punctuated by chants of 'four more years" from the crowd, a vocal group of pro-Palestinian protesters at the back of the meeting hall made themselves heard throughout much of her speech. Some workers wearing blue union vests tried to prevent attendees from shooting video of the demonstration.

Denmark recalls spicy South Korean noodles over health concerns

Food authorities in Denmark have recalled three types of spicy instant noodle products imported from South Korea over possible risks for "acute poisoning." A TV screen shows a report about Denmark's recalling three types of spicy instant noodle products imported from South Korea, during a news program at the Seoul Railway Station in Seoul, South Korea, Thursday, June 13, 2024. Food authorities in Denmark have recalled three types of spicy instant noodle products imported from South Korea over possible risks for "acute poisoning." Consumers are asked to discard them or return the noodles to the retailer. (AP Photo/Lee Jin-man) The Associated Press COPENHAGEN, Denmark -- Food authorities in Denmark have recalled three types of spicy instant noodle products imported from South Korea over possible risks of "acute poisoning." Consumers are asked to discard them or return the noodles to the retailer. The noodles are made by Seoul-based Samyang Foods, one of South Korea's largest companies, and sold across the globe. The recalled noodles include Buldak Samyang 3 x Spicy & Hot Chicken, Buldak Samyang 2 x Spicy & Hot Chicken and Buldak Samyang Hot Chicken Stew. The Danish Veterinary and Food Administration said the products contain an overly high dose of capsaicin, an active ingredient in chile peppers but also a chemical that can be a neurotoxin and a health hazard. Children and teenagers in Denmark have been daring each other on social media to eat "a strong bowl of noodle soup," referring to the three South Korean products, the agency said. "The noodle dishes marketed as extremely strong must no longer be sold because consumers and especially children risk acute poisoning," it said late Tuesday. "The capsaicin content is so high that it can pose a health hazard." Children and frail adults and the elderly are at risk, said Henrik Dammand Nielsen of the Danish Food and Drug Administration. Possibly symptoms include burning and discomfort, nausea, vomiting and high blood pressure, he said. "That is why we are now demanding shops remove the products from their shelves," the agency said. In a statement to reporters, Samyang said it understands that the steps taken in Denmark were not based on product quality issues but because local authorities thought "they were too spicy and could potentially cause problems." The company said the same noodles are exported worldwide but it was the first time they were ordered to recall them in any market. "We will closely study local regulations while responding to this recall measure," the company said. Spicy food challenges have been around for years. From local chile pepper eating contests to restaurant walls of fame for those who finished extra hot dishes, people around the world have been daring each other to eat especially fiery foods. In September, a Massachusetts teen with a congenital heart defect who participated in a spicy tortilla chip challenge on social media died from eating a large quantity of chile pepper extract. An autopsy report obtained by The Associated Press showed that the 10th grader died on Sept. 1, 2023, after eating the Paqui chip as part of the manufacturer's "One Chip Challenge." In Denmark, a puzzled consumer reached out to the Danish Veterinary and Food Administration and asked how the instant noodles could be legal, the agency said, after which it had a lab assessing the products and determined the three noodle brands can be harmful to health, instigating the recall. "It is important that parents are aware of the extreme noodle varieties and avoid them, Dammand Nielsen said.

health

Denmark recalls spicy South Korean noodles over health concerns. Food authorities in Denmark have recalled three types of spicy instant noodle products imported from South Korea over possible risks for "acute poisoning." A TV screen shows a report about Denmark's recalling three types of spicy instant noodle products imported from South Korea, during a news program at the Seoul Railway Station in Seoul, South Korea, Thursday, June 13, 2024. Food authorities in Denmark have recalled three types of spicy instant noodle products imported from South Korea over possible risks for "acute poisoning." Consumers are asked to discard them or return the noodles to the retailer. (AP Photo/Lee Jin-man) The Associated Press COPENHAGEN, Denmark -- Food authorities in Denmark have recalled three types of spicy instant noodle products imported from South Korea over possible risks of "acute poisoning." Consumers are asked to discard them or return the noodles to the retailer. The noodles are made by Seoul-based Samyang Foods, one of South Korea's largest companies, and sold across the globe. The recalled noodles include Buldak Samyang 3 x Spicy & Hot Chicken, Buldak Samyang 2 x Spicy & Hot Chicken and Buldak Samyang Hot Chicken Stew. The Danish Veterinary and Food Administration said the products contain an overly high dose of capsaicin, an active ingredient in chile peppers but also a chemical that can be a neurotoxin and a health hazard. Children and teenagers in Denmark have been daring each other on social media to eat "a strong bowl of noodle soup," referring to the three South Korean products, the agency said. "The noodle dishes marketed as extremely strong must no longer be sold because consumers and especially children risk acute poisoning," it said late Tuesday. "The capsaicin content is so high that it can pose a health hazard." Children and frail adults and the elderly are at risk, said Henrik Dammand Nielsen of the Danish Food and Drug Administration. Possibly symptoms include burning and discomfort, nausea, vomiting and high blood pressure, he said. "That is why we are now demanding shops remove the products from their shelves," the agency said. In a statement to reporters, Samyang said it understands that the steps taken in Denmark were not based on product quality issues but because local authorities thought "they were too spicy and could potentially cause problems." The company said the same noodles are exported worldwide but it was the first time they were ordered to recall them in any market. "We will closely study local regulations while responding to this recall measure," the company said. Spicy food challenges have been around for years. From local chile pepper eating contests to restaurant walls of fame for those who finished extra hot dishes, people around the world have been daring each other to eat especially fiery foods. In September, a Massachusetts teen with a congenital heart defect who participated in a spicy tortilla chip challenge on social media died from eating a large quantity of chile pepper extract. An autopsy report obtained by The Associated Press showed that the 10th grader died on Sept. 1, 2023, after eating the Paqui chip as part of the manufacturer's "One Chip Challenge." In Denmark, a puzzled consumer reached out to the Danish Veterinary and Food Administration and asked how the instant noodles could be legal, the agency said, after which it had a lab assessing the products and determined the three noodle brands can be harmful to health, instigating the recall. "It is important that parents are aware of the extreme noodle varieties and avoid them, Dammand Nielsen said.

Apple Intelligence Won’t Work on Hundreds of Millions of iPhones—but Maybe It Could

artificial intelligence. Apple calls it, of course, Apple Intelligence. It's coming later this year. That's right: We have another "AI" to deal with. You may have heard plenty about how it makes Siri smarter, rewrites your emails and essays, creates never-before-seen emoji, and turns rough sketches into bland AI art. It truly is a vision of the future. And, while not groundbreaking, thanks to the usual Apple gloss it may well be one of the most friendly, intuitive, and useful implementations of generative AI seen to date. However, the pressing factor for most of us is that we are not invited, and the iPhone is the worst affected of Apple's devices. To use Apple Intelligence, you need an iPhone 15 Pro or iPhone 15 Pro Max. A regular iPhone 15 won't do, meaning a mobile well under a year old is, at least in this specific sense, obsolete. Mac users just need an Apple Silicon computer, meaning one released in 2020 or newer. Exclusion Zone A more cynical take on this is that these exclusion timescales are tied to the average upgrade cycle of phones and laptops. A person might be considered normal if they upgrade their phone every year. Buying a new laptop every year means you are probably foolish, a theft-magnet, or just plain clumsy. The reality is a lot more complicated. The computation required for at least some parts of Apple Intelligence is quite different to that of the average iPhone or Mac task. And this has all been obscured to the average generative AI or chatbot dabbler so far because of the way all of us have been introduced to the form. When you use ChatGPT, Midjourney, or even Adobe Photoshop's Generative Fill feature, your own computer is doing almost none of the real work. That is done on remote cloud servers, which perform the necessary calculations then simply beam the final result over to your phone or laptop. In this sense, generative AI to date has been rather like a digital assistant, such as Siri or Alexa. It can, at times, do great stuff. But little to none of it is really happening on the device on which it is used. On-device AI processing is a privacy play, a classic Apple strategy. But it's not the first to make this move. Microsoft was. Its Copilot+ standard is a similar concept, but based solely around laptops. Copilot+ laptops have dedicated AI hardware designed to allow for on-device AI processing. The two even rely heavily on the same core artificial intelligence, that of ChatGPT creator OpenAI. Which leads us to this completely justified question: Why the hell can't my $900 iPhone 15 do this stuff too? Neural Thinking NPU is the term: the tech under the spotlight that separates older "non-AI" hardware from the new stuff our purses are meant to quiver in anticipation for. It stands for "neural processing unit." The latest phones and tablets have one of these in addition to the CPU (central processing unit) and the GPU (graphics processing unit). Its specialization is in carrying out an awful lot of operations simultaneously—and in the context of phones and laptops, doing so while using minimal power is key. Just as generative AI has pebble-dashed the internet and wider society with what might charitably be called "stuff," the creation of that stuff also requires a wide and shallow type of work. For those who want to get slightly more technical, NPUs excel at matrix manipulation. This is the core form of work that powers chatbot LLMs and other generative AI. In each case, an AI starts off with a prompt and gradually homes in on a final result—be it a picture or a sentence of prose—through matrix manipulation. Beyond the NPU Case closed? Are we simply in an NPU world now? Sure, but we have been since at least 2017. Apple introduced the Apple ANE (Apple Neural Engine) in 2017, seen in the iPhone 8, iPhone 8 Plus, and iPhone X. It's an NPU. It was needed back then, years before AI was as much of a buzzword as it is today, because Apple has actually used forms of AI and machine learning in iOS for ages. Perhaps Apple Intelligence isn't all that different—there's just more of it. And the software scene has already proved some of these new "AI" features are being artificially gated, paywalled, behind new hardware. A hobbyist software historian who goes by the name of Albacore online has got some of Microsoft's Copilot+ features working on hardware that shouldn't, in theory, be able to run it—a cheap Samsung Galaxy Book2 Go notebook. It costs a fifth to a quarter of the price of a Copilot+ laptop. "Getting Recall working was moderately challenging, I suppose. I've been reverse engineering Windows bits for close to 10 years, so tracking down checks and restrictions is practically second nature to me," Albacore tells WIRED. an article over at Tom's Hardware. "I'd say Recall works nicely even on older, less powerful hardware—the only aspect where you can notice lag is searching across the timeline," says Albacore. Recall is the most contentious, and headline pick, of Microsoft's new AI features. Much like the new version of Siri, it can access your past actions, browsing history, and emails to turn Windows' Universal search into something closer to an omniscient PA. The part that doesn't work so well on the Samsung Galaxy Book2 Go is Cocreator in the Paint app, Microsoft's generative equivalent to the many image-generation features in Apple Intelligence. "You can see the image generation process spin up and take a lot of resources, but it still crashes in the end, unfortunately. Perhaps an equally old chip but with more RAM would fare better, but I don't have that at my disposal at the moment," says Albacore. Making Memory RAM: This may be the crux of why recent iPhones don't support Apple Intelligence even though they have as much AI and machine learning power as a MacBook that does support it. According to the Geekbench benchmarking tool, an iPhone 14 actually has a more powerful NPU AI chipset than an M1 MacBook. However, those older phones have only 6 GB of RAM. All iPhones on the Apple Intelligence guest list have 8 GB of RAM. Why does RAM matter? When AI models are run locally rather than in the cloud, they have to be stored in RAM or vRAM, the graphics card equivalent. Even the fastest SSD drives are not nearly fast enough for the job. A lot of fanfare was made about the PlayStation 5's 5,000 MB per second SSD, and how it let game developers stream visual assets off storage in real time. The DDR5 RAM in the average PC can reach bandwidth of up to 64 GB per second, while the fastest of Nvidia's cards made for machine learning and AI, the H200, has a 4.8 TB per second bandwidth. That is almost 1,000 times higher than the transfer rate of the PS5 SSD. The Nvidia H200 and its predecessors also provide handy context that should bring expectations for the iPhone 16's offline AI abilities back into line. These graphics cards power the servers that perform the cloud AI computing required for all our frivolous ChatGPT and Stable Diffusion requests. They have up to 141 GB of vRAM per card, and cost tens of thousands of dollars a piece. And you need a bunch of them to house the latest GPT-4 backend intelligence—hundreds of GB of vRAM in total is necessary. We're miles away from consumer tech stuff here. Even the consumer-grade Nvidia RTX gaming cards are going to be far more adept at most AI tasks than this new supposedly-made-for-AI hardware. For reference, Microsoft Copilot+ PCs set the benchmark at just 45 TOPS, which stands for trillions of operations per second. Back to Earth The iPhone 15 Pro Max can afford maybe 2 to 4 GB of RAM, and its NPU is rated at 35 TOPS. Whatever features Apple Intelligence can use offline will have to be based on a small, relatively simple AI model. Apple's own website tells us that Sharing Suggestions, Memories, and scene recognition in Photos are "on-device," as are Siri Suggestions, voice recognition, and transcription. A little logic suggests all the generative AI stuff primed to get people excited, and steal all the jobs kids once dreamed of having, can't be done locally on an iPhone 15 Pro Max. Or an iPhone 16 Pro Max, come to that. And what's left starts to look an awful lot like features other phones have already, or similar to what Albacore has managed to get working on modest NPU-free hardware. The next question is whether the iPhone 16 will even get the full suite of Apple Intelligence features, or whether it will continue to be used as a Pro-series upsell in the next generation.

tech

Apple Intelligence Won’t Work on Hundreds of Millions of iPhones—but Maybe It Could. artificial intelligence. Apple calls it, of course, Apple Intelligence. It's coming later this year. That's right: We have another "AI" to deal with. You may have heard plenty about how it makes Siri smarter, rewrites your emails and essays, creates never-before-seen emoji, and turns rough sketches into bland AI art. It truly is a vision of the future. And, while not groundbreaking, thanks to the usual Apple gloss it may well be one of the most friendly, intuitive, and useful implementations of generative AI seen to date. However, the pressing factor for most of us is that we are not invited, and the iPhone is the worst affected of Apple's devices. To use Apple Intelligence, you need an iPhone 15 Pro or iPhone 15 Pro Max. A regular iPhone 15 won't do, meaning a mobile well under a year old is, at least in this specific sense, obsolete. Mac users just need an Apple Silicon computer, meaning one released in 2020 or newer. Exclusion Zone A more cynical take on this is that these exclusion timescales are tied to the average upgrade cycle of phones and laptops. A person might be considered normal if they upgrade their phone every year. Buying a new laptop every year means you are probably foolish, a theft-magnet, or just plain clumsy. The reality is a lot more complicated. The computation required for at least some parts of Apple Intelligence is quite different to that of the average iPhone or Mac task. And this has all been obscured to the average generative AI or chatbot dabbler so far because of the way all of us have been introduced to the form. When you use ChatGPT, Midjourney, or even Adobe Photoshop's Generative Fill feature, your own computer is doing almost none of the real work. That is done on remote cloud servers, which perform the necessary calculations then simply beam the final result over to your phone or laptop. In this sense, generative AI to date has been rather like a digital assistant, such as Siri or Alexa. It can, at times, do great stuff. But little to none of it is really happening on the device on which it is used. On-device AI processing is a privacy play, a classic Apple strategy. But it's not the first to make this move. Microsoft was. Its Copilot+ standard is a similar concept, but based solely around laptops. Copilot+ laptops have dedicated AI hardware designed to allow for on-device AI processing. The two even rely heavily on the same core artificial intelligence, that of ChatGPT creator OpenAI. Which leads us to this completely justified question: Why the hell can't my $900 iPhone 15 do this stuff too? Neural Thinking NPU is the term: the tech under the spotlight that separates older "non-AI" hardware from the new stuff our purses are meant to quiver in anticipation for. It stands for "neural processing unit." The latest phones and tablets have one of these in addition to the CPU (central processing unit) and the GPU (graphics processing unit). Its specialization is in carrying out an awful lot of operations simultaneously—and in the context of phones and laptops, doing so while using minimal power is key. Just as generative AI has pebble-dashed the internet and wider society with what might charitably be called "stuff," the creation of that stuff also requires a wide and shallow type of work. For those who want to get slightly more technical, NPUs excel at matrix manipulation. This is the core form of work that powers chatbot LLMs and other generative AI. In each case, an AI starts off with a prompt and gradually homes in on a final result—be it a picture or a sentence of prose—through matrix manipulation. Beyond the NPU Case closed? Are we simply in an NPU world now? Sure, but we have been since at least 2017. Apple introduced the Apple ANE (Apple Neural Engine) in 2017, seen in the iPhone 8, iPhone 8 Plus, and iPhone X. It's an NPU. It was needed back then, years before AI was as much of a buzzword as it is today, because Apple has actually used forms of AI and machine learning in iOS for ages. Perhaps Apple Intelligence isn't all that different—there's just more of it. And the software scene has already proved some of these new "AI" features are being artificially gated, paywalled, behind new hardware. A hobbyist software historian who goes by the name of Albacore online has got some of Microsoft's Copilot+ features working on hardware that shouldn't, in theory, be able to run it—a cheap Samsung Galaxy Book2 Go notebook. It costs a fifth to a quarter of the price of a Copilot+ laptop. "Getting Recall working was moderately challenging, I suppose. I've been reverse engineering Windows bits for close to 10 years, so tracking down checks and restrictions is practically second nature to me," Albacore tells WIRED. an article over at Tom's Hardware. "I'd say Recall works nicely even on older, less powerful hardware—the only aspect where you can notice lag is searching across the timeline," says Albacore. Recall is the most contentious, and headline pick, of Microsoft's new AI features. Much like the new version of Siri, it can access your past actions, browsing history, and emails to turn Windows' Universal search into something closer to an omniscient PA. The part that doesn't work so well on the Samsung Galaxy Book2 Go is Cocreator in the Paint app, Microsoft's generative equivalent to the many image-generation features in Apple Intelligence. "You can see the image generation process spin up and take a lot of resources, but it still crashes in the end, unfortunately. Perhaps an equally old chip but with more RAM would fare better, but I don't have that at my disposal at the moment," says Albacore. Making Memory RAM: This may be the crux of why recent iPhones don't support Apple Intelligence even though they have as much AI and machine learning power as a MacBook that does support it. According to the Geekbench benchmarking tool, an iPhone 14 actually has a more powerful NPU AI chipset than an M1 MacBook. However, those older phones have only 6 GB of RAM. All iPhones on the Apple Intelligence guest list have 8 GB of RAM. Why does RAM matter? When AI models are run locally rather than in the cloud, they have to be stored in RAM or vRAM, the graphics card equivalent. Even the fastest SSD drives are not nearly fast enough for the job. A lot of fanfare was made about the PlayStation 5's 5,000 MB per second SSD, and how it let game developers stream visual assets off storage in real time. The DDR5 RAM in the average PC can reach bandwidth of up to 64 GB per second, while the fastest of Nvidia's cards made for machine learning and AI, the H200, has a 4.8 TB per second bandwidth. That is almost 1,000 times higher than the transfer rate of the PS5 SSD. The Nvidia H200 and its predecessors also provide handy context that should bring expectations for the iPhone 16's offline AI abilities back into line. These graphics cards power the servers that perform the cloud AI computing required for all our frivolous ChatGPT and Stable Diffusion requests. They have up to 141 GB of vRAM per card, and cost tens of thousands of dollars a piece. And you need a bunch of them to house the latest GPT-4 backend intelligence—hundreds of GB of vRAM in total is necessary. We're miles away from consumer tech stuff here. Even the consumer-grade Nvidia RTX gaming cards are going to be far more adept at most AI tasks than this new supposedly-made-for-AI hardware. For reference, Microsoft Copilot+ PCs set the benchmark at just 45 TOPS, which stands for trillions of operations per second. Back to Earth The iPhone 15 Pro Max can afford maybe 2 to 4 GB of RAM, and its NPU is rated at 35 TOPS. Whatever features Apple Intelligence can use offline will have to be based on a small, relatively simple AI model. Apple's own website tells us that Sharing Suggestions, Memories, and scene recognition in Photos are "on-device," as are Siri Suggestions, voice recognition, and transcription. A little logic suggests all the generative AI stuff primed to get people excited, and steal all the jobs kids once dreamed of having, can't be done locally on an iPhone 15 Pro Max. Or an iPhone 16 Pro Max, come to that. And what's left starts to look an awful lot like features other phones have already, or similar to what Albacore has managed to get working on modest NPU-free hardware. The next question is whether the iPhone 16 will even get the full suite of Apple Intelligence features, or whether it will continue to be used as a Pro-series upsell in the next generation.

Dominion Energy Charitable Foundation Donates More Than $4.2 Million to Non-profit Organizations

June 18, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- The Dominion Energy Charitable Foundation recently awarded more than $4.2 million in grants to nonprofit organizations across seven states. These recipients will expand nutritious options in communities facing food insecurity, increase mental health services, improve access to services for people with disabilities, host dental care clinics, broaden pathways to affordable homeownership, provide emergency shelter, preserve natural habitats, and advance the arts, among other causes. "Every day, nonprofit organizations make an outsized impact on our communities," said Hunter A. Applewhite, President of the Dominion Energy Charitable Foundation. "We are proud to support them with grants that will strengthen their efforts. That's just one more way Dominion Energy demonstrates its commitment to the communities we serve." Funding is available to organizations in areas where Dominion Energy provides electricity or natural gas or has significant business interests. These include

business,environment

Dominion Energy Charitable Foundation Donates More Than $4.2 Million to Non-profit Organizations. June 18, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- The Dominion Energy Charitable Foundation recently awarded more than $4.2 million in grants to nonprofit organizations across seven states. These recipients will expand nutritious options in communities facing food insecurity, increase mental health services, improve access to services for people with disabilities, host dental care clinics, broaden pathways to affordable homeownership, provide emergency shelter, preserve natural habitats, and advance the arts, among other causes. "Every day, nonprofit organizations make an outsized impact on our communities," said Hunter A. Applewhite, President of the Dominion Energy Charitable Foundation. "We are proud to support them with grants that will strengthen their efforts. That's just one more way Dominion Energy demonstrates its commitment to the communities we serve." Funding is available to organizations in areas where Dominion Energy provides electricity or natural gas or has significant business interests. These include

Report: Hackers stole $176.2m in crypto in June

#PeckShieldAlert June 2024 witnessed 20+ hacks in the crypto space, resulting in ~$176.2 million in losses. This marks a decrease of 54.2% from May 2024 (w/ ~$385m in hackers' profits). pic.twitter.com/83XzWf82kw — PeckShieldAlert (@PeckShieldAlert) Data shows that the least amount of hacks so far this year happened in April, reaching $60.19 million. Per the blockchain security company's X post, the total amount of crypto lost to hackers this year has surpassed the $1.5 billion mark. You might also like: Ethereum's Buterin outlines ways to enhance transaction speed The largest hack belongs to the Turkish crypto trading platform BtcTurk, worth $100.25 million. Per a crypto.news report on June 22, the company's hot wallets were compromised, letting the attackers breach at least 10 different cryptocurrencies. Moreover, the second-largest hack last month belonged to the British crypto exchange Lykke, where hackers stole over $22 million from the company. UwU Lend, Holograph and Velocore also made it to the top five with $19.4 million, $14.4 million and $6.8 million lost to hackers in June, respectively. According to a report from Immunefi, the cryptocurrency ecosystem lost $572.7 million to hacks and scams in Q2 this year. 72 fraudulent incidents were recorded over the past three months.

crypto

Report: Hackers stole $176.2m in crypto in June. #PeckShieldAlert June 2024 witnessed 20+ hacks in the crypto space, resulting in ~$176.2 million in losses. This marks a decrease of 54.2% from May 2024 (w/ ~$385m in hackers' profits). pic.twitter.com/83XzWf82kw — PeckShieldAlert (@PeckShieldAlert) Data shows that the least amount of hacks so far this year happened in April, reaching $60.19 million. Per the blockchain security company's X post, the total amount of crypto lost to hackers this year has surpassed the $1.5 billion mark. You might also like: Ethereum's Buterin outlines ways to enhance transaction speed The largest hack belongs to the Turkish crypto trading platform BtcTurk, worth $100.25 million. Per a crypto.news report on June 22, the company's hot wallets were compromised, letting the attackers breach at least 10 different cryptocurrencies. Moreover, the second-largest hack last month belonged to the British crypto exchange Lykke, where hackers stole over $22 million from the company. UwU Lend, Holograph and Velocore also made it to the top five with $19.4 million, $14.4 million and $6.8 million lost to hackers in June, respectively. According to a report from Immunefi, the cryptocurrency ecosystem lost $572.7 million to hacks and scams in Q2 this year. 72 fraudulent incidents were recorded over the past three months.

Canadian women's 3x3 basketball team earns spot in Paris Olympics with win over Hungary

Canadian women's 3x3 team earns spot in Paris Olympics with win over Hungary The Canadian women's 3x3 team is down to their final chance to get to this summer's Olympic Games. The team of Paige Crozon, Kacie Bosch, and twin sisters Michelle and Katherine Plouffe face a must-win matchup against Hungary for the final ticket to Paris 2024. Team had to win after losing semifinal earlier in the day Posted: May 19, 2024 11:44 AM EDT | Last Updated: 4 minutes ago The Canadian women's 3x3 team, shown in this file photo, will face Hungary for the final spot in the Olympic women's 3x3 tournament this summer in Paris. (basketball.ca) Social Sharing The Canadian women's 3x3 team is going to the Olympic Games. The team of Paige Crozon, Kacie Bosch, and twin sisters Michelle and Katherine Plouffe defeated Hungary 21-10 in a must-win game on Sunday at an Olympic qualifying tournament in Debrecen, Hungary. The Canadians were down to their last chance after losing to Spain 19-18 in the semifinal earlier in the day. "We're just so grateful, our team, we have so much joy and gratitude to be here," said Katherine Plouffe after the win over Hungary. "We believed. There's no easy games here, Hungary's a great team." Canada advanced to the semifinals with a 21-8 quarterfinal win over Italy, powered by nine points apiece from Crozon and Katherine Plouffe. Canada finished atop Pool B with a perfect 3-0 record with round-robin wins over Chile (21-11), Lithuania (19-16), and Czechia (17-10). The Canadian men's team finished with a 1-2 record in the pool play and failed to advance to the quarterfinals. WATCH: How does Paige Crozon balance basketball and motherhood: How does Paige Crozon balance basketball and motherhood? A conversation with Ariel Helwani CBC Olympics digital host Ariel Helwani sits down with 3x3 player Paige Crozon to talk about being a mom basketball player, and her work with Saskatchewan's Indigenous youth league.

canada

Canadian women's 3x3 basketball team earns spot in Paris Olympics with win over Hungary. Canadian women's 3x3 team earns spot in Paris Olympics with win over Hungary The Canadian women's 3x3 team is down to their final chance to get to this summer's Olympic Games. The team of Paige Crozon, Kacie Bosch, and twin sisters Michelle and Katherine Plouffe face a must-win matchup against Hungary for the final ticket to Paris 2024. Team had to win after losing semifinal earlier in the day Posted: May 19, 2024 11:44 AM EDT | Last Updated: 4 minutes ago The Canadian women's 3x3 team, shown in this file photo, will face Hungary for the final spot in the Olympic women's 3x3 tournament this summer in Paris. (basketball.ca) Social Sharing The Canadian women's 3x3 team is going to the Olympic Games. The team of Paige Crozon, Kacie Bosch, and twin sisters Michelle and Katherine Plouffe defeated Hungary 21-10 in a must-win game on Sunday at an Olympic qualifying tournament in Debrecen, Hungary. The Canadians were down to their last chance after losing to Spain 19-18 in the semifinal earlier in the day. "We're just so grateful, our team, we have so much joy and gratitude to be here," said Katherine Plouffe after the win over Hungary. "We believed. There's no easy games here, Hungary's a great team." Canada advanced to the semifinals with a 21-8 quarterfinal win over Italy, powered by nine points apiece from Crozon and Katherine Plouffe. Canada finished atop Pool B with a perfect 3-0 record with round-robin wins over Chile (21-11), Lithuania (19-16), and Czechia (17-10). The Canadian men's team finished with a 1-2 record in the pool play and failed to advance to the quarterfinals. WATCH: How does Paige Crozon balance basketball and motherhood: How does Paige Crozon balance basketball and motherhood? A conversation with Ariel Helwani CBC Olympics digital host Ariel Helwani sits down with 3x3 player Paige Crozon to talk about being a mom basketball player, and her work with Saskatchewan's Indigenous youth league.

Incomes have risen 'at a crawl' says think tank

Typical household incomes went up by just £140 a year, new analysis from the Resolution Foundation showed. By contrast, disposable incomes rose 38% over the 14 years up to 2010, the poverty-focused think tank wrote. However, poorer households had seen stronger income growth than richer ones, it said. The Resolution Foundation said the 2008 financial crisis, the Covid pandemic and high inflation had all contributed to the slowdown, but that growth in general had also been "sluggish". That resulted in income rises "slowing to a crawl" it said, hampering progress in reducing poverty levels. The state of the economy, and especially the squeeze on ordinary families through the cost of living crisis, is a central theme in the general election, with the Conservatives defending their record in government since 2010. 'We budget but we haven't enough to cover food' The think tank's analysis found poorer households had seen the strongest growth in their disposable incomes over the period, in part thanks to the UK's strong jobs market. Looking at the poorest fifth of households, it said the one-off cost-of-living payments last year also contributed to bigger income gains. But these gains were largely offset by the impact of what the report called "regressive tax and benefits policy decisions", resulting in a 13% total overall rise in disposable incomes over the period. The richest households meanwhile saw only 2% income growth over the 14 year period, it said. The think tank said data from Eurostat, covering a similar but not identical period between 2007 and 2022, suggested the UK had fared worse when it came to disposable income growth than several other leading European countries, including Netherlands, France and Germany. "While global economic shocks have been a major factor, Britain's recent record is poor compared to both its own history and many of our European neighbours," said Lalitha Try, an economist at the Resolution Foundation. "What little income growth Britain has experienced over the past 14 years has been driven primarily by rising employment, which has benefited poorer households the most," she said. The report entitled Hard Times was funded by the Nuffield Foundation, a charitable trust, and used data from the Department of Work and Pensions combined with jobs, pay and housing cost information. It found absolute poverty had fallen 3.6 percentage points since 2010, but in the 13 years prior to 2010 it had fallen by 14 percentage points. Relative poverty levels remained broadly stable over the last 14 years, but the number of children in large families living in poverty had risen, while those in small families living in poverty had fallen, it said.

business

Incomes have risen 'at a crawl' says think tank. Typical household incomes went up by just £140 a year, new analysis from the Resolution Foundation showed. By contrast, disposable incomes rose 38% over the 14 years up to 2010, the poverty-focused think tank wrote. However, poorer households had seen stronger income growth than richer ones, it said. The Resolution Foundation said the 2008 financial crisis, the Covid pandemic and high inflation had all contributed to the slowdown, but that growth in general had also been "sluggish". That resulted in income rises "slowing to a crawl" it said, hampering progress in reducing poverty levels. The state of the economy, and especially the squeeze on ordinary families through the cost of living crisis, is a central theme in the general election, with the Conservatives defending their record in government since 2010. 'We budget but we haven't enough to cover food' The think tank's analysis found poorer households had seen the strongest growth in their disposable incomes over the period, in part thanks to the UK's strong jobs market. Looking at the poorest fifth of households, it said the one-off cost-of-living payments last year also contributed to bigger income gains. But these gains were largely offset by the impact of what the report called "regressive tax and benefits policy decisions", resulting in a 13% total overall rise in disposable incomes over the period. The richest households meanwhile saw only 2% income growth over the 14 year period, it said. The think tank said data from Eurostat, covering a similar but not identical period between 2007 and 2022, suggested the UK had fared worse when it came to disposable income growth than several other leading European countries, including Netherlands, France and Germany. "While global economic shocks have been a major factor, Britain's recent record is poor compared to both its own history and many of our European neighbours," said Lalitha Try, an economist at the Resolution Foundation. "What little income growth Britain has experienced over the past 14 years has been driven primarily by rising employment, which has benefited poorer households the most," she said. The report entitled Hard Times was funded by the Nuffield Foundation, a charitable trust, and used data from the Department of Work and Pensions combined with jobs, pay and housing cost information. It found absolute poverty had fallen 3.6 percentage points since 2010, but in the 13 years prior to 2010 it had fallen by 14 percentage points. Relative poverty levels remained broadly stable over the last 14 years, but the number of children in large families living in poverty had risen, while those in small families living in poverty had fallen, it said.

Georgia father freed from prison 10 years after his toddler died in hot car, leading to murder case

FILE - Defense attorney Maddox Kilgore holds a photo of Cooper Harris during the murder trial for his father, Justin Ross Harris, Oct. 31, 2016, in Brunswick, Ga. Georgia prison records show Harris was released from prison on Father's Day, Sunday, June 16, 2024, 10 years after his toddler died in a hot car, a case that made global headlines after prosecutors accused him of murder. (AP Photo/John Bazemore, Pool, File) The Associated Press MACON, Ga. -- A father from Georgia has been released from prison 10 years after his toddler died in a hot car, a case that made global headlines after prosecutors accused him of murder. Justin Ross Harris was freed on Sunday — Father's Day — from the Macon State Prison, Georgia Department of Corrections records show. He began serving his sentence on Dec. 6, 2016. Harris had moved from Tuscaloosa, Alabama, to the Atlanta area for work in 2012. He told police that on the morning of June 18, 2014, he forgot to drop off his 22-month-old son Cooper at day care. Instead, he drove straight to his job as a web developer for The Home Depot and left the child in his car seat, he told investigators. Cooper died after sitting for about seven hours in the back seat of the Hyundai Tucson SUV outside his father's office in suburban Atlanta, where temperatures that day reached at least into the high 80s. At trial, prosecutors put forth a theory that Harris was miserable in his marriage and killed his son so he could be free. They presented evidence of his extramarital sexual activities, including exchanging sexually explicit messages and graphic photos with women and girls and meeting some of them for sex. Harris was found guilty in November 2016 on eight counts including malice murder. A judge sentenced him to life without parole, as well as 32 more years in prison for other crimes. But the Georgia Supreme Court voted 6-3 to overturn his murder and child cruelty convictions in June 2022, saying the jury saw evidence that was "extremely and unfairly prejudicial." Prosecutors said at the time that he would not face another trial over Cooper's death. The Cobb County district attorney's office, which prosecuted the case, said in a statement that it disagreed with the majority's decision. But because of that ruling, prosecutors said crucial evidence about Harris' motive was no longer available for them to use. Harris' lawyers have always maintained that he was a loving father and that the boy's death was a tragic accident. Though it dismissed the murder conviction, the state Supreme Court upheld Harris' convictions on three sex crimes committed against a 16-year-old girl that Harris had not appealed. He continued serving time on those crimes until Sunday, when he was released from prison. Harris' case drew an extraordinary amount of attention, making headlines around the world and sparking debates online and on cable news shows. After determining that pretrial publicity had made it too hard to find a fair jury in Cobb County in suburban Atlanta, the presiding judge agreed to relocate the trial to Brunswick on the Georgia coast.

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Georgia father freed from prison 10 years after his toddler died in hot car, leading to murder case. FILE - Defense attorney Maddox Kilgore holds a photo of Cooper Harris during the murder trial for his father, Justin Ross Harris, Oct. 31, 2016, in Brunswick, Ga. Georgia prison records show Harris was released from prison on Father's Day, Sunday, June 16, 2024, 10 years after his toddler died in a hot car, a case that made global headlines after prosecutors accused him of murder. (AP Photo/John Bazemore, Pool, File) The Associated Press MACON, Ga. -- A father from Georgia has been released from prison 10 years after his toddler died in a hot car, a case that made global headlines after prosecutors accused him of murder. Justin Ross Harris was freed on Sunday — Father's Day — from the Macon State Prison, Georgia Department of Corrections records show. He began serving his sentence on Dec. 6, 2016. Harris had moved from Tuscaloosa, Alabama, to the Atlanta area for work in 2012. He told police that on the morning of June 18, 2014, he forgot to drop off his 22-month-old son Cooper at day care. Instead, he drove straight to his job as a web developer for The Home Depot and left the child in his car seat, he told investigators. Cooper died after sitting for about seven hours in the back seat of the Hyundai Tucson SUV outside his father's office in suburban Atlanta, where temperatures that day reached at least into the high 80s. At trial, prosecutors put forth a theory that Harris was miserable in his marriage and killed his son so he could be free. They presented evidence of his extramarital sexual activities, including exchanging sexually explicit messages and graphic photos with women and girls and meeting some of them for sex. Harris was found guilty in November 2016 on eight counts including malice murder. A judge sentenced him to life without parole, as well as 32 more years in prison for other crimes. But the Georgia Supreme Court voted 6-3 to overturn his murder and child cruelty convictions in June 2022, saying the jury saw evidence that was "extremely and unfairly prejudicial." Prosecutors said at the time that he would not face another trial over Cooper's death. The Cobb County district attorney's office, which prosecuted the case, said in a statement that it disagreed with the majority's decision. But because of that ruling, prosecutors said crucial evidence about Harris' motive was no longer available for them to use. Harris' lawyers have always maintained that he was a loving father and that the boy's death was a tragic accident. Though it dismissed the murder conviction, the state Supreme Court upheld Harris' convictions on three sex crimes committed against a 16-year-old girl that Harris had not appealed. He continued serving time on those crimes until Sunday, when he was released from prison. Harris' case drew an extraordinary amount of attention, making headlines around the world and sparking debates online and on cable news shows. After determining that pretrial publicity had made it too hard to find a fair jury in Cobb County in suburban Atlanta, the presiding judge agreed to relocate the trial to Brunswick on the Georgia coast.

Molly Caudery keeps her cool in Rome to boost hopes of first outdoor title

N ot since Tessa Sanderson hurled a javelin far and high into the Los Angeles sky in 1984 has a British woman won an Olympic gold medal in a field event. But with every leap that 24-year-old Molly Caudery takes, the expectation grows that a 40-year old hoodoo is about to be shattered. In the past few months Caudery has won the world indoor pole vault title and leapt higher - 4.86m - than anyone else. Now, at these European Athletics Championships in Rome, she is hunting her first outdoor title. And the signs continue to be eerily good. British student sprinter Louie Hinchliffe shatters 10-second barrier in US Read more It was so hot in the Stadio Olimpico by Saturday lunchtime that Caudery had ice packs and ice towels around her neck while she waited for the rest of the field to take their qualifying jumps. Finally, after more than an hour of waiting, and with the bar at 4.50m, Caudery stepped forward. And cleared it on her first take, without fuss or fury, and by a large margin. It was job done and on to Monday's final, where she will again be an overwhelming favourite. "I had ice towels and ice packs just to put round my neck to keep nice and cool out there," Caudery said afterwards. "I was really, really happy to save some energy and do one jump and have my best preparation for the final." Gold here in Rome, she insists, would mean "everything," although she is taking nothing for granted. "To get that first outdoor medal would mean so much to me," she adds. "It would also give me so much confidence going into the Olympics." But there was no joy for the other Briton in the field, the Tokyo 2020 bronze medallist Holly Bradshaw, as she suffered a back injury in the warm-up and failed to clear her opening height of 4.25m. "I have been struggling with my achilles a little but it felt good," said Bradshaw. "But out on the warm-up track, I was literally doing an innocuous jump and I put my back out and I was like 'oh great'. It is crap, but I'm trying not to live in the minute, I'm looking at the bigger picture." Molly Caudery reviews her qualifying jump on a tablet at the Stadio Olimpico. Photograph: Nikola Krstic/Shutterstock "The way I see it is Molls now has taken the baton on from me," said Bradshaw. "Molly is one of the sweetest, kindest people out there. And if I could pass the baton on to anyone, I'd want it to be her. I want to see her go on and be a world beater which I know she can be. Caudery has had numerous injuries down the years – including a freak weightlifting accident in 2021 that required three surgeries to repair after 90% of a finger came off. However Bradshaw believes that nearly two years of interrupted training has turned her friend into an "iron woman". "Molly is quite naturally very fast and very strong and when you're injured it sets you back," says Bradshaw. "I think the biggest thing over the last couple of years is she's been building momentum, strength and building that confidence – she's just been almost like an iron woman. Nothing can faze her, she's taken knocks but brushes them off. "Pole vault is such a confidence and momentum sport – once you get that, it's like an armour. And she's built this armour around her which means that she is so unfazed about little setbacks and I think that's what's given her the edge and given her the consistency." But, Bradshaw believes, there is more to it than that. "She'll trip up, she'll do this, she's not bothered, she's got no ego, she's not embarrassed about anything," she says. "And that's her biggest asset really. I've said to her, I'm always going to be here. I'm a shoulder to cry on, a brain to pick if that's what she wants, and she knows where I am and we have a really, really nice relationship. "I think she needs to stay this carefree Moll, because that's how she's going to become world and Olympic champion."

sports

Molly Caudery keeps her cool in Rome to boost hopes of first outdoor title. N ot since Tessa Sanderson hurled a javelin far and high into the Los Angeles sky in 1984 has a British woman won an Olympic gold medal in a field event. But with every leap that 24-year-old Molly Caudery takes, the expectation grows that a 40-year old hoodoo is about to be shattered. In the past few months Caudery has won the world indoor pole vault title and leapt higher - 4.86m - than anyone else. Now, at these European Athletics Championships in Rome, she is hunting her first outdoor title. And the signs continue to be eerily good. British student sprinter Louie Hinchliffe shatters 10-second barrier in US Read more It was so hot in the Stadio Olimpico by Saturday lunchtime that Caudery had ice packs and ice towels around her neck while she waited for the rest of the field to take their qualifying jumps. Finally, after more than an hour of waiting, and with the bar at 4.50m, Caudery stepped forward. And cleared it on her first take, without fuss or fury, and by a large margin. It was job done and on to Monday's final, where she will again be an overwhelming favourite. "I had ice towels and ice packs just to put round my neck to keep nice and cool out there," Caudery said afterwards. "I was really, really happy to save some energy and do one jump and have my best preparation for the final." Gold here in Rome, she insists, would mean "everything," although she is taking nothing for granted. "To get that first outdoor medal would mean so much to me," she adds. "It would also give me so much confidence going into the Olympics." But there was no joy for the other Briton in the field, the Tokyo 2020 bronze medallist Holly Bradshaw, as she suffered a back injury in the warm-up and failed to clear her opening height of 4.25m. "I have been struggling with my achilles a little but it felt good," said Bradshaw. "But out on the warm-up track, I was literally doing an innocuous jump and I put my back out and I was like 'oh great'. It is crap, but I'm trying not to live in the minute, I'm looking at the bigger picture." Molly Caudery reviews her qualifying jump on a tablet at the Stadio Olimpico. Photograph: Nikola Krstic/Shutterstock "The way I see it is Molls now has taken the baton on from me," said Bradshaw. "Molly is one of the sweetest, kindest people out there. And if I could pass the baton on to anyone, I'd want it to be her. I want to see her go on and be a world beater which I know she can be. Caudery has had numerous injuries down the years – including a freak weightlifting accident in 2021 that required three surgeries to repair after 90% of a finger came off. However Bradshaw believes that nearly two years of interrupted training has turned her friend into an "iron woman". "Molly is quite naturally very fast and very strong and when you're injured it sets you back," says Bradshaw. "I think the biggest thing over the last couple of years is she's been building momentum, strength and building that confidence – she's just been almost like an iron woman. Nothing can faze her, she's taken knocks but brushes them off. "Pole vault is such a confidence and momentum sport – once you get that, it's like an armour. And she's built this armour around her which means that she is so unfazed about little setbacks and I think that's what's given her the edge and given her the consistency." But, Bradshaw believes, there is more to it than that. "She'll trip up, she'll do this, she's not bothered, she's got no ego, she's not embarrassed about anything," she says. "And that's her biggest asset really. I've said to her, I'm always going to be here. I'm a shoulder to cry on, a brain to pick if that's what she wants, and she knows where I am and we have a really, really nice relationship. "I think she needs to stay this carefree Moll, because that's how she's going to become world and Olympic champion."

'I'm sorry, God': Accused at Coutts border blockade cried when protest abandoned

Weapons and ammunition seized by the RCMP are shown in a 2022 handout photo. The trial of two men charged with conspiracy to commit murder at the 2022 border blockade at Coutts, Alta., heard that one of accused feared an attack by the United Nations or by Chinese communist forces. THE CANADIAN PRESS/HO - RCMP, Anthony Olienick, sitting alone in an empty police interrogation room, breaks down in tears when he learns the COVID-19 protest blockade at Coutts, Alta., has disbanded in part because of his arrest. "I'm sorry, God," Olienick says to the four walls, in a video played for jurors Wednesday at his murder-conspiracy trial. In the 2022 video, Olienick tells police he and others formed the blockade at the busy Canada-U.S. border crossing to take a stand against a takeover of Canadian freedoms by tyrants, including United Nations troops and Chinese communists. "We're just trying to be protectors. That's all," says Olienick. "We've seen it all over the world … governments do bad things." Olienick and fellow protester Chris Carbert are on trial in Lethbridge, Alta., charged with conspiring to kill Mounties at the blockade. The two men were arrested after RCMP found a cache of guns, body armour and ammunition in trailers in Coutts. In the video, Olienick tells police there was no plan to attack, and the guns were only for defence. "We're just protecting the flock. That's all I wanted," he says. "We're the sheepdogs in case of something going bad." Olienick rejects the allegation he would threaten officers, but qualifies it by saying, "unless you guys are shooting at us first." "But it wouldn't be you guys," he adds. "It would be UN guys or Chinese." Earlier in the interview, Olienick expresses concern about Canada being taken over by a communist regime. The blockade tied up traffic at the Coutts border crossing for two weeks, part of a nationwide backlash against pandemic restrictions and vaccine mandates seen as unnecessary and punitive. The blockade ended when convoy leader Marco Van Huigenbos announced that because of the arrests and gun seizures the blockade would wrap up immediately and peacefully. When police convey this to Olienick in the video, he appears devastated. "I am so heartbroken. That was never our intention," he says. "That's not the outcome that we wanted." "I want to defend myself against some tyranny, and that's it. "I'm not going to be the first guy who's going to do it. I'm going to be the guy that's going to end it if it happens." Undercover officers have testified Olienick told them police were pawns of the federal government and that Prime Minister Justin Trudeau was the devil. Police should be hanged, he said, and if officers raided the blockade he would "slit their throats." He also characterized to the undercover agents that the blockade represented the fight and mission of his life. In the video, Olienick reacts when he's told some of the evidence against him came from undercover officers. "Oh my goodness," he says. The officer in the interrogation room pushes Olienick about the alleged threats against police. "Was there any conversation where you might have been fired up or anything like that or this might have been misconstrued?" the officer asks. "If it was talking at the time about politicians or something like that and some generic thing," Olienick replies. "Anything specific though?" the officer says. "Anything like, 'I'm going to kill cops?'" "Not that I would outright say," Olienick says. Court of King's Bench David Labrenz reminded the jurors they shouldn't draw conclusions from the Olienick's views in the interview. "Nobody is charged or found guilty of a criminal offence for being of a character that you don't agree with or having a disposition you don't agree with," the judge said. Olienick and Carbert are also charged with mischief and possession of a weapon for a dangerous purpose. Olienick faces a further charge of being in possession of a pipe bomb. The defence has suggested one undercover officer broke legal and ethical rules by flirting with Olienick to gain information, as text messages between her and Olienick featured heart emojis. The officer rejected the flirting allegation. The hearts, said the officer, indicated she liked the comments, not the person. Canadian businessman Frank Stronach facing new charges in connection with historical sexual assault investigation Canadian businessman Frank Stronach is facing eight new charges after police say they've identified additional victims as part of an investigation into historical sexual assault allegations. What you should know about the tick-borne disease anaplasmosis Cases of a tick-borne illness called anaplasmosis are on the rise globally, and that includes across Canada. Biology professor Vett Lloyd says it is important to understand the risk factors for contracting anaplasmosis, and recognize symptoms of an infection, as the disease becomes more prevalent. 'I'm sorry, God': Accused at Coutts border blockade cried when protest abandoned He flipped off a trooper and got charged. Now Vermont is on the hook for US$175,000

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'I'm sorry, God': Accused at Coutts border blockade cried when protest abandoned. Weapons and ammunition seized by the RCMP are shown in a 2022 handout photo. The trial of two men charged with conspiracy to commit murder at the 2022 border blockade at Coutts, Alta., heard that one of accused feared an attack by the United Nations or by Chinese communist forces. THE CANADIAN PRESS/HO - RCMP, Anthony Olienick, sitting alone in an empty police interrogation room, breaks down in tears when he learns the COVID-19 protest blockade at Coutts, Alta., has disbanded in part because of his arrest. "I'm sorry, God," Olienick says to the four walls, in a video played for jurors Wednesday at his murder-conspiracy trial. In the 2022 video, Olienick tells police he and others formed the blockade at the busy Canada-U.S. border crossing to take a stand against a takeover of Canadian freedoms by tyrants, including United Nations troops and Chinese communists. "We're just trying to be protectors. That's all," says Olienick. "We've seen it all over the world … governments do bad things." Olienick and fellow protester Chris Carbert are on trial in Lethbridge, Alta., charged with conspiring to kill Mounties at the blockade. The two men were arrested after RCMP found a cache of guns, body armour and ammunition in trailers in Coutts. In the video, Olienick tells police there was no plan to attack, and the guns were only for defence. "We're just protecting the flock. That's all I wanted," he says. "We're the sheepdogs in case of something going bad." Olienick rejects the allegation he would threaten officers, but qualifies it by saying, "unless you guys are shooting at us first." "But it wouldn't be you guys," he adds. "It would be UN guys or Chinese." Earlier in the interview, Olienick expresses concern about Canada being taken over by a communist regime. The blockade tied up traffic at the Coutts border crossing for two weeks, part of a nationwide backlash against pandemic restrictions and vaccine mandates seen as unnecessary and punitive. The blockade ended when convoy leader Marco Van Huigenbos announced that because of the arrests and gun seizures the blockade would wrap up immediately and peacefully. When police convey this to Olienick in the video, he appears devastated. "I am so heartbroken. That was never our intention," he says. "That's not the outcome that we wanted." "I want to defend myself against some tyranny, and that's it. "I'm not going to be the first guy who's going to do it. I'm going to be the guy that's going to end it if it happens." Undercover officers have testified Olienick told them police were pawns of the federal government and that Prime Minister Justin Trudeau was the devil. Police should be hanged, he said, and if officers raided the blockade he would "slit their throats." He also characterized to the undercover agents that the blockade represented the fight and mission of his life. In the video, Olienick reacts when he's told some of the evidence against him came from undercover officers. "Oh my goodness," he says. The officer in the interrogation room pushes Olienick about the alleged threats against police. "Was there any conversation where you might have been fired up or anything like that or this might have been misconstrued?" the officer asks. "If it was talking at the time about politicians or something like that and some generic thing," Olienick replies. "Anything specific though?" the officer says. "Anything like, 'I'm going to kill cops?'" "Not that I would outright say," Olienick says. Court of King's Bench David Labrenz reminded the jurors they shouldn't draw conclusions from the Olienick's views in the interview. "Nobody is charged or found guilty of a criminal offence for being of a character that you don't agree with or having a disposition you don't agree with," the judge said. Olienick and Carbert are also charged with mischief and possession of a weapon for a dangerous purpose. Olienick faces a further charge of being in possession of a pipe bomb. The defence has suggested one undercover officer broke legal and ethical rules by flirting with Olienick to gain information, as text messages between her and Olienick featured heart emojis. The officer rejected the flirting allegation. The hearts, said the officer, indicated she liked the comments, not the person. Canadian businessman Frank Stronach facing new charges in connection with historical sexual assault investigation Canadian businessman Frank Stronach is facing eight new charges after police say they've identified additional victims as part of an investigation into historical sexual assault allegations. What you should know about the tick-borne disease anaplasmosis Cases of a tick-borne illness called anaplasmosis are on the rise globally, and that includes across Canada. Biology professor Vett Lloyd says it is important to understand the risk factors for contracting anaplasmosis, and recognize symptoms of an infection, as the disease becomes more prevalent. 'I'm sorry, God': Accused at Coutts border blockade cried when protest abandoned He flipped off a trooper and got charged. Now Vermont is on the hook for US$175,000

Do No Harm Sues American Association of University Women for Racial Discrimination

" program offered by the American Association of University Women (AAUW), which illegally excludes certain women based on race. Women pursuing an education in one of AAUW's designated degree programs can receive $20,000 and networking opportunities. Fellowships awarded for medicine, law, and business are "restricted to women of color" and are "open only to women from ethnic minority groups. Black or African American, Hispanic or Latino/a, American Indian or Alaska Native, Asian, and Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander." AAUW's "Selected Professions Fellowships" program violates the Civil Rights Act of 1866, 42 U.S.C. §1981, which requires racial equality in "to mak[ing] and enforce[ing] contracts." Do No Harm is filing on behalf of its medical-student members who meet all criteria laid out by AAUW but are ineligible to apply to the fellowship because of their race. "We must keep identity politics out of medical education whether that be in the classroom or in medical fellowship programs," said Dr. Stanley Goldfarb, Chairman of Do No Harm. "Every patient deserves access to the best possible care. Yet, ideologically driven fellowships such as those offered by the American Association of University Women, do not improve care. Medical fellowships should be awarded to students because of merit, not race." "The American Association of University Women should be ashamed of their archaic and illegal practice of discrimination based on race, said

lifestyle

Do No Harm Sues American Association of University Women for Racial Discrimination. " program offered by the American Association of University Women (AAUW), which illegally excludes certain women based on race. Women pursuing an education in one of AAUW's designated degree programs can receive $20,000 and networking opportunities. Fellowships awarded for medicine, law, and business are "restricted to women of color" and are "open only to women from ethnic minority groups. Black or African American, Hispanic or Latino/a, American Indian or Alaska Native, Asian, and Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander." AAUW's "Selected Professions Fellowships" program violates the Civil Rights Act of 1866, 42 U.S.C. §1981, which requires racial equality in "to mak[ing] and enforce[ing] contracts." Do No Harm is filing on behalf of its medical-student members who meet all criteria laid out by AAUW but are ineligible to apply to the fellowship because of their race. "We must keep identity politics out of medical education whether that be in the classroom or in medical fellowship programs," said Dr. Stanley Goldfarb, Chairman of Do No Harm. "Every patient deserves access to the best possible care. Yet, ideologically driven fellowships such as those offered by the American Association of University Women, do not improve care. Medical fellowships should be awarded to students because of merit, not race." "The American Association of University Women should be ashamed of their archaic and illegal practice of discrimination based on race, said

Five things the main parties aren't mentioning... and how exit polls are conducted

The Institute for Fiscal Studies (IFS) says there's a "conspiracy of silence" at this election - that all of the major political parties aren't being honest enough about their fiscal plans. The thinktank says all the major parties are avoiding discussion around the black hole in their spending plans for after the election - but what else are they not talking about? On the Sky News Daily, Niall Paterson is joined by economics and data editor Ed Conway to look at why topics from tax to Brexit might be missing from the campaigning. Plus, Ed explains how exit polls, the first and most accurate early indications of who might win the general election on voting day, are put together.

politics

Five things the main parties aren't mentioning... and how exit polls are conducted. The Institute for Fiscal Studies (IFS) says there's a "conspiracy of silence" at this election - that all of the major political parties aren't being honest enough about their fiscal plans. The thinktank says all the major parties are avoiding discussion around the black hole in their spending plans for after the election - but what else are they not talking about? On the Sky News Daily, Niall Paterson is joined by economics and data editor Ed Conway to look at why topics from tax to Brexit might be missing from the campaigning. Plus, Ed explains how exit polls, the first and most accurate early indications of who might win the general election on voting day, are put together.

WATCH: Honoring the sun, the Inca Inti Raymi celebration

An ancient Inca ritual, offering to the sun, was re-enacted on Monday, bringing actors and Indigenous communities together.

africa

WATCH: Honoring the sun, the Inca Inti Raymi celebration. An ancient Inca ritual, offering to the sun, was re-enacted on Monday, bringing actors and Indigenous communities together.

Berkley Expands In-House Manufacturing Capabilities with Acquisition of Sisco Corporation

June 18, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Berkley, a leading manufacturer of innovative packaging and display solutions, is excited to announce the acquisition of Sisco Corporation (also known as Sisco Box or Sisco Container), a family-owned corrugated sheet plant based in Nashville, Illinois. This acquisition marks a significant milestone in Berkley's continued growth and commitment to serving our customers' needs with enhanced capabilities. Check out Berkley's Nashville, Illinois Corrugated Manufacturing Plant just about an hour outside of St Louis! Full in house state of the art corrugated manufacturing capabilities. Established 50 years ago, Sisco Corporation has built a strong reputation for manufacturing high-quality corrugated boxes and displays. By integrating Sisco's manufacturing equipment and expertise into Berkley, we are significantly expanding our in-house production capabilities, enabling us to better meet the diverse needs of our customers. Berkley, founded in 2012 by Eric Berkley and his father Jeff Berkley, has always prioritized listening to and understanding our customers' needs. Our slogan, "We start by listening," reflects this commitment. With sales offices in Lakewood, California, a design center in Rogers, Arkansas, and a warehouse in Lowell, Arkansas, we have been steadily expanding our footprint across the country. The addition of Sisco's manufacturing capabilities enhances our ability to provide top-tier packaging solutions more efficiently. This acquisition not only strengthens our product offerings but also ensures we continue to deliver the exceptional service our customers have come to expect. Eric Berkley added, "We are thrilled to welcome Sisco Corporation onto the Berkley team. Their dedication to quality and community mirrors our own values, making this a natural and exciting fit. We look forward to leveraging their expertise and equipment to better serve our customers and continue our history of growth."

business

Berkley Expands In-House Manufacturing Capabilities with Acquisition of Sisco Corporation. June 18, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Berkley, a leading manufacturer of innovative packaging and display solutions, is excited to announce the acquisition of Sisco Corporation (also known as Sisco Box or Sisco Container), a family-owned corrugated sheet plant based in Nashville, Illinois. This acquisition marks a significant milestone in Berkley's continued growth and commitment to serving our customers' needs with enhanced capabilities. Check out Berkley's Nashville, Illinois Corrugated Manufacturing Plant just about an hour outside of St Louis! Full in house state of the art corrugated manufacturing capabilities. Established 50 years ago, Sisco Corporation has built a strong reputation for manufacturing high-quality corrugated boxes and displays. By integrating Sisco's manufacturing equipment and expertise into Berkley, we are significantly expanding our in-house production capabilities, enabling us to better meet the diverse needs of our customers. Berkley, founded in 2012 by Eric Berkley and his father Jeff Berkley, has always prioritized listening to and understanding our customers' needs. Our slogan, "We start by listening," reflects this commitment. With sales offices in Lakewood, California, a design center in Rogers, Arkansas, and a warehouse in Lowell, Arkansas, we have been steadily expanding our footprint across the country. The addition of Sisco's manufacturing capabilities enhances our ability to provide top-tier packaging solutions more efficiently. This acquisition not only strengthens our product offerings but also ensures we continue to deliver the exceptional service our customers have come to expect. Eric Berkley added, "We are thrilled to welcome Sisco Corporation onto the Berkley team. Their dedication to quality and community mirrors our own values, making this a natural and exciting fit. We look forward to leveraging their expertise and equipment to better serve our customers and continue our history of growth."

NBA free agency: Paul George reportedly jilts Clippers, joins 76ers on $212m contract

Philadelphia 76ers have agreed to a four-year, $212m free-agent contract, a person with knowledge of the deal said on Monday. A nine-time All-Star, George intends to sign the contract shortly after the league's moratorium on signings is lifted on 6 July, said the person, who spoke to the Associated Press on condition of anonymity. NBA MVP Joel Embiid and All-Star guard Tyrese Maxey, the 76ers will boast one of the most formidable trios in the league. George picked Philadelphia after he spurned the Is 7ft 9in teenager Olivier Rioux too tall for basketball? George has averaged 20.8 points over a 14-year career spent with Indiana, Oklahoma City and the Clippers. "Paul has informed us that he is signing his next contract with another team," the Clippers said in a statement on Sunday night. The team added: "We negotiated for months with Paul and his representative on a contract that would make sense for both sides, and we were left far apart. The gap was significant. We understand and respect Paul's decision to look elsewhere for his next contract." The 34-year-old George joins a Sixers team that has been a perennial underachiever, even as Embiid has blossomed into one of the top players in the NBA. They have not won an NBA title since 1983 or even advanced out of the second round of the Eastern Conference since 2001. Embiid fueled rumors George was heading to Philadelphia during a TV appearance together during the NBA finals. "Hopefully this offseason, we find a way to get better, and you know," Embiid said, pausing to side-eye George, "add some pieces."

sports

NBA free agency: Paul George reportedly jilts Clippers, joins 76ers on $212m contract. Philadelphia 76ers have agreed to a four-year, $212m free-agent contract, a person with knowledge of the deal said on Monday. A nine-time All-Star, George intends to sign the contract shortly after the league's moratorium on signings is lifted on 6 July, said the person, who spoke to the Associated Press on condition of anonymity. NBA MVP Joel Embiid and All-Star guard Tyrese Maxey, the 76ers will boast one of the most formidable trios in the league. George picked Philadelphia after he spurned the Is 7ft 9in teenager Olivier Rioux too tall for basketball? George has averaged 20.8 points over a 14-year career spent with Indiana, Oklahoma City and the Clippers. "Paul has informed us that he is signing his next contract with another team," the Clippers said in a statement on Sunday night. The team added: "We negotiated for months with Paul and his representative on a contract that would make sense for both sides, and we were left far apart. The gap was significant. We understand and respect Paul's decision to look elsewhere for his next contract." The 34-year-old George joins a Sixers team that has been a perennial underachiever, even as Embiid has blossomed into one of the top players in the NBA. They have not won an NBA title since 1983 or even advanced out of the second round of the Eastern Conference since 2001. Embiid fueled rumors George was heading to Philadelphia during a TV appearance together during the NBA finals. "Hopefully this offseason, we find a way to get better, and you know," Embiid said, pausing to side-eye George, "add some pieces."

Panasonic Information Systems Chooses Oracle Cloud to Modernize Internal Infrastructure

Panasonic Information Systems Co., Ltd. (Panasonic IS), the IT subsidiary of Panasonic Holdings Corporation, has selected Oracle Exadata Database Service on Oracle Cloud Infrastructure (OCI) to support the modernization of internal systems used across the Panasonic Group, according to Migration of Extensive Database Environments The initiative involves migrating over 2,000 database environments from hundreds of internal systems to Oracle Exadata Database Service on OCI. In the first phase, Panasonic IS has successfully transitioned 30 systems from on-premises infrastructure to the cloud, achieving a 50% reduction in database infrastructure costs. This milestone includes the migration of one of Panasonic Group's largest systems—the sales data analytics system, which manages 30TB of data and is utilized by 18,000 employees in Japan. Strategic IT Modernization Panasonic Group, a global leader in consumer electronics, is modernizing its IT environment and business processes to maintain competitiveness. The company is leveraging a hybrid cloud infrastructure, termed "Panasonic Transformation (PX) Best Hybrid Platform," to adopt the most suitable cloud solutions for its diverse systems. Oracle Exadata Database Service on OCI was chosen for its superior performance, availability, and Performance and Collaboration Takeshi Yokosuka, Director of Platform Service Division at Panasonic IS, emphasized the importance of selecting optimal environments for each system to maintain or enhance performance. Yokosuka noted the advanced functionalities and superior performance of Oracle Exadata Database Service during initial testing, positioning it as the best solution among competitors. The ongoing migration is already yielding significant benefits, and Panasonic IS plans to extend this experience to other companies considering Oracle Exadata Database Service. Tomoyuki Sakai, Senior Managing Executive Officer at Panasonic IS, highlighted the success of the sales data analytics system migration, meeting stringent performance requirements. Sakai praised Oracle Consulting's dedication, which was instrumental in swiftly resolving issues during deployment. Panasonic IS aims to deepen its collaboration with Oracle to reduce operational workloads and adopt the latest technologies, ultimately developing an optimal hybrid cloud environment. Oracle's Role and Benefits Oracle Exadata Database Service offers a versatile, optimized infrastructure for public and hybrid clouds, featuring built-in automation, elastic resource scaling, security, and fast performance for all Oracle Database workloads. Ashish Ray, Vice President of Mission-Critical Database Technologies at Oracle, remarked on the importance of embracing cloud technology in the electronics sector to navigate supply chain crises and shifting customer demands. Ray noted that Exadata Database Service on OCI provides Panasonic IS with robust database performance, security, and availability, facilitating the deployment of diverse applications to support thousands of users, thereby granting significant economic benefits and flexibility.

crypto

Panasonic Information Systems Chooses Oracle Cloud to Modernize Internal Infrastructure. Panasonic Information Systems Co., Ltd. (Panasonic IS), the IT subsidiary of Panasonic Holdings Corporation, has selected Oracle Exadata Database Service on Oracle Cloud Infrastructure (OCI) to support the modernization of internal systems used across the Panasonic Group, according to Migration of Extensive Database Environments The initiative involves migrating over 2,000 database environments from hundreds of internal systems to Oracle Exadata Database Service on OCI. In the first phase, Panasonic IS has successfully transitioned 30 systems from on-premises infrastructure to the cloud, achieving a 50% reduction in database infrastructure costs. This milestone includes the migration of one of Panasonic Group's largest systems—the sales data analytics system, which manages 30TB of data and is utilized by 18,000 employees in Japan. Strategic IT Modernization Panasonic Group, a global leader in consumer electronics, is modernizing its IT environment and business processes to maintain competitiveness. The company is leveraging a hybrid cloud infrastructure, termed "Panasonic Transformation (PX) Best Hybrid Platform," to adopt the most suitable cloud solutions for its diverse systems. Oracle Exadata Database Service on OCI was chosen for its superior performance, availability, and Performance and Collaboration Takeshi Yokosuka, Director of Platform Service Division at Panasonic IS, emphasized the importance of selecting optimal environments for each system to maintain or enhance performance. Yokosuka noted the advanced functionalities and superior performance of Oracle Exadata Database Service during initial testing, positioning it as the best solution among competitors. The ongoing migration is already yielding significant benefits, and Panasonic IS plans to extend this experience to other companies considering Oracle Exadata Database Service. Tomoyuki Sakai, Senior Managing Executive Officer at Panasonic IS, highlighted the success of the sales data analytics system migration, meeting stringent performance requirements. Sakai praised Oracle Consulting's dedication, which was instrumental in swiftly resolving issues during deployment. Panasonic IS aims to deepen its collaboration with Oracle to reduce operational workloads and adopt the latest technologies, ultimately developing an optimal hybrid cloud environment. Oracle's Role and Benefits Oracle Exadata Database Service offers a versatile, optimized infrastructure for public and hybrid clouds, featuring built-in automation, elastic resource scaling, security, and fast performance for all Oracle Database workloads. Ashish Ray, Vice President of Mission-Critical Database Technologies at Oracle, remarked on the importance of embracing cloud technology in the electronics sector to navigate supply chain crises and shifting customer demands. Ray noted that Exadata Database Service on OCI provides Panasonic IS with robust database performance, security, and availability, facilitating the deployment of diverse applications to support thousands of users, thereby granting significant economic benefits and flexibility.

After East Palestine train derailment, toxic chemicals did not need to be burned off, NTSB says

Residents to RFK Jr. about the East Palestine train derailment: 'They stole our lives' Exclusive: 2024 presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. sits down with residents of East Palestine, Ohio and neighboring Pennsylvania to discuss the ongoing fallout from the toxic 2023 train derailment on 'The Story.' The decision to blow open five tank cars and burn the toxic chemical inside them after a freight train derailed in Eastern Ohio last year wasn't justified, the head of the National Transportation Safety Board told Congress Wednesday. But she said the key decision-makers who feared those tank cars were going to explode three days after the crash never had the information they needed. The vinyl chloride released that day, combined with all the other chemicals that spilled and caught fire after the derailment in East Palestine, Ohio, have left residents with lingering fears about possible long-term health consequences. Experts from the company that made the vinyl chloride inside those tank cars, Oxy Vinyls, were telling contractors hired by Norfolk Southern railroad that they believed that no dangerous chemical reaction was happening, NTSB Chair Jennifer Homendy said. But Oxy Vinyls was left out of the command center. BIDEN ADMIN INSISTS PRESIDENT HAS 'LASER FOCUS' ON EAST PALESTINE DESPITE NOT VISITING FOR A YEAR "They informed them that polymerization, they believed polymerization was not occurring, and there was no justification to do a vent and burn," Homendy said. "There was another option: let it cool down." However, that information was never relayed to Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine and the first responders in charge, she said. Some of this information came out at NTSB hearings last spring in East Palestine. Homendy's comments Wednesday were the clearest yet that the controversial vent-and-burn action wasn't needed. But the agency won't release its final report on what caused the Feb. 3, 2023, derailment until it holds another hearing this June. A black plume rises over East Palestine, Ohio, as a result of the controlled detonation of a portion of the derailed Norfolk Southern trains on Feb. 6, 2023. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar, File) DeWine's spokesperson Dan Tierney said it's frustrating to hear now — more than a year after the derailment — that it wasn't necessary to blow open those tank cars. "The only two scenarios that were ever brought up were a catastrophic explosion occurring, where shrapnel would be thrust in all directions to a one-mile radius or averting that through a controlled vent and burn," Tierney said. "Nobody ever brought up a scenario where if you just did nothing, it wouldn't explode." East Palestine Fire Chief Keith Drabick has said the consensus in the command center was that releasing and burning the chemicals was the "least bad option." But Homendy said they never heard Oxy Vinyls' opinion that the vinyl chloride was stable. Instead, the decision-makers relied on contractors who were alarmed by the limited temperature readings they were able to get, combined with the violent way one of the tank cars released vinyl chloride with a roar from a pressure release valve after hours of calm. Drew McCarty with Specialized Professional Services testified last spring that the tank car "frankly scared the hell out of us." Republican Sen. JD Vance, who questioned Homendy at Wednesday's hearing, said he wasn't trying to criticize Drabick, DeWine and the other officials who made the decision. "I think it's a criticism of the people on the ground who provided inadequate information — and provided inadequate information, I think, to the great detriment of the community on the ground," Vance said. "This is extraordinary work by your team, but this is a really, really troubling set of circumstances." Norfolk Southern defended the decision again Wednesday and said the plan had nothing to do with trying to get the trains moving again more quickly. "The top priority of everyone involved was the safety of the community, as well as limiting the impact of the incident," the railroad said. "The successful controlled release prevented a potentially catastrophic uncontrolled explosion." Krissy Ferguson, 49, has not been able to return to her home that sits on top of one of the creeks that was contaminated since the derailment. She said she was heartbroken to hear the latest updates from the NTSB. "Is our government going to allow a corporation to get away with it or are they going to act on it? Or is it going to be swept down the polluted creek like everything else is?" Ferguson said. Misti Allison, who lives with her family about a mile away from the derailment site, said the findings reaffirm what she believed to be true all along: that the vent and burn did not need to happen. "The only justification was greed, and that Norfolk Southern was putting profits over people to get the train tracks up and running as fast as possible and to destroy whatever evidence was left," Allison said. And most questions about the potential long-term health effects remain unanswered. "We need to make sure that health care is available to everybody, not just those who want to participate in a study," she said. CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP The NTSB has said that it appears an overheating bearing on one of the railcars caused the derailment. Several trackside detectors spotted the bearing starting to heat up for miles beforehand, but the temperature didn't reach a high enough level to trigger an alarm until right before the crash. That meant the crew didn't have an opportunity to stop the train. residents of East Palestine are eager to move forward once the cleanup of the derailment wraps up later this year, but some are still experiencing respiratory problems, rashes and other health concerns.

usa

After East Palestine train derailment, toxic chemicals did not need to be burned off, NTSB says. Residents to RFK Jr. about the East Palestine train derailment: 'They stole our lives' Exclusive: 2024 presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. sits down with residents of East Palestine, Ohio and neighboring Pennsylvania to discuss the ongoing fallout from the toxic 2023 train derailment on 'The Story.' The decision to blow open five tank cars and burn the toxic chemical inside them after a freight train derailed in Eastern Ohio last year wasn't justified, the head of the National Transportation Safety Board told Congress Wednesday. But she said the key decision-makers who feared those tank cars were going to explode three days after the crash never had the information they needed. The vinyl chloride released that day, combined with all the other chemicals that spilled and caught fire after the derailment in East Palestine, Ohio, have left residents with lingering fears about possible long-term health consequences. Experts from the company that made the vinyl chloride inside those tank cars, Oxy Vinyls, were telling contractors hired by Norfolk Southern railroad that they believed that no dangerous chemical reaction was happening, NTSB Chair Jennifer Homendy said. But Oxy Vinyls was left out of the command center. BIDEN ADMIN INSISTS PRESIDENT HAS 'LASER FOCUS' ON EAST PALESTINE DESPITE NOT VISITING FOR A YEAR "They informed them that polymerization, they believed polymerization was not occurring, and there was no justification to do a vent and burn," Homendy said. "There was another option: let it cool down." However, that information was never relayed to Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine and the first responders in charge, she said. Some of this information came out at NTSB hearings last spring in East Palestine. Homendy's comments Wednesday were the clearest yet that the controversial vent-and-burn action wasn't needed. But the agency won't release its final report on what caused the Feb. 3, 2023, derailment until it holds another hearing this June. A black plume rises over East Palestine, Ohio, as a result of the controlled detonation of a portion of the derailed Norfolk Southern trains on Feb. 6, 2023. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar, File) DeWine's spokesperson Dan Tierney said it's frustrating to hear now — more than a year after the derailment — that it wasn't necessary to blow open those tank cars. "The only two scenarios that were ever brought up were a catastrophic explosion occurring, where shrapnel would be thrust in all directions to a one-mile radius or averting that through a controlled vent and burn," Tierney said. "Nobody ever brought up a scenario where if you just did nothing, it wouldn't explode." East Palestine Fire Chief Keith Drabick has said the consensus in the command center was that releasing and burning the chemicals was the "least bad option." But Homendy said they never heard Oxy Vinyls' opinion that the vinyl chloride was stable. Instead, the decision-makers relied on contractors who were alarmed by the limited temperature readings they were able to get, combined with the violent way one of the tank cars released vinyl chloride with a roar from a pressure release valve after hours of calm. Drew McCarty with Specialized Professional Services testified last spring that the tank car "frankly scared the hell out of us." Republican Sen. JD Vance, who questioned Homendy at Wednesday's hearing, said he wasn't trying to criticize Drabick, DeWine and the other officials who made the decision. "I think it's a criticism of the people on the ground who provided inadequate information — and provided inadequate information, I think, to the great detriment of the community on the ground," Vance said. "This is extraordinary work by your team, but this is a really, really troubling set of circumstances." Norfolk Southern defended the decision again Wednesday and said the plan had nothing to do with trying to get the trains moving again more quickly. "The top priority of everyone involved was the safety of the community, as well as limiting the impact of the incident," the railroad said. "The successful controlled release prevented a potentially catastrophic uncontrolled explosion." Krissy Ferguson, 49, has not been able to return to her home that sits on top of one of the creeks that was contaminated since the derailment. She said she was heartbroken to hear the latest updates from the NTSB. "Is our government going to allow a corporation to get away with it or are they going to act on it? Or is it going to be swept down the polluted creek like everything else is?" Ferguson said. Misti Allison, who lives with her family about a mile away from the derailment site, said the findings reaffirm what she believed to be true all along: that the vent and burn did not need to happen. "The only justification was greed, and that Norfolk Southern was putting profits over people to get the train tracks up and running as fast as possible and to destroy whatever evidence was left," Allison said. And most questions about the potential long-term health effects remain unanswered. "We need to make sure that health care is available to everybody, not just those who want to participate in a study," she said. CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP The NTSB has said that it appears an overheating bearing on one of the railcars caused the derailment. Several trackside detectors spotted the bearing starting to heat up for miles beforehand, but the temperature didn't reach a high enough level to trigger an alarm until right before the crash. That meant the crew didn't have an opportunity to stop the train. residents of East Palestine are eager to move forward once the cleanup of the derailment wraps up later this year, but some are still experiencing respiratory problems, rashes and other health concerns.

NVIDIA and top VC firms invest in Vilya, a biotech spinout from Seattle’s Institute for Protein Design

Vilya CEO Cyrus Harmon (Vilya Photo) Vilya , a biotech startup built off technology developed at the Seattle-based Institute for Protein Design , announced an expanded $71 million Series A investment round. The 2-year-old company, which has operations in Seattle and the Bay Area, uses advanced machine learning and AI techniques to help develop so-called macrocyclic drugs, a promising new type of medicine. Vilya’s backers include biotech investor ARCH Venture Partners, as well as NVIDIA’s venture capital arm NVentures and other top firms including Seattle-based Madrona and Silicon Valley heavyweight Menlo Ventures. “The current state of the art in discovering macrocycle drugs is slow and relies on legacy screening techniques with limited chemical diversity,” Madrona wrote in blog post Thursday about its investment. “Vilya is upending the status quo, leveraging best-in-class protein engineering tools to crack the code on intelligently designing these complex but powerful molecules.” Vilya is one of several spinouts from the Institute for Protein Design, led by protein design pioneer David Baker . Earlier this year the IPD published a study in Science on designing specialized peptides, sleek ultra-small proteins that form the basis for Vilya. AI-powered protein design is being used to create new therapeutics, vaccines, biosensors, materials and more. The field is moving fast, and IPD research is behind many of the advances. Vilya last year hired biotech vet Cyrus Harmon as its CEO. Harmon previously co-founded and led Olema Oncology. Vilya has 40 employees, with about a quarter in the Seattle region. The company previously raised $50 million for its Series A round. “Our platform is built on ground-breaking research in advanced computational approaches and taps into uncharted chemical space within cyclic peptides to design new molecular structures not found in nature,” the company says on its LinkedIn profile. “We aim to boldly leverage cutting edge computing to change how we design new medicines, and to ultimately cure diseases.”

business,tech

NVIDIA and top VC firms invest in Vilya, a biotech spinout from Seattle’s Institute for Protein Design. Vilya CEO Cyrus Harmon (Vilya Photo) Vilya , a biotech startup built off technology developed at the Seattle-based Institute for Protein Design , announced an expanded $71 million Series A investment round. The 2-year-old company, which has operations in Seattle and the Bay Area, uses advanced machine learning and AI techniques to help develop so-called macrocyclic drugs, a promising new type of medicine. Vilya’s backers include biotech investor ARCH Venture Partners, as well as NVIDIA’s venture capital arm NVentures and other top firms including Seattle-based Madrona and Silicon Valley heavyweight Menlo Ventures. “The current state of the art in discovering macrocycle drugs is slow and relies on legacy screening techniques with limited chemical diversity,” Madrona wrote in blog post Thursday about its investment. “Vilya is upending the status quo, leveraging best-in-class protein engineering tools to crack the code on intelligently designing these complex but powerful molecules.” Vilya is one of several spinouts from the Institute for Protein Design, led by protein design pioneer David Baker . Earlier this year the IPD published a study in Science on designing specialized peptides, sleek ultra-small proteins that form the basis for Vilya. AI-powered protein design is being used to create new therapeutics, vaccines, biosensors, materials and more. The field is moving fast, and IPD research is behind many of the advances. Vilya last year hired biotech vet Cyrus Harmon as its CEO. Harmon previously co-founded and led Olema Oncology. Vilya has 40 employees, with about a quarter in the Seattle region. The company previously raised $50 million for its Series A round. “Our platform is built on ground-breaking research in advanced computational approaches and taps into uncharted chemical space within cyclic peptides to design new molecular structures not found in nature,” the company says on its LinkedIn profile. “We aim to boldly leverage cutting edge computing to change how we design new medicines, and to ultimately cure diseases.”

Bloc leader says he wants legal opinion on prospect of U.S. trade sanctions over language law

Bloc leader says he wants legal opinion on prospect of U.S. trade sanctions over language law Bloc Québécois Leader Yves-François Blanchet says he will ask for a legal opinion on whether the U.S. government has any legal grounds to impose trade sanctions on Canada in response to Quebec language law Bill 96. Trade sanctions triggered by Bill 96 would set a 'dangerous precedent,' says Blanchet Posted: Jun 12, 2024 4:00 AM EDT | Last Updated: 1 hour ago Bloc Quebecois Leader Yves-Francois Blanchet says he wants to know more about the United States' authority to impose trade sanctions in response to Quebec's controversial language law. (The Canadian Press) Social Sharing Bloc Québécois Leader Yves-François Blanchet says he will ask for a legal opinion on whether the U.S. government has any legal grounds to impose trade sanctions on Canada in response to Quebec's controversial language law Bill 96. Speaking to reporters Tuesday, Blanchet said records that show the U.S. Trade Representative's office has discussed possible sanctions don't correspond with what the U.S. State Department has told him during trips to Washington — that while they don't necessarily like Bill 96, American businesses respect Canadian and Quebec law. "It worries me," Blanchet said. "Before I get carried away publicly, I will ask for a well-documented legal opinion." Blanchet suggested a lobby group has influenced the U.S. government. "I understand that there is perhaps a lobby that has been exercised," he said. "I have asked for a legal opinion on the tenor of the trade agreements to see if there really substance for a penalty imposed by the United States on such a basis, which would be a dangerous precedent for the protection of French in Quebec." U.S. officials discussed hitting Canada with trade sanctions over Quebec's language law Consumers will ultimately pay the price for Quebec's new language rules, experts say Blanchet's comments come after CBC News obtained documents under the U.S. Freedom of Information Act that show U.S government officials have discussed the possibility of trade sanctions against Canada in response to Bill 96. The documents also reveal that U.S. government officials are being told that the implementation of Bill 96 could result in fewer products being shipped to Canada — not just to Quebec. The documents show that officials from the U.S. Trade Representative's office have debated whether the legislation — which includes provisions that could affect things like commercial signs, trademarks and labels on products — contravenes trade agreements between Canada and the United States. Officials have discussed, for example, whether the restrictions in Bill 96 could constitute a technical barrier to trade, a breach of trade-related intellectual property rights or a violation of Section 301 of the Trade Act of 1974. Behind closed doors, the International Trademarks Association industry group has urged the U.S. government to impose trade sanctions on Canada, arguing Bill 96 affects the ability of U.S. companies to sell their products in Quebec. Other USTR officials, however, questioned whether the provisions of Bill 96 would qualify for sanctions. The documents, which cover the period from November 2022 to late January 2024, don't say whether USTR officials have reached a conclusion one way or another. The USTR is still engaging with industry groups and companies concerned about Bill 96 and monitoring the situation. Public Services and Procurement Minister Jean-Yves Duclos says the need to protect the French language in Quebec must be balanced against the need to protect the economy. (Sean Kilpatrick/The Canadian Press) Speaking to reporters on the way out of a cabinet meeting Tuesday, Public Services and Procurement Minister Jean-Yves Duclos said it's important to both defend the French language and protect the economy. "Obviously, we also need to eat bread, we need to pay for our groceries at the end of the month. So, economic preoccupations are important for people in the Quebec region," he said. "We are a region that depends a lot on the capacity to export our products and attract foreign investment to Canada and Quebec in particular." Justice Minister Arif Virani said he is following Bill 96 closely, particularly its use of the notwithstanding clause. Asked about the concerns expressed by American officials, Virani punted the question to Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland.

politics

Bloc leader says he wants legal opinion on prospect of U.S. trade sanctions over language law. Bloc leader says he wants legal opinion on prospect of U.S. trade sanctions over language law Bloc Québécois Leader Yves-François Blanchet says he will ask for a legal opinion on whether the U.S. government has any legal grounds to impose trade sanctions on Canada in response to Quebec language law Bill 96. Trade sanctions triggered by Bill 96 would set a 'dangerous precedent,' says Blanchet Posted: Jun 12, 2024 4:00 AM EDT | Last Updated: 1 hour ago Bloc Quebecois Leader Yves-Francois Blanchet says he wants to know more about the United States' authority to impose trade sanctions in response to Quebec's controversial language law. (The Canadian Press) Social Sharing Bloc Québécois Leader Yves-François Blanchet says he will ask for a legal opinion on whether the U.S. government has any legal grounds to impose trade sanctions on Canada in response to Quebec's controversial language law Bill 96. Speaking to reporters Tuesday, Blanchet said records that show the U.S. Trade Representative's office has discussed possible sanctions don't correspond with what the U.S. State Department has told him during trips to Washington — that while they don't necessarily like Bill 96, American businesses respect Canadian and Quebec law. "It worries me," Blanchet said. "Before I get carried away publicly, I will ask for a well-documented legal opinion." Blanchet suggested a lobby group has influenced the U.S. government. "I understand that there is perhaps a lobby that has been exercised," he said. "I have asked for a legal opinion on the tenor of the trade agreements to see if there really substance for a penalty imposed by the United States on such a basis, which would be a dangerous precedent for the protection of French in Quebec." U.S. officials discussed hitting Canada with trade sanctions over Quebec's language law Consumers will ultimately pay the price for Quebec's new language rules, experts say Blanchet's comments come after CBC News obtained documents under the U.S. Freedom of Information Act that show U.S government officials have discussed the possibility of trade sanctions against Canada in response to Bill 96. The documents also reveal that U.S. government officials are being told that the implementation of Bill 96 could result in fewer products being shipped to Canada — not just to Quebec. The documents show that officials from the U.S. Trade Representative's office have debated whether the legislation — which includes provisions that could affect things like commercial signs, trademarks and labels on products — contravenes trade agreements between Canada and the United States. Officials have discussed, for example, whether the restrictions in Bill 96 could constitute a technical barrier to trade, a breach of trade-related intellectual property rights or a violation of Section 301 of the Trade Act of 1974. Behind closed doors, the International Trademarks Association industry group has urged the U.S. government to impose trade sanctions on Canada, arguing Bill 96 affects the ability of U.S. companies to sell their products in Quebec. Other USTR officials, however, questioned whether the provisions of Bill 96 would qualify for sanctions. The documents, which cover the period from November 2022 to late January 2024, don't say whether USTR officials have reached a conclusion one way or another. The USTR is still engaging with industry groups and companies concerned about Bill 96 and monitoring the situation. Public Services and Procurement Minister Jean-Yves Duclos says the need to protect the French language in Quebec must be balanced against the need to protect the economy. (Sean Kilpatrick/The Canadian Press) Speaking to reporters on the way out of a cabinet meeting Tuesday, Public Services and Procurement Minister Jean-Yves Duclos said it's important to both defend the French language and protect the economy. "Obviously, we also need to eat bread, we need to pay for our groceries at the end of the month. So, economic preoccupations are important for people in the Quebec region," he said. "We are a region that depends a lot on the capacity to export our products and attract foreign investment to Canada and Quebec in particular." Justice Minister Arif Virani said he is following Bill 96 closely, particularly its use of the notwithstanding clause. Asked about the concerns expressed by American officials, Virani punted the question to Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland.

Bloomberg analyst calls for FOIA request into SEC’s Ethereum ETF decision

Bloomberg ETF analyst James Seyffart called for freedom of information access (FOIA) requests regarding the SEC’s approval of spot Ethereum ETFs. In a June 5 KITCO interview, Seyffart said that public requests should search for “emails, calls, [and] anyone that had conversations with [SEC chair] Gary Gensler” to determine what happened during the SEC’s decision-making process. He said unused denial orders could exist due to the agency’s rapid change in stance. Voting is unclear Seyffart said the SEC approved the spot Ethereum ETFs through delegated authority, a common approach but a rare choice for the issue at hand. Delegated authority also means voting records are unclear. Seyffart said that the choice points to a politically motivated decision, stating: “Until I have somebody come out and show me smoking gun evidence … this was political.” Seyffart said the “leading theory” is that a Biden administration member called SEC chair Gary Gensler and influenced the agency’s decision. A secondary theory posits that someone swung the vote of a Democratic SEC commissioner who previously voted against spot Bitcoin ETFs. The reversed vote could have led the SEC to vote at least 3-2 in favor of spot Ethereum ETFs even if Gensler voted against the funds. It is still possible for a commissioner to challenge the decision and force a vote. However, Seyffart said Democratic commissioners are unlikely to gain anything from making the voting record transparent. He previously said a challenge is unlikely to influence the actual voting results. SEC should be less political Seyffart also discussed the broader impact of politics on the SEC. He argued the SEC should not be wholly apolitical but less political than it currently is. Seyffart believes that, until recently, the SEC has decided to deny spot crypto ETFs and proceeded to find legal justification for its stance after the fact. Instead, the chair should choose the issues the agency focuses on and seek legal input from individual commissioners, leading to a decision “based on logic and reason,” Seyffart said. The post Bloomberg analyst calls for FOIA request into SEC’s Ethereum ETF decision appeared first on CryptoSlate .

crypto

Bloomberg analyst calls for FOIA request into SEC’s Ethereum ETF decision. Bloomberg ETF analyst James Seyffart called for freedom of information access (FOIA) requests regarding the SEC’s approval of spot Ethereum ETFs. In a June 5 KITCO interview, Seyffart said that public requests should search for “emails, calls, [and] anyone that had conversations with [SEC chair] Gary Gensler” to determine what happened during the SEC’s decision-making process. He said unused denial orders could exist due to the agency’s rapid change in stance. Voting is unclear Seyffart said the SEC approved the spot Ethereum ETFs through delegated authority, a common approach but a rare choice for the issue at hand. Delegated authority also means voting records are unclear. Seyffart said that the choice points to a politically motivated decision, stating: “Until I have somebody come out and show me smoking gun evidence … this was political.” Seyffart said the “leading theory” is that a Biden administration member called SEC chair Gary Gensler and influenced the agency’s decision. A secondary theory posits that someone swung the vote of a Democratic SEC commissioner who previously voted against spot Bitcoin ETFs. The reversed vote could have led the SEC to vote at least 3-2 in favor of spot Ethereum ETFs even if Gensler voted against the funds. It is still possible for a commissioner to challenge the decision and force a vote. However, Seyffart said Democratic commissioners are unlikely to gain anything from making the voting record transparent. He previously said a challenge is unlikely to influence the actual voting results. SEC should be less political Seyffart also discussed the broader impact of politics on the SEC. He argued the SEC should not be wholly apolitical but less political than it currently is. Seyffart believes that, until recently, the SEC has decided to deny spot crypto ETFs and proceeded to find legal justification for its stance after the fact. Instead, the chair should choose the issues the agency focuses on and seek legal input from individual commissioners, leading to a decision “based on logic and reason,” Seyffart said. The post Bloomberg analyst calls for FOIA request into SEC’s Ethereum ETF decision appeared first on CryptoSlate .

Kanye and Summer's estate reach copyright settlement

Kanye West and the estate of Donna Summer have reached a settlement over a copyright dispute. In February, Summer's husband Bruce Sudano sued the rapper, now known as Ye, for allegedly using an uncleared sample of her 1977 hit I Feel Love on his Vultures 1 album. Summer's estate claimed West had gone ahead with using the sample despite them previously declining his request. West did not comment on the case when asked by the BBC at the time, and has not publicly commented on the settlement. An lawyer for Summer's estate claimed earlier this year that an entity called Alien Music, representing West, approached him on 31 January, a week before the release of the rapper's album, to request clearance to sample the disco hit. The lawsuit claimed that West had "shamelessly used instantly recognisable portions" of the song, despite their request to use it being "explicitly denied". Summer's lawyers said the estate wanted "no association with West's controversial history and specifically rejected West's proposed use". "In the face of this rejection, defendants arrogantly and unilaterally decided they would simply steal I Feel Love and use it without permission," they added. West has become a controversial figure in recent years -

entertainment

Kanye and Summer's estate reach copyright settlement. Kanye West and the estate of Donna Summer have reached a settlement over a copyright dispute. In February, Summer's husband Bruce Sudano sued the rapper, now known as Ye, for allegedly using an uncleared sample of her 1977 hit I Feel Love on his Vultures 1 album. Summer's estate claimed West had gone ahead with using the sample despite them previously declining his request. West did not comment on the case when asked by the BBC at the time, and has not publicly commented on the settlement. An lawyer for Summer's estate claimed earlier this year that an entity called Alien Music, representing West, approached him on 31 January, a week before the release of the rapper's album, to request clearance to sample the disco hit. The lawsuit claimed that West had "shamelessly used instantly recognisable portions" of the song, despite their request to use it being "explicitly denied". Summer's lawyers said the estate wanted "no association with West's controversial history and specifically rejected West's proposed use". "In the face of this rejection, defendants arrogantly and unilaterally decided they would simply steal I Feel Love and use it without permission," they added. West has become a controversial figure in recent years -

Old Montreal kidnapping: search for 4th victim continues as provincial police take over investigation

The investigation into a quadruple kidnapping in Old Montreal has been transferred to Quebec provincial police. On Saturday afternoon, Montreal police said that three of the victims — two women and a man in their early 20s — were found safe. The case was transferred to the Sûreté du Québec (SQ) since the fourth person who is missing was last seen outside of the Montreal police's jurisdiction, SQ spokesperson Frédéric Deshaies said on Sunday. READ MORE: CTVNewsMontreal.ca's continued coverage of crime and policing in the Greater Montreal Area The SQ's crimes against the person section is leading the investigation. Dehaies said no further information could be released while the investigation is ongoing. Old Montreal kidnapping: search for 4th victim continues as provincial police take over investigation The investigation into a quadruple kidnapping in Old Montreal has been transferred to Quebec provincial police. Conservative surge combined with ballot confusion could crack a Liberal stronghold in Toronto byelection Growing political discontent in a Liberal stronghold could lead to a Conservative breakthrough in an Ontario byelection that may put Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's leadership to the test. On Monday, voters in the riding of Toronto-St. Paul's will head to the polls to elect a new member of Parliament. Untreated water available for residents, businesses at 2 Calgary locations as water consumption continues to drop An outbreak of summer weather didn't deter Calgary from turning off the taps Saturday. A woman is accused of attempting to drown a 3-year-old Muslim child in possible hate crime incident A woman in Texas has been charged with attempted capital murder and injury to a child after trying to drown a three-year-old child at an apartment complex pool and making racial statements, according to police. Why Mount Rainier is the U.S. volcano keeping scientists up at night The snowcapped peak of Mount Rainier, which towers 4.3 kilometres (2.7 miles) above sea level in Washington state, has not produced a significant volcanic eruption in the past 1,000 years. Yet, more than Hawaii's bubbling lava fields or Yellowstone's sprawling supervolcano, it's Mount Rainier that has many U.S. volcanologists worried. 'We're enraged': Tori Dunn's father shares her heartbreaking final moments Hundreds of mourners gathered at a vigil in Surrey Bend Regional Park Saturday evening to honour Tori Dunn, who was killed in the city's Port Kells neighbourhood last weekend. 1 person found dead and 2 still missing after floods, rockslide hit a Swiss Alpine village Rescuers in Switzerland have found the body of one of three people a day after they were swept away in a rockslide that hit their Alpine village following massive thunderstorms and rainfall, authorities said Sunday. The other two are still missing. A new study shows that 1 year of this kind of exercise yields results 4 years later Exercise is good, but resistance training with heavy weight is great! That's especially true if you are looking to maintain strength in older age, a new study shows. B.C. First Nations involved in salmon farming demand apology from William Shatner, Ryan Reynolds RCMP in N.B. seeking man who allegedly assaulted woman during home invasion Newfoundland and Labrador getting help from Quebec, Ontario to battle wildfires Illegal moose hunters fined $56.5K, suspended for 27 years in northern Ont. Most-read stories of the week: Harm reduction vending machine, historic Paris home, air conditioning woes A vending machine offering harm reduction supplies, a historic home in Paris, Ont. Up for a sale, and a fire tearing through a Simcoe greenhouse nursery round out the most-read stories of the week. 57th annual Multicultural Festival underway in Kitchener The weekend-long event drew thousands of attendees on Saturday, showcasing the myriad of cultures that contribute to the city's unique tapestry. Ontario may now be Canada's tornado capital, researchers say A 7 p.m. vigil is planned for the unnamed mother, father and two children at the local soccer complex. One person dead after motorcycle leaves road, hits tree and catches fire A person from Leamington is dead after a crash in Middlesex County. Around 2:45 a.m. on Sunday, first responders were called to a crash on Longwoods Road near Sassafras Road in Southwest Middlesex. Heat warning comes down, chance of showers in Windsor-Essex Saturday's storm near Angus, Ont. being investigated for possible tornado This weekend's storm that brought heavy rainfall to Simcoe Muskoka is being investigated for tornado activity. Driver travelling 236 km/h among seven drivers charged on Saturday Huronia West OPP has charged seven people for stunt driving on Simcoe County's roadways on Saturday. Police are remaining tight-lipped about a woman's death in a Kelowna park on Friday. Basketball ties aside, B.C.'s Macklin Celebrini focused on hockey as NHL draft's presumptive No. 1 pick Having a father working for the Golden State Warriors and former NBA star Steve Nash for an uncle, college hockey player of the year and the presumptive No. 1 NHL draft pick Macklin Celebrin, likes to think he's got game. 'We're enraged': Tori Dunn's father shares her heartbreaking final moments Hundreds of mourners gathered at a vigil in Surrey Bend Regional Park Saturday evening to honour Tori Dunn, who was killed in the city's Port Kells neighbourhood last weekend. B.C. court overturns environmental board's ruling over 'apprehension of bias' A B.C. Supreme Court judge has overturned a ruling by the province's Environmental Appeal Board after finding that the conduct of the panel's chair and one of its members led to a "reasonable apprehension of bias" in its decision. B.C. highway reopened after school bus, pedestrian crashes that killed 1 and sent 14 to hospital Traffic began moving again overnight on Highway 97 north of Lac La Hache, B.C., after a pair of crashes – one involving a school bus – left one person dead and sent 14 people to hospital Friday afternoon. B.C. First Nations involved in salmon farming demand apology from William Shatner, Ryan Reynolds Likely tornado, golf ball-sized hail hits during storm in southern Manitoba Chris Stammers, a meteorologist with ECCC, said it is unconfirmed, but it appears a tornado touched down near Lena, Man. Saturday afternoon. 'It's so much fun': Manitoba holds first-ever provincial cornhole championship A beloved backyard barbecue bean bag toss game has made it to the big leagues. An outbreak of summer weather didn't deter Calgary from turning off the taps Saturday. Former Calgary mayor Naheed Nenshi will replace Rachel Notley as the Alberta NDP leader after receiving 86 per cent of the vote on the first ballot. Panthers face task of regrouping for Game 7 with history, Stanley Cup on the line Vehicle involved in inter-provincial missing child investigation located in Saskatchewan The vehicle which is believed to be involved in an inter-provincial missing child investigation has been located in Saskatchewan.

canada

Old Montreal kidnapping: search for 4th victim continues as provincial police take over investigation. The investigation into a quadruple kidnapping in Old Montreal has been transferred to Quebec provincial police. On Saturday afternoon, Montreal police said that three of the victims — two women and a man in their early 20s — were found safe. The case was transferred to the Sûreté du Québec (SQ) since the fourth person who is missing was last seen outside of the Montreal police's jurisdiction, SQ spokesperson Frédéric Deshaies said on Sunday. READ MORE: CTVNewsMontreal.ca's continued coverage of crime and policing in the Greater Montreal Area The SQ's crimes against the person section is leading the investigation. Dehaies said no further information could be released while the investigation is ongoing. Old Montreal kidnapping: search for 4th victim continues as provincial police take over investigation The investigation into a quadruple kidnapping in Old Montreal has been transferred to Quebec provincial police. Conservative surge combined with ballot confusion could crack a Liberal stronghold in Toronto byelection Growing political discontent in a Liberal stronghold could lead to a Conservative breakthrough in an Ontario byelection that may put Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's leadership to the test. On Monday, voters in the riding of Toronto-St. Paul's will head to the polls to elect a new member of Parliament. Untreated water available for residents, businesses at 2 Calgary locations as water consumption continues to drop An outbreak of summer weather didn't deter Calgary from turning off the taps Saturday. A woman is accused of attempting to drown a 3-year-old Muslim child in possible hate crime incident A woman in Texas has been charged with attempted capital murder and injury to a child after trying to drown a three-year-old child at an apartment complex pool and making racial statements, according to police. Why Mount Rainier is the U.S. volcano keeping scientists up at night The snowcapped peak of Mount Rainier, which towers 4.3 kilometres (2.7 miles) above sea level in Washington state, has not produced a significant volcanic eruption in the past 1,000 years. Yet, more than Hawaii's bubbling lava fields or Yellowstone's sprawling supervolcano, it's Mount Rainier that has many U.S. volcanologists worried. 'We're enraged': Tori Dunn's father shares her heartbreaking final moments Hundreds of mourners gathered at a vigil in Surrey Bend Regional Park Saturday evening to honour Tori Dunn, who was killed in the city's Port Kells neighbourhood last weekend. 1 person found dead and 2 still missing after floods, rockslide hit a Swiss Alpine village Rescuers in Switzerland have found the body of one of three people a day after they were swept away in a rockslide that hit their Alpine village following massive thunderstorms and rainfall, authorities said Sunday. The other two are still missing. A new study shows that 1 year of this kind of exercise yields results 4 years later Exercise is good, but resistance training with heavy weight is great! That's especially true if you are looking to maintain strength in older age, a new study shows. B.C. First Nations involved in salmon farming demand apology from William Shatner, Ryan Reynolds RCMP in N.B. seeking man who allegedly assaulted woman during home invasion Newfoundland and Labrador getting help from Quebec, Ontario to battle wildfires Illegal moose hunters fined $56.5K, suspended for 27 years in northern Ont. Most-read stories of the week: Harm reduction vending machine, historic Paris home, air conditioning woes A vending machine offering harm reduction supplies, a historic home in Paris, Ont. Up for a sale, and a fire tearing through a Simcoe greenhouse nursery round out the most-read stories of the week. 57th annual Multicultural Festival underway in Kitchener The weekend-long event drew thousands of attendees on Saturday, showcasing the myriad of cultures that contribute to the city's unique tapestry. Ontario may now be Canada's tornado capital, researchers say A 7 p.m. vigil is planned for the unnamed mother, father and two children at the local soccer complex. One person dead after motorcycle leaves road, hits tree and catches fire A person from Leamington is dead after a crash in Middlesex County. Around 2:45 a.m. on Sunday, first responders were called to a crash on Longwoods Road near Sassafras Road in Southwest Middlesex. Heat warning comes down, chance of showers in Windsor-Essex Saturday's storm near Angus, Ont. being investigated for possible tornado This weekend's storm that brought heavy rainfall to Simcoe Muskoka is being investigated for tornado activity. Driver travelling 236 km/h among seven drivers charged on Saturday Huronia West OPP has charged seven people for stunt driving on Simcoe County's roadways on Saturday. Police are remaining tight-lipped about a woman's death in a Kelowna park on Friday. Basketball ties aside, B.C.'s Macklin Celebrini focused on hockey as NHL draft's presumptive No. 1 pick Having a father working for the Golden State Warriors and former NBA star Steve Nash for an uncle, college hockey player of the year and the presumptive No. 1 NHL draft pick Macklin Celebrin, likes to think he's got game. 'We're enraged': Tori Dunn's father shares her heartbreaking final moments Hundreds of mourners gathered at a vigil in Surrey Bend Regional Park Saturday evening to honour Tori Dunn, who was killed in the city's Port Kells neighbourhood last weekend. B.C. court overturns environmental board's ruling over 'apprehension of bias' A B.C. Supreme Court judge has overturned a ruling by the province's Environmental Appeal Board after finding that the conduct of the panel's chair and one of its members led to a "reasonable apprehension of bias" in its decision. B.C. highway reopened after school bus, pedestrian crashes that killed 1 and sent 14 to hospital Traffic began moving again overnight on Highway 97 north of Lac La Hache, B.C., after a pair of crashes – one involving a school bus – left one person dead and sent 14 people to hospital Friday afternoon. B.C. First Nations involved in salmon farming demand apology from William Shatner, Ryan Reynolds Likely tornado, golf ball-sized hail hits during storm in southern Manitoba Chris Stammers, a meteorologist with ECCC, said it is unconfirmed, but it appears a tornado touched down near Lena, Man. Saturday afternoon. 'It's so much fun': Manitoba holds first-ever provincial cornhole championship A beloved backyard barbecue bean bag toss game has made it to the big leagues. An outbreak of summer weather didn't deter Calgary from turning off the taps Saturday. Former Calgary mayor Naheed Nenshi will replace Rachel Notley as the Alberta NDP leader after receiving 86 per cent of the vote on the first ballot. Panthers face task of regrouping for Game 7 with history, Stanley Cup on the line Vehicle involved in inter-provincial missing child investigation located in Saskatchewan The vehicle which is believed to be involved in an inter-provincial missing child investigation has been located in Saskatchewan.

Keystone Agency Partners Strengthens Strategic Partnership with Keystone Insurers Group

June 19, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Keystone Agency Partners (KAP), a rapidly growing insurance brokerage platform, has signed a definitive agreement to acquire Keystone Insurers Group (Keystone) to embark on the next phase of strategic growth. The acquisition of Keystone will enable increased integration and alignment, allowing KAP to continue to be at the forefront of evolving market dynamics without compromising on its commitment to delivering excellent results to agency partners, carriers, and clients. The acquisition will integrate KAP's brokerage platform with a premier independent agency network and collectively KAP will represent 380+ agencies nationwide. The acquisition is subject to customary closing conditions, including the approval of Keystone's shareholders. Patrick Kinney, CEO of KAP, expressed his enthusiasm about the acquisition, stating, "This strategic move opens up a new chapter in our growth ambitions. By joining KAP and Keystone, we can deliver even greater value to our independent agencies, clients and carrier partners. Together, we will continue to uphold our shared commitment to innovation, service excellence, and community impact." Established on the principles of collaboration and mutual success, KAP and Keystone have shared a close alignment since KAP's inception. Now, with the integration of the two organizations, KAP aims to leverage the combined strength of the organization to provide even greater support to agency partners and clients at all stages of the agency lifecycle. Mr. Kinney will lead the combined organization as CEO. David E. Boedker Sr., who has led Keystone as Chief Executive Officer since 1998, will retire from the role upon the closing of the transaction and will continue as a strategic adviser to Mr. Kinney through the end of 2025. Mr. Boedker was Keystone's first employee in 1987 and played a pivotal role in the founding of KAP. He will continue serving as the Executive Vice Chairman of KAP's Board of Directors. Mr. Boedker, emphasized the positive impact the transaction will have on both organizations' stakeholders. "This step completes our strategic vision of bringing KAP and Keystone together, creating an exciting growth opportunity for our network of agencies to capitalize on our existing relationship while preserving the core values that have defined Keystone for over forty years." Upon closing of this acquisition and others expected to close in the near term, KAP will have approximately $375 million in run-rate revenue and will have closed 100 transactions since 2020. With over 1,600 employees nationwide, the organization operates across 31 states, providing agency and client-centric solutions in risk management, employee benefits and other financial services. As KAP and Keystone integrate their operations, they remain collectively committed to ensuring a seamless transition for their agency partners, carriers and clients. The company plans to continue to operate without disruption and provide both immediate and long-term enhancement to its service model. About Keystone Agency Partners Keystone Agency Partners is a rapidly growing insurance brokerage platform that acquires and partners with independent insurance agencies throughout the United States. KAP seeks to provide best-in-class services and capital investments that unlock potential and deliver outsized and profitable growth within its Platform agencies. Keystone Agency Partners was founded in 2020 in partnership with Keystone Insurers Group, Inc. and affiliates of Bain Capital, LP. For more information, please visit:

business

Keystone Agency Partners Strengthens Strategic Partnership with Keystone Insurers Group. June 19, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Keystone Agency Partners (KAP), a rapidly growing insurance brokerage platform, has signed a definitive agreement to acquire Keystone Insurers Group (Keystone) to embark on the next phase of strategic growth. The acquisition of Keystone will enable increased integration and alignment, allowing KAP to continue to be at the forefront of evolving market dynamics without compromising on its commitment to delivering excellent results to agency partners, carriers, and clients. The acquisition will integrate KAP's brokerage platform with a premier independent agency network and collectively KAP will represent 380+ agencies nationwide. The acquisition is subject to customary closing conditions, including the approval of Keystone's shareholders. Patrick Kinney, CEO of KAP, expressed his enthusiasm about the acquisition, stating, "This strategic move opens up a new chapter in our growth ambitions. By joining KAP and Keystone, we can deliver even greater value to our independent agencies, clients and carrier partners. Together, we will continue to uphold our shared commitment to innovation, service excellence, and community impact." Established on the principles of collaboration and mutual success, KAP and Keystone have shared a close alignment since KAP's inception. Now, with the integration of the two organizations, KAP aims to leverage the combined strength of the organization to provide even greater support to agency partners and clients at all stages of the agency lifecycle. Mr. Kinney will lead the combined organization as CEO. David E. Boedker Sr., who has led Keystone as Chief Executive Officer since 1998, will retire from the role upon the closing of the transaction and will continue as a strategic adviser to Mr. Kinney through the end of 2025. Mr. Boedker was Keystone's first employee in 1987 and played a pivotal role in the founding of KAP. He will continue serving as the Executive Vice Chairman of KAP's Board of Directors. Mr. Boedker, emphasized the positive impact the transaction will have on both organizations' stakeholders. "This step completes our strategic vision of bringing KAP and Keystone together, creating an exciting growth opportunity for our network of agencies to capitalize on our existing relationship while preserving the core values that have defined Keystone for over forty years." Upon closing of this acquisition and others expected to close in the near term, KAP will have approximately $375 million in run-rate revenue and will have closed 100 transactions since 2020. With over 1,600 employees nationwide, the organization operates across 31 states, providing agency and client-centric solutions in risk management, employee benefits and other financial services. As KAP and Keystone integrate their operations, they remain collectively committed to ensuring a seamless transition for their agency partners, carriers and clients. The company plans to continue to operate without disruption and provide both immediate and long-term enhancement to its service model. About Keystone Agency Partners Keystone Agency Partners is a rapidly growing insurance brokerage platform that acquires and partners with independent insurance agencies throughout the United States. KAP seeks to provide best-in-class services and capital investments that unlock potential and deliver outsized and profitable growth within its Platform agencies. Keystone Agency Partners was founded in 2020 in partnership with Keystone Insurers Group, Inc. and affiliates of Bain Capital, LP. For more information, please visit:

Propulsion engineer is charged with obstructing probe of deadly 2017 US military plane crash

OXFORD, Miss. (AP) — A former engineer at a U.S. military air logistics center has been charged with making false statements and obstructing justice during the criminal investigation into a 2017 military plane crash in Mississippi that killed all 16 service members aboard, prosecutors said Wednesday. James Michael Fisher, 67, was arrested Tuesday after a federal grand jury in northern Mississippi indicted him, according to a news release from U.S. Attorney Clay Joyner. The release said Fisher is a former lead propulsion engineer at the Warner Robins Air Logistics Complex in Warner Robins, Georgia. Fisher, who now lives in Portugal, made an initial court appearance in Jacksonville, Florida. A spokesperson for the U.S. attorney's office in northern Mississippi said she did not have information Wednesday about whether Fisher is represented by an attorney. Fifteen Marines and one Navy corpsman were killed July 10, 2017, when the Marine Corps KC-130T transport plane broke into pieces in the sky and slammed into a soybean field near Itta Bena, Mississippi. The plane was based at Stewart Air National Guard Base in Newburgh, New York, and it was taking Marine special operations forces from North Carolina to Arizona for training. The crash was the deadliest Marine Corps air disaster since 2005, when a transport helicopter went down during a sandstorm in Iraq, killing 30 Marines and a sailor. The indictment alleges Fisher knowingly concealed engineering documents and made false statements to investigators about his engineering decisions that might have been related to the crash, according to the news release from Joyner. Fisher faces up to 20 years in prison if he is convicted on the two false statements and two obstruction of justice charges. Three agencies that are investigating the crash joined the federal prosecutor in announcing Fisher's arrest. They are the Air Force Office of Special Investigations, the Defense Criminal Investigative Service and the Naval Criminal Investigative Service.

military

Propulsion engineer is charged with obstructing probe of deadly 2017 US military plane crash. OXFORD, Miss. (AP) — A former engineer at a U.S. military air logistics center has been charged with making false statements and obstructing justice during the criminal investigation into a 2017 military plane crash in Mississippi that killed all 16 service members aboard, prosecutors said Wednesday. James Michael Fisher, 67, was arrested Tuesday after a federal grand jury in northern Mississippi indicted him, according to a news release from U.S. Attorney Clay Joyner. The release said Fisher is a former lead propulsion engineer at the Warner Robins Air Logistics Complex in Warner Robins, Georgia. Fisher, who now lives in Portugal, made an initial court appearance in Jacksonville, Florida. A spokesperson for the U.S. attorney's office in northern Mississippi said she did not have information Wednesday about whether Fisher is represented by an attorney. Fifteen Marines and one Navy corpsman were killed July 10, 2017, when the Marine Corps KC-130T transport plane broke into pieces in the sky and slammed into a soybean field near Itta Bena, Mississippi. The plane was based at Stewart Air National Guard Base in Newburgh, New York, and it was taking Marine special operations forces from North Carolina to Arizona for training. The crash was the deadliest Marine Corps air disaster since 2005, when a transport helicopter went down during a sandstorm in Iraq, killing 30 Marines and a sailor. The indictment alleges Fisher knowingly concealed engineering documents and made false statements to investigators about his engineering decisions that might have been related to the crash, according to the news release from Joyner. Fisher faces up to 20 years in prison if he is convicted on the two false statements and two obstruction of justice charges. Three agencies that are investigating the crash joined the federal prosecutor in announcing Fisher's arrest. They are the Air Force Office of Special Investigations, the Defense Criminal Investigative Service and the Naval Criminal Investigative Service.

California burglaries committed by South American theft ring involve hidden cameras in shrubbery: authorities

Lawyer 'outraged' after American Airlines blamed girl, 9, for not seeing hidden camera American Airlines flight attendant Estes Carter Thompson III allegedly filmed girls (ages 7 to 14) with hidden camera in plane bathroom. Los Angeles County, California, residents are being warned about a growing trend in which South Americans in the U.S. on limited visas are stashing hidden cameras in shrubs and gardens to stake out their next burglary. The LA County Sheriff's Office released images of a camera and battery pack that a local resident turned in after finding the hidden surveillance equipment in their flower bed. According to the sheriff's office, so-called South American Theft Groups [SATG] are typically made up of Chilean or Colombian nationals who are in the U.S. on limited tourist visas. The "highly organized criminal enterprises" go from state-to-state, committing burglaries and thefts. FAMILY FINDS HIDDEN CAMERA IN CARNIVAL CRUISE STATEROOM The Los Angeles County Sheriff's Office warned residents to watch out for hidden cameras in their shrubs, which are used by burglars to conduct surveillance on homes. (LA County Sheriffs Office) Their tactics, officials said, involve concealing surveillance devices such as hidden cameras, in natural surroundings like bushes and leaves. The devices are strategically placed in the front or backyards of homes to allow the culprits to monitor homeowner activities, as well as movement patterns. The group uses technology that lets them access the cameras from remote locations, giving them the ability to conduct real-time surveillance, the sheriff's office noted. CREEPY TOOL LETS CRIMINAL HACKERS ACCESS YOUR HOME VIDEO CAMERAS The Los Angeles County Sheriff's Office warned residents to watch out for hidden cameras in their shrubs, which are used by burglars to conduct surveillance on homes. (LA County Sheriff's Office) Even before the devices are hidden, the criminal organizations scout out optimal locations that have minimal visibility. The perpetrators then move quickly to deploy the cameras within minutes, the sheriff's office added, to minimize the possibility of being seen by homeowners or law enforcement officials. The sheriff's office urged residents to remain vigilant and be on the lookout for any suspicious activity or unusual objects in yards or bushes. CREEPS ARE HIDING CAMERAS IN DRESSING ROOMS, BATHROOMS AND WORSE The Los Angeles County Sheriff's Office urged residents to keep an eye out for hidden cameras while outside gardening, as a new trend has perpetrators hiding technology in shrubs and gardens to conduct surveillance before burglarizing homes. To do so, officials suggest homeowners perform regular inspections of the property and look for signs of tampering or oddly placed objects. Law enforcement officials also suggest homeowners install motion-activated lights, perimeter fencing or surveillance systems to prevent threats. CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP The sheriff's office encourages anyone who finds anything suspicious to report the findings to local law enforcement officials immediately. In LA County, residents can call 800-222-TIPS, or visit lacrimestoppers.org.

usa

California burglaries committed by South American theft ring involve hidden cameras in shrubbery: authorities. Lawyer 'outraged' after American Airlines blamed girl, 9, for not seeing hidden camera American Airlines flight attendant Estes Carter Thompson III allegedly filmed girls (ages 7 to 14) with hidden camera in plane bathroom. Los Angeles County, California, residents are being warned about a growing trend in which South Americans in the U.S. on limited visas are stashing hidden cameras in shrubs and gardens to stake out their next burglary. The LA County Sheriff's Office released images of a camera and battery pack that a local resident turned in after finding the hidden surveillance equipment in their flower bed. According to the sheriff's office, so-called South American Theft Groups [SATG] are typically made up of Chilean or Colombian nationals who are in the U.S. on limited tourist visas. The "highly organized criminal enterprises" go from state-to-state, committing burglaries and thefts. FAMILY FINDS HIDDEN CAMERA IN CARNIVAL CRUISE STATEROOM The Los Angeles County Sheriff's Office warned residents to watch out for hidden cameras in their shrubs, which are used by burglars to conduct surveillance on homes. (LA County Sheriffs Office) Their tactics, officials said, involve concealing surveillance devices such as hidden cameras, in natural surroundings like bushes and leaves. The devices are strategically placed in the front or backyards of homes to allow the culprits to monitor homeowner activities, as well as movement patterns. The group uses technology that lets them access the cameras from remote locations, giving them the ability to conduct real-time surveillance, the sheriff's office noted. CREEPY TOOL LETS CRIMINAL HACKERS ACCESS YOUR HOME VIDEO CAMERAS The Los Angeles County Sheriff's Office warned residents to watch out for hidden cameras in their shrubs, which are used by burglars to conduct surveillance on homes. (LA County Sheriff's Office) Even before the devices are hidden, the criminal organizations scout out optimal locations that have minimal visibility. The perpetrators then move quickly to deploy the cameras within minutes, the sheriff's office added, to minimize the possibility of being seen by homeowners or law enforcement officials. The sheriff's office urged residents to remain vigilant and be on the lookout for any suspicious activity or unusual objects in yards or bushes. CREEPS ARE HIDING CAMERAS IN DRESSING ROOMS, BATHROOMS AND WORSE The Los Angeles County Sheriff's Office urged residents to keep an eye out for hidden cameras while outside gardening, as a new trend has perpetrators hiding technology in shrubs and gardens to conduct surveillance before burglarizing homes. To do so, officials suggest homeowners perform regular inspections of the property and look for signs of tampering or oddly placed objects. Law enforcement officials also suggest homeowners install motion-activated lights, perimeter fencing or surveillance systems to prevent threats. CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP The sheriff's office encourages anyone who finds anything suspicious to report the findings to local law enforcement officials immediately. In LA County, residents can call 800-222-TIPS, or visit lacrimestoppers.org.

From IT worker to god of music: the unlikely story of Baldur’s Gate 3 composer Borislav Slavov

If you hear the words 'down by the river' and immediately start humming one of modern gaming's most gorgeous earworms, you have the Bafta-winning Borislav Slavov to thank F or Borislav "Bobby" Slavov, it is not enough to just be a composer. The Bulgarian musician sees himself as a man who wears many hats: composer, music director, arranger, mixer. Yet back in 2002, he had just finished a master's in computer science and was working for the fourth biggest software company in the world. Unlike a number of other composers I have spoken to for this column, Slavov spends as much time as possible at the game studio he's working with, embedded in narratives and mechanics "at a granular level" so that his music "isn't massacred and chopped up". "I remember the very day I came up with that main theme, or Down By the River," he tells me before a sold out Game Music festival concert in London's Southbank Centre, where the Philharmonia Orchestra performed more than 80 minutes of music from his soundtrack to Baldur's Gate 3. "I was having one of my favourite walks down one of the channels of the city of Ghent, and the lyrics were swimming around in the back of my mind. There was this special moment when I started hearing this theme. I stopped for a moment. I thought: this sounds exciting. I need to record this tune right now!" Slavov collects the best music prize at the 2024 Bafta game awards. Photograph: Stuart Wilson/Bafta/Getty Images for Bafta Slavov, perhaps unusually for a composer in an industry as highly digital as video games, is pretty old school when it comes to his process. He demos everything. Everything. Whether it's a vocal track with him singing, or a simple aural sketch with a guitar and a hum that eventually swells and blossoms with all the symphonic blooms that come to support it, Slavov's phone is filled with little audio notes that act as concept art for the final orchestrations of his music. This is why Baldur's Gate 3 sometimes sounds like a neoclassical suite, sometimes like a West End musical: it all began with lyrical, melodic pencil lines that eventually got written over with scores for violins, violas, cellos, harps, clarinets, woodwind and so much more. From seed to flower, Slavov nurtures and grows his music every step of the way, eking out the potential of every track. Down By the River – or Main Theme, to give it its less romantic title – is at the heart of Baldur's Gate 3. Between that and the final track, The Power, there's a helix of DNA that weaves through every extravagantly camp boss fight, every heart-wrenching beat of character development, and every conspiratorial twist the massive story throws at you. Two key themes, one reflective and hopeful and the other epic and inspirational, appear and reappear, and they never feel out of place. Baldur's Gate 3. Photograph: Larian Studios There's a parallel here for the player charting their course through this massive, labyrinthine game. As you dictate the story and push the narrative down your chosen paths (are you going to be a pure, unsullied paladin? A vessel of the dark gods? A chaotic orc bard with nothing but sex on the brain?), the theme comes with you. This game didn't just win a best music Bafta for nothing. There are astonishingly bold moments in Baldur's Gate 3. Whether it's Broadway-inspired boss fights with villains who sing their own themes (yes, really), or scenes that are locked behind an incredible number of specific choices 80-plus hours into the game, Larian's opus is never short on rewarding you for sticking to your role-playing chops and playing the game the way you want to. And – perhaps unsurprisingly at this point – Slavov is always there at the end of the path, waiting with a smirk on his face and a couple of melodic lines that are, seemingly, impossibly, unique to you and your experience of the game. skip past newsletter promotion Privacy Notice: Newsletters may contain info about charities, online ads, and content funded by outside parties. For more information see our Borislav Slavov takes questions from curious concert-goers. Photograph: Game Music festival Baldur's Gate is based on Dungeons and Dragons, which has been around since 1974 – and there's a baffling amount of lore behind that tabletop RPG. One of the under-explored parts of that lore is the "lesser deities", and within that umbrella, there are the "minor deities of song" – one of whom, Milil, appears in the game. As a thank you of sorts to Slavov, the folks at Larian surreptitiously made Milil in his image – immortalising him in DnD lore as a god of music. Not bad for someone who, a couple of decades ago, was staring at a monitor at his IT job and wondering if he could ever make it in the world of music.

tech

From IT worker to god of music: the unlikely story of Baldur’s Gate 3 composer Borislav Slavov. If you hear the words 'down by the river' and immediately start humming one of modern gaming's most gorgeous earworms, you have the Bafta-winning Borislav Slavov to thank F or Borislav "Bobby" Slavov, it is not enough to just be a composer. The Bulgarian musician sees himself as a man who wears many hats: composer, music director, arranger, mixer. Yet back in 2002, he had just finished a master's in computer science and was working for the fourth biggest software company in the world. Unlike a number of other composers I have spoken to for this column, Slavov spends as much time as possible at the game studio he's working with, embedded in narratives and mechanics "at a granular level" so that his music "isn't massacred and chopped up". "I remember the very day I came up with that main theme, or Down By the River," he tells me before a sold out Game Music festival concert in London's Southbank Centre, where the Philharmonia Orchestra performed more than 80 minutes of music from his soundtrack to Baldur's Gate 3. "I was having one of my favourite walks down one of the channels of the city of Ghent, and the lyrics were swimming around in the back of my mind. There was this special moment when I started hearing this theme. I stopped for a moment. I thought: this sounds exciting. I need to record this tune right now!" Slavov collects the best music prize at the 2024 Bafta game awards. Photograph: Stuart Wilson/Bafta/Getty Images for Bafta Slavov, perhaps unusually for a composer in an industry as highly digital as video games, is pretty old school when it comes to his process. He demos everything. Everything. Whether it's a vocal track with him singing, or a simple aural sketch with a guitar and a hum that eventually swells and blossoms with all the symphonic blooms that come to support it, Slavov's phone is filled with little audio notes that act as concept art for the final orchestrations of his music. This is why Baldur's Gate 3 sometimes sounds like a neoclassical suite, sometimes like a West End musical: it all began with lyrical, melodic pencil lines that eventually got written over with scores for violins, violas, cellos, harps, clarinets, woodwind and so much more. From seed to flower, Slavov nurtures and grows his music every step of the way, eking out the potential of every track. Down By the River – or Main Theme, to give it its less romantic title – is at the heart of Baldur's Gate 3. Between that and the final track, The Power, there's a helix of DNA that weaves through every extravagantly camp boss fight, every heart-wrenching beat of character development, and every conspiratorial twist the massive story throws at you. Two key themes, one reflective and hopeful and the other epic and inspirational, appear and reappear, and they never feel out of place. Baldur's Gate 3. Photograph: Larian Studios There's a parallel here for the player charting their course through this massive, labyrinthine game. As you dictate the story and push the narrative down your chosen paths (are you going to be a pure, unsullied paladin? A vessel of the dark gods? A chaotic orc bard with nothing but sex on the brain?), the theme comes with you. This game didn't just win a best music Bafta for nothing. There are astonishingly bold moments in Baldur's Gate 3. Whether it's Broadway-inspired boss fights with villains who sing their own themes (yes, really), or scenes that are locked behind an incredible number of specific choices 80-plus hours into the game, Larian's opus is never short on rewarding you for sticking to your role-playing chops and playing the game the way you want to. And – perhaps unsurprisingly at this point – Slavov is always there at the end of the path, waiting with a smirk on his face and a couple of melodic lines that are, seemingly, impossibly, unique to you and your experience of the game. skip past newsletter promotion Privacy Notice: Newsletters may contain info about charities, online ads, and content funded by outside parties. For more information see our Borislav Slavov takes questions from curious concert-goers. Photograph: Game Music festival Baldur's Gate is based on Dungeons and Dragons, which has been around since 1974 – and there's a baffling amount of lore behind that tabletop RPG. One of the under-explored parts of that lore is the "lesser deities", and within that umbrella, there are the "minor deities of song" – one of whom, Milil, appears in the game. As a thank you of sorts to Slavov, the folks at Larian surreptitiously made Milil in his image – immortalising him in DnD lore as a god of music. Not bad for someone who, a couple of decades ago, was staring at a monitor at his IT job and wondering if he could ever make it in the world of music.

Influencing BETA, SEI and TIA, Binance to Delist Multiple Spot Trading Pairs on June 21, 2024

In a recent announcement, Binance, a leading cryptocurrency exchange, revealed its decision to delist BETA/ BTC, SEI/TUSD, TIA/TUSD spot trading pairs. This move comes as part of the platform's ongoing efforts to protect users and maintain a high-quality trading market. The delisting is scheduled for June 21, 2024, according to Binance. Reasons for Delisting Binance conducts periodic reviews of all listed spot trading pairs. The decision to remove certain pairs is based on multiple factors, including poor liquidity and low trading volume. These reviews are essential to ensure that the trading pairs available on the platform meet the necessary standards for user protection and market integrity. Impact on Users The announcement also highlighted that the Spot Trading Bots services for the affected pairs would be terminated at 03:00 (UTC) on June 21, 2024. Users are strongly advised to update or cancel their Spot Trading Bots before the cessation to avoid potential losses. Additional Information Binance has noted that there may be discrepancies in translated versions of this announcement. Therefore, users are encouraged to refer to the original English version for the most accurate information. For more details, you can visit the official announcement on Binance's website. Binance reserves the right to amend or cancel this announcement at any time without prior notice. Users are reminded that digital asset prices are subject to high market risk and price volatility. Investment decisions should be made carefully, considering one's financial situation and investment objectives.

crypto

Influencing BETA, SEI and TIA, Binance to Delist Multiple Spot Trading Pairs on June 21, 2024. In a recent announcement, Binance, a leading cryptocurrency exchange, revealed its decision to delist BETA/ BTC, SEI/TUSD, TIA/TUSD spot trading pairs. This move comes as part of the platform's ongoing efforts to protect users and maintain a high-quality trading market. The delisting is scheduled for June 21, 2024, according to Binance. Reasons for Delisting Binance conducts periodic reviews of all listed spot trading pairs. The decision to remove certain pairs is based on multiple factors, including poor liquidity and low trading volume. These reviews are essential to ensure that the trading pairs available on the platform meet the necessary standards for user protection and market integrity. Impact on Users The announcement also highlighted that the Spot Trading Bots services for the affected pairs would be terminated at 03:00 (UTC) on June 21, 2024. Users are strongly advised to update or cancel their Spot Trading Bots before the cessation to avoid potential losses. Additional Information Binance has noted that there may be discrepancies in translated versions of this announcement. Therefore, users are encouraged to refer to the original English version for the most accurate information. For more details, you can visit the official announcement on Binance's website. Binance reserves the right to amend or cancel this announcement at any time without prior notice. Users are reminded that digital asset prices are subject to high market risk and price volatility. Investment decisions should be made carefully, considering one's financial situation and investment objectives.

Ping An Announces Brand Upgrade of "Ping An Family Doctor"

China, Ltd. (hereafter " Ping An " or the "Group", HKEX: 2318 / 82318; SSE: 601318) has upgraded its "Ping An Family Doctor" brand with a one-stop, proactive health management services system and a commitment to providing "proactive health management, chronic disease control, and full disease management" to users. Michael Guo, Group Co-CEO, said, "As a world-leading financial brand, Ping An never forgets its original aspiration and vision, remains customer-needs oriented and provides customers worry-free, time-saving, and money-saving healthcare services, to further promote the high quality, systemic and standardized development of 'Internet + Family Doctor', and support the national 'Healthy China' vision." During the conference, Prof. Chi Chunhua, Chairperson-designate, General Practice Branch of Chinese Medical Association said that, as China's population aging trend intensifies, the public's health needs are becoming more diversified and complex. To meet the growing health needs of the public, developing family doctor services and searching for a better service operation model has become an inevitable trend in the new era health system reform. "There is still a long way to go to achieve high-quality development of family doctor contract services. The entire society should work together, to continue explore the family doctor contract service model, and utilize advanced internet technology to optimize and improve service scope and streamline processes," she said. Building a one-stop, proactive health management services system Ping An Health, the flagship of the Ping An Group's healthcare and senior care ecosystem, focuses on delivering "family doctor" and "senior care concierges" services, and has evolved into a one-stop provider of professional, comprehensive, high-quality health and senior care management services. As of 2023, users with family doctor membership were close to 13 million, with more than 98% of users indicating 100% satisfaction with its medical consultation service. Ping An Health's upgraded "Ping An Family Doctor" introduces a comprehensive one-stop proactive health management services system. Customers are offered worry-free, time-saving, and money-saving one-stop family healthcare management services through the support of a dedicated family doctor. The one-stop proactive health management services system includes: 1) a team of professional family doctors holding dual certification from Peking University International Hospital and the World Organization of Family Doctors (WONCA); 2) a 5A standard service process guided by the General Practice Branch of the Chinese Medical Association and certified by the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners (RACGP); 3) proactive health management services tailored to the needs of sub-healthy individuals, patients with chronic diseases, and people with medical conditions; and 4) providing 12 scarce medical resources to those in need. "Ping An Family Doctor" also announced its commitment to providing "proactive health management, chronic disease control, and full disease management". The commitment translates into different actions for different patient groups. For sub-healthy individuals, "Ping An Family Doctor" develops high-quality health management plans through automated health records and instant interpretation of physical examination reports. This enables timely physical examination and early treatment interventions. For chronic disease patients, "Ping An Family Doctor" combines Internet of Things (IoT) real-time monitoring and high-risk warnings with a 21-day lifestyle management program to help relieve chronic disease symptoms. For individuals with medical conditions, "Ping An Family Doctor" offers comprehensive disease management, including: 24/7 immediate pre-hospitalization consultations, precise recommendations for renowned doctors and hospitals and appointment registration assistance, full-time nursing service and care during hospitalization to ensure efficient treatment, and personalized "recovery guides" and follow-up visits after hospitalization for a smooth recovery. Exploring new ways to "synergize healthcare and insurance" for family doctor services The enhancement of "Ping An Family Doctor" is supported by the use of leading medical technology. Ping An Health has developed five significant databases over the years: for diseases, prescriptive medicine, medical products, medical resources and personal healthcare. The company has developed the world's most comprehensive knowledge map in the medical field. It has constructed an innovative multimodal medical large language model (LLM) and 12 artificial intelligence (AI) business models on this foundation. The "Ping An Doctor's Assistant" workbench of Ping An Health is capable of autonomously updating files and matching health plans, thereby simplifying the process of health management process. Additionally, Ping An employs AI for materialize a 100% quality check of all services, such as online consultations, electronic medical records, and prescription quality control, in order to ensure the safety and compliance of "Ping An Family Doctor". Ping An's "insurance + healthcare" business strategy has been particularly successful in recent years. Healthcare and insurance synergy is a novel approach that seamlessly integrates distinct medical and healthcare services with the financial businesses of the payors, such as insurance. For instance, the "Ping An Zhen Xiang RUN 2023 Health Services Plan" of Ping An Life Insurance and Ping An Health, which offers health management services, including health, chronic diseases, and medical care, as well as wealth management and risk protection requirements for customers. The number of Ping An Life insurance customers that also used

health

Ping An Announces Brand Upgrade of "Ping An Family Doctor". China, Ltd. (hereafter " Ping An " or the "Group", HKEX: 2318 / 82318; SSE: 601318) has upgraded its "Ping An Family Doctor" brand with a one-stop, proactive health management services system and a commitment to providing "proactive health management, chronic disease control, and full disease management" to users. Michael Guo, Group Co-CEO, said, "As a world-leading financial brand, Ping An never forgets its original aspiration and vision, remains customer-needs oriented and provides customers worry-free, time-saving, and money-saving healthcare services, to further promote the high quality, systemic and standardized development of 'Internet + Family Doctor', and support the national 'Healthy China' vision." During the conference, Prof. Chi Chunhua, Chairperson-designate, General Practice Branch of Chinese Medical Association said that, as China's population aging trend intensifies, the public's health needs are becoming more diversified and complex. To meet the growing health needs of the public, developing family doctor services and searching for a better service operation model has become an inevitable trend in the new era health system reform. "There is still a long way to go to achieve high-quality development of family doctor contract services. The entire society should work together, to continue explore the family doctor contract service model, and utilize advanced internet technology to optimize and improve service scope and streamline processes," she said. Building a one-stop, proactive health management services system Ping An Health, the flagship of the Ping An Group's healthcare and senior care ecosystem, focuses on delivering "family doctor" and "senior care concierges" services, and has evolved into a one-stop provider of professional, comprehensive, high-quality health and senior care management services. As of 2023, users with family doctor membership were close to 13 million, with more than 98% of users indicating 100% satisfaction with its medical consultation service. Ping An Health's upgraded "Ping An Family Doctor" introduces a comprehensive one-stop proactive health management services system. Customers are offered worry-free, time-saving, and money-saving one-stop family healthcare management services through the support of a dedicated family doctor. The one-stop proactive health management services system includes: 1) a team of professional family doctors holding dual certification from Peking University International Hospital and the World Organization of Family Doctors (WONCA); 2) a 5A standard service process guided by the General Practice Branch of the Chinese Medical Association and certified by the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners (RACGP); 3) proactive health management services tailored to the needs of sub-healthy individuals, patients with chronic diseases, and people with medical conditions; and 4) providing 12 scarce medical resources to those in need. "Ping An Family Doctor" also announced its commitment to providing "proactive health management, chronic disease control, and full disease management". The commitment translates into different actions for different patient groups. For sub-healthy individuals, "Ping An Family Doctor" develops high-quality health management plans through automated health records and instant interpretation of physical examination reports. This enables timely physical examination and early treatment interventions. For chronic disease patients, "Ping An Family Doctor" combines Internet of Things (IoT) real-time monitoring and high-risk warnings with a 21-day lifestyle management program to help relieve chronic disease symptoms. For individuals with medical conditions, "Ping An Family Doctor" offers comprehensive disease management, including: 24/7 immediate pre-hospitalization consultations, precise recommendations for renowned doctors and hospitals and appointment registration assistance, full-time nursing service and care during hospitalization to ensure efficient treatment, and personalized "recovery guides" and follow-up visits after hospitalization for a smooth recovery. Exploring new ways to "synergize healthcare and insurance" for family doctor services The enhancement of "Ping An Family Doctor" is supported by the use of leading medical technology. Ping An Health has developed five significant databases over the years: for diseases, prescriptive medicine, medical products, medical resources and personal healthcare. The company has developed the world's most comprehensive knowledge map in the medical field. It has constructed an innovative multimodal medical large language model (LLM) and 12 artificial intelligence (AI) business models on this foundation. The "Ping An Doctor's Assistant" workbench of Ping An Health is capable of autonomously updating files and matching health plans, thereby simplifying the process of health management process. Additionally, Ping An employs AI for materialize a 100% quality check of all services, such as online consultations, electronic medical records, and prescription quality control, in order to ensure the safety and compliance of "Ping An Family Doctor". Ping An's "insurance + healthcare" business strategy has been particularly successful in recent years. Healthcare and insurance synergy is a novel approach that seamlessly integrates distinct medical and healthcare services with the financial businesses of the payors, such as insurance. For instance, the "Ping An Zhen Xiang RUN 2023 Health Services Plan" of Ping An Life Insurance and Ping An Health, which offers health management services, including health, chronic diseases, and medical care, as well as wealth management and risk protection requirements for customers. The number of Ping An Life insurance customers that also used

New Hampshire teacher who helped student with abortion gets license restored after filing lawsuit

New Hampshire teacher who helped student with abortion gets license restored after filing lawsuit The New Hampshire Department of Education has restored a teacher's credentials days after she sued, alleging officials had mispresented her involvement in a student's abortion FILE - Frank Edelblut listens during a public hearing on his nomination to lead New Hampshire's Department of Education, Jan. 31, 2017, in Concord, N.H. On Monday, June 24, 2024, a private school teacher who says she was fired after driving an 18-year-old student to get an abortion filed suit against New Hampshire's Department of Education and officials, including Edelblut, she claims falsely suggested she circumvented state law. (AP Photo/Elise Amendola, File) The Associated Press CONCORD, N.H. -- The New Hampshire Department of Education has restored a teacher's credentials days after she sued, alleging officials had mispresented her involvement in a student's abortion. The teacher, identified only as Jane Doe in her lawsuit filed Monday, didn't contest her firing from a private school last fall but sued the education department and top officials over the revocation of her teaching license earlier this month. Her attorney, James Armillay, said he learned on Thursday that her license has been reinstated "while the administrative process plays out." "We are confident that when presented with all of the evidence in this case, an impartial hearing officer will determine that Ms. Doe did not violate the Code of Conduct for New Hampshire Educators, and that no sanction is warranted," he said in an email. "In the meantime, Ms. Doe is excited to get back into the classroom to do what she loves: teaching New Hampshire's students." In her lawsuit, the teacher said the education department exceeded its authority and violated her due process rights by revoking her license without a fair and impartial process. And it accuses Education Commissioner Frank Edelblut of pushing a false narrative of her conduct via an opinion piece he published in April. In that essay, Edelblut asked rhetorically whether the department should "turn a blind eye" when "allegedly, an educator lies by calling in sick so they can take a student – without parental knowledge – to get an abortion." New Hampshire law requires parents to receive written notice at least 48 hours before an abortion is performed on an unemancipated minor. But in this case, the student wasn't living with her parents and was a legal adult, according to the lawsuit. The teacher said she provided the student with contact information for a community health center last fall when the student disclosed her suspected pregnancy and later gave her a ride to the appointment in October. The school fired her within days and referred the matter to the Department of Education. A court hearing is scheduled for July 3, five days before the teacher is set to begin a new job.

usa

New Hampshire teacher who helped student with abortion gets license restored after filing lawsuit. New Hampshire teacher who helped student with abortion gets license restored after filing lawsuit The New Hampshire Department of Education has restored a teacher's credentials days after she sued, alleging officials had mispresented her involvement in a student's abortion FILE - Frank Edelblut listens during a public hearing on his nomination to lead New Hampshire's Department of Education, Jan. 31, 2017, in Concord, N.H. On Monday, June 24, 2024, a private school teacher who says she was fired after driving an 18-year-old student to get an abortion filed suit against New Hampshire's Department of Education and officials, including Edelblut, she claims falsely suggested she circumvented state law. (AP Photo/Elise Amendola, File) The Associated Press CONCORD, N.H. -- The New Hampshire Department of Education has restored a teacher's credentials days after she sued, alleging officials had mispresented her involvement in a student's abortion. The teacher, identified only as Jane Doe in her lawsuit filed Monday, didn't contest her firing from a private school last fall but sued the education department and top officials over the revocation of her teaching license earlier this month. Her attorney, James Armillay, said he learned on Thursday that her license has been reinstated "while the administrative process plays out." "We are confident that when presented with all of the evidence in this case, an impartial hearing officer will determine that Ms. Doe did not violate the Code of Conduct for New Hampshire Educators, and that no sanction is warranted," he said in an email. "In the meantime, Ms. Doe is excited to get back into the classroom to do what she loves: teaching New Hampshire's students." In her lawsuit, the teacher said the education department exceeded its authority and violated her due process rights by revoking her license without a fair and impartial process. And it accuses Education Commissioner Frank Edelblut of pushing a false narrative of her conduct via an opinion piece he published in April. In that essay, Edelblut asked rhetorically whether the department should "turn a blind eye" when "allegedly, an educator lies by calling in sick so they can take a student – without parental knowledge – to get an abortion." New Hampshire law requires parents to receive written notice at least 48 hours before an abortion is performed on an unemancipated minor. But in this case, the student wasn't living with her parents and was a legal adult, according to the lawsuit. The teacher said she provided the student with contact information for a community health center last fall when the student disclosed her suspected pregnancy and later gave her a ride to the appointment in October. The school fired her within days and referred the matter to the Department of Education. A court hearing is scheduled for July 3, five days before the teacher is set to begin a new job.

DEADLINE ALERT: Faruqi &amp; Faruqi, LLP Investigates Claims on Behalf of Investors of GoodRx

June 19, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Faruqi & Faruqi, LLP, a leading national securities law firm, is investigating potential claims against GoodRx Holdings, Inc. ("GoodRx" or the "Company") (NASDAQ: GDRX ) and reminds investors of the June 21, 2024 deadline to seek the role of lead plaintiff in a federal securities class action that has been filed against the Company. Faruqi & Faruqi, LLP Securities Litigation Partner James (Josh) Wilson Encourages Investors Who Suffered Losses Exceeding $100,000 In GoodRx To Contact Him Directly To Discuss Their Options Continue Reading Faruqi & Faruqi Logo (PRNewsfoto/Faruqi & Faruqi, LLP) If you suffered losses exceeding $100,000 investing in GoodRx stock or options between As detailed below, the complaint alleges that the Company and its executives violated federal securities laws by making false and/or misleading statements and/or failing to disclose that: (1) while Kroger accounted for less than 5% of the pharmacies accepting GoodRx discounts, Kroger was responsible for nearly 25% of GoodRx's total prescription transactions revenue (the Company's primary revenue stream); and (2) Kroger could unilaterally cease accepting GoodRx discounts, cutting off some or all of GoodRx's revenues for purchases at Kroger's pharmacies; and (3) as a result, Defendants' representations about the Company's business, operations, and prospects were materially false and misleading and/or lacked a reasonable basis. On May 9, 2022, investors began to learn the truth about the risks of GoodRx's over-dependence on Kroger (including the risk that, notwithstanding the Kroger Rx Savings Club, Kroger could unilaterally refuse to accept GoodRx's discounts), when GoodRx revealed that, late in the first quarter of 2022, "a grocery chain had taken actions that impacted acceptance of discounts from most PBMs for a subset of drugs" and that this "impacted the acceptance of many PBM discounts for certain drugs at this grocer's stores." GoodRx further acknowledged that this disruption "could have an estimated revenue impact of roughly $30 million " in the second quarter of 2022—resulting in the Company announcing disappointing second quarter 2022 revenue guidance of only about $190 million. While Defendants refused to identify the grocer by name, analysts and media outlets quickly recognized that the unnamed grocery chain was Kroger. On this news, the price of GoodRx common stock plummeted $2.78 per share, or more than 25%, from a close of November 8, 2022, Defendants provided further information on the severity of the revenue impact from the Kroger disruption—with the Company estimating that the "impact of the grocer issue on third quarter [prescription transactions revenue] was approximately $40 million " and that the Company expected "a combined $45 million to $50 million estimated impact to prescription transactions revenue" for the fourth quarter of 2022. Defendants further acknowledged that the Company was seeking to enter into contractual relationships with pharmacies to prevent similar disruptions from occurring in the future. On this news, the price of GoodRx common stock declined an additional $1.18 per share, or more than 22%, from a close of The court-appointed lead plaintiff is the investor with the largest financial interest in the relief sought by the class who is adequate and typical of class members who directs and oversees the litigation on behalf of the putative class. Any member of the putative class may move the Court to serve as lead plaintiff through counsel of their choice, or may choose to do nothing and remain an absent class member. Your ability to share in any recovery is not affected by the decision to serve as a lead plaintiff or not. Faruqi & Faruqi, LLP also encourages anyone with information regarding GoodRx's conduct to contact the firm, including whistleblowers, former employees, shareholders and others.

motors

DEADLINE ALERT: Faruqi &amp; Faruqi, LLP Investigates Claims on Behalf of Investors of GoodRx. June 19, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Faruqi & Faruqi, LLP, a leading national securities law firm, is investigating potential claims against GoodRx Holdings, Inc. ("GoodRx" or the "Company") (NASDAQ: GDRX ) and reminds investors of the June 21, 2024 deadline to seek the role of lead plaintiff in a federal securities class action that has been filed against the Company. Faruqi & Faruqi, LLP Securities Litigation Partner James (Josh) Wilson Encourages Investors Who Suffered Losses Exceeding $100,000 In GoodRx To Contact Him Directly To Discuss Their Options Continue Reading Faruqi & Faruqi Logo (PRNewsfoto/Faruqi & Faruqi, LLP) If you suffered losses exceeding $100,000 investing in GoodRx stock or options between As detailed below, the complaint alleges that the Company and its executives violated federal securities laws by making false and/or misleading statements and/or failing to disclose that: (1) while Kroger accounted for less than 5% of the pharmacies accepting GoodRx discounts, Kroger was responsible for nearly 25% of GoodRx's total prescription transactions revenue (the Company's primary revenue stream); and (2) Kroger could unilaterally cease accepting GoodRx discounts, cutting off some or all of GoodRx's revenues for purchases at Kroger's pharmacies; and (3) as a result, Defendants' representations about the Company's business, operations, and prospects were materially false and misleading and/or lacked a reasonable basis. On May 9, 2022, investors began to learn the truth about the risks of GoodRx's over-dependence on Kroger (including the risk that, notwithstanding the Kroger Rx Savings Club, Kroger could unilaterally refuse to accept GoodRx's discounts), when GoodRx revealed that, late in the first quarter of 2022, "a grocery chain had taken actions that impacted acceptance of discounts from most PBMs for a subset of drugs" and that this "impacted the acceptance of many PBM discounts for certain drugs at this grocer's stores." GoodRx further acknowledged that this disruption "could have an estimated revenue impact of roughly $30 million " in the second quarter of 2022—resulting in the Company announcing disappointing second quarter 2022 revenue guidance of only about $190 million. While Defendants refused to identify the grocer by name, analysts and media outlets quickly recognized that the unnamed grocery chain was Kroger. On this news, the price of GoodRx common stock plummeted $2.78 per share, or more than 25%, from a close of November 8, 2022, Defendants provided further information on the severity of the revenue impact from the Kroger disruption—with the Company estimating that the "impact of the grocer issue on third quarter [prescription transactions revenue] was approximately $40 million " and that the Company expected "a combined $45 million to $50 million estimated impact to prescription transactions revenue" for the fourth quarter of 2022. Defendants further acknowledged that the Company was seeking to enter into contractual relationships with pharmacies to prevent similar disruptions from occurring in the future. On this news, the price of GoodRx common stock declined an additional $1.18 per share, or more than 22%, from a close of The court-appointed lead plaintiff is the investor with the largest financial interest in the relief sought by the class who is adequate and typical of class members who directs and oversees the litigation on behalf of the putative class. Any member of the putative class may move the Court to serve as lead plaintiff through counsel of their choice, or may choose to do nothing and remain an absent class member. Your ability to share in any recovery is not affected by the decision to serve as a lead plaintiff or not. Faruqi & Faruqi, LLP also encourages anyone with information regarding GoodRx's conduct to contact the firm, including whistleblowers, former employees, shareholders and others.

Brett Price Prediction And A New Base Meme Coin To Watch

The broad-based recovery in altcoins today is once again showing the upside potential of Base meme coins. The top meme token on the chain - Brett - has flipped Solana meme coin Bonk in terms of market capitalization, data from CoinMarketCap reveals. Brett’s market cap currently stands at just under $1.5 billion after the meme coin rallied close to 21% today on Wednesday. Unsurprisingly, its strength has sparked high growth in other Base meme coins, with the Degen and Basenji tokens up by over 30% and 90%, respectively. Even a new presale token - Base Dawgz - has raised close to $2 million in its ICO and is drawing comparisons to Brett. Brett Price Prediction - How High Can It Go? Despite its explosive rally today, experts agree that Brett is nowhere close to its cycle top. As such, the meme coin is 23% below its previous all-time high of $0.193. Furthermore, it is receiving a tremendous boost from several tier-1 crypto exchanges as they rush to list the meme coin on their platforms. In a span of 24 hours, both Kraken and Woo listed BRETT perpetual contracts on their derivatives exchange, while the latter also launched the meme coin on its spot market. No, you're not seeing the same post twice.⚠️ Yet another listing alert! $BRETT ( @BasedBrett ) is now available for trading on the #WOO X spot market. Let's trade 👉 https://t.co/7kKsSUTkf4 pic.twitter.com/lgVWlv0cYU — WOO X (@_WOO_X) June 17, 2024 Owing to its status as the top Base meme token, experts believe that other crypto exchanges such as OKX, Binance and Coinbase could soon join the race. A few analysts are also viewing BRETT as a derivate of Pepe , considering that both characters trace their roots to Matt Furie’s popular Boy’s Club comics. Indeed, the two tokens are displaying a significant correlation. Considering that Pepe is poised to push towards new highs in July, it would not be a surprise if Brett too hits the $0.20 milestone by next month. Why Are Base Meme Coins Skyrocketing? A recent report from CryptoSlate projected that meme coins on Base could outperform their Solana counterparts. The projection now appears to be playing out, with Brett flipping Bonk. In fact, bullish Brett investors believe that Bonk is only the first domino to fall, with Dogwifhat and Floki next in line. I’ll be honest with you.None of this breaking or surprising now.Even when $BRETT flips $WIF and $FLOKI . It’s light work with all due respect.What’ll be shocking is when $BRETT flips $SHIBA and then rivals $DOGE .Everyone is going to be in disbelief.There’s not a single… https://t.co/MKswiMwCIF — CryptoSniped 🤝🏾💰📈💸🚀 (@CryptoSniped) June 19, 2024 The Base chain has some of the same unique selling points as Solana, including low trading fees and high scalability. With Base being a Layer-2 venture of Coinbase - the largest exchange in the US with close to 140 million users - its tokens could very well see higher brand awareness and mainstream adoption. Furthermore, smart money traders have quickly identified that the Base meta is still in its nascent stages while other ecosystems including Ethereum and Solana are now saturated with pump-and-dump meme coins. For instance, only 3 Base meme coins have a valuation north of $100 million, with Brett being the only token with a market cap of over $1 billion. As a result, Brett and other new meme coins on Base have the potential to outperform the rest of the meme token sector in the next leg of the bull market. Is Base Dawgz The Next Meme Coin To Explode? As previously mentioned, the new meme coin Base Dawgz is quickly drawing comparisons to Brett, owing to its strong early demand and strong fundamentals. For instance, DAWGZ has already closed to $2 billion in its ICO in just over two weeks, emerging as one of the fastest-growing cryptocurrencies on Base. Despite being native to Base, DAWGZ is a multi-chain meme coin. The token is already live on Ethereum, Solana, BNB Smart Chain and Avalanche, aiming to maximize its visibility amongst potential investors. = Base Dagwz’s multi-chain status also benefits buyers, who can swap the native token of any of the aforementioned chains to buy the meme coin. Another key factor behind its strong demand is its unique airdrop program. Interested participants simply need to share Base Dawgz-related content on social media to earn airdrop points, which could later be exchanged for additional DAWGZ tokens. Alternatively, they can encourage their friends to invest in the meme coin through their referral link and receive a percentage of each investment made during the presale. To top it off, investors can simply stake their holdings and earn attractive passive income. Owing to its innovative share-to-earn concept and strong hype, smart money traders are bullish on DAWGZ, with some even hinting at the possibility of 100x gains. Visit Base Dawgz Presale Disclaimer: This is a sponsored article and is for informational purposes only. It does not reflect the views of Crypto Daily, nor is it intended to be used as legal, tax, investment, or financial advice.

crypto

Brett Price Prediction And A New Base Meme Coin To Watch. The broad-based recovery in altcoins today is once again showing the upside potential of Base meme coins. The top meme token on the chain - Brett - has flipped Solana meme coin Bonk in terms of market capitalization, data from CoinMarketCap reveals. Brett’s market cap currently stands at just under $1.5 billion after the meme coin rallied close to 21% today on Wednesday. Unsurprisingly, its strength has sparked high growth in other Base meme coins, with the Degen and Basenji tokens up by over 30% and 90%, respectively. Even a new presale token - Base Dawgz - has raised close to $2 million in its ICO and is drawing comparisons to Brett. Brett Price Prediction - How High Can It Go? Despite its explosive rally today, experts agree that Brett is nowhere close to its cycle top. As such, the meme coin is 23% below its previous all-time high of $0.193. Furthermore, it is receiving a tremendous boost from several tier-1 crypto exchanges as they rush to list the meme coin on their platforms. In a span of 24 hours, both Kraken and Woo listed BRETT perpetual contracts on their derivatives exchange, while the latter also launched the meme coin on its spot market. No, you're not seeing the same post twice.⚠️ Yet another listing alert! $BRETT ( @BasedBrett ) is now available for trading on the #WOO X spot market. Let's trade 👉 https://t.co/7kKsSUTkf4 pic.twitter.com/lgVWlv0cYU — WOO X (@_WOO_X) June 17, 2024 Owing to its status as the top Base meme token, experts believe that other crypto exchanges such as OKX, Binance and Coinbase could soon join the race. A few analysts are also viewing BRETT as a derivate of Pepe , considering that both characters trace their roots to Matt Furie’s popular Boy’s Club comics. Indeed, the two tokens are displaying a significant correlation. Considering that Pepe is poised to push towards new highs in July, it would not be a surprise if Brett too hits the $0.20 milestone by next month. Why Are Base Meme Coins Skyrocketing? A recent report from CryptoSlate projected that meme coins on Base could outperform their Solana counterparts. The projection now appears to be playing out, with Brett flipping Bonk. In fact, bullish Brett investors believe that Bonk is only the first domino to fall, with Dogwifhat and Floki next in line. I’ll be honest with you.None of this breaking or surprising now.Even when $BRETT flips $WIF and $FLOKI . It’s light work with all due respect.What’ll be shocking is when $BRETT flips $SHIBA and then rivals $DOGE .Everyone is going to be in disbelief.There’s not a single… https://t.co/MKswiMwCIF — CryptoSniped 🤝🏾💰📈💸🚀 (@CryptoSniped) June 19, 2024 The Base chain has some of the same unique selling points as Solana, including low trading fees and high scalability. With Base being a Layer-2 venture of Coinbase - the largest exchange in the US with close to 140 million users - its tokens could very well see higher brand awareness and mainstream adoption. Furthermore, smart money traders have quickly identified that the Base meta is still in its nascent stages while other ecosystems including Ethereum and Solana are now saturated with pump-and-dump meme coins. For instance, only 3 Base meme coins have a valuation north of $100 million, with Brett being the only token with a market cap of over $1 billion. As a result, Brett and other new meme coins on Base have the potential to outperform the rest of the meme token sector in the next leg of the bull market. Is Base Dawgz The Next Meme Coin To Explode? As previously mentioned, the new meme coin Base Dawgz is quickly drawing comparisons to Brett, owing to its strong early demand and strong fundamentals. For instance, DAWGZ has already closed to $2 billion in its ICO in just over two weeks, emerging as one of the fastest-growing cryptocurrencies on Base. Despite being native to Base, DAWGZ is a multi-chain meme coin. The token is already live on Ethereum, Solana, BNB Smart Chain and Avalanche, aiming to maximize its visibility amongst potential investors. = Base Dagwz’s multi-chain status also benefits buyers, who can swap the native token of any of the aforementioned chains to buy the meme coin. Another key factor behind its strong demand is its unique airdrop program. Interested participants simply need to share Base Dawgz-related content on social media to earn airdrop points, which could later be exchanged for additional DAWGZ tokens. Alternatively, they can encourage their friends to invest in the meme coin through their referral link and receive a percentage of each investment made during the presale. To top it off, investors can simply stake their holdings and earn attractive passive income. Owing to its innovative share-to-earn concept and strong hype, smart money traders are bullish on DAWGZ, with some even hinting at the possibility of 100x gains. Visit Base Dawgz Presale Disclaimer: This is a sponsored article and is for informational purposes only. It does not reflect the views of Crypto Daily, nor is it intended to be used as legal, tax, investment, or financial advice.

‘He’s lost our vote’: Vaughan Gething scandals cut through before confidence test

T here was no honeymoon period and precious little breathing room for Vaughan Gething to relish the historic achievement of becoming the first Black leader of a European country. Since he was chosen as Welsh Labour leader and first minister 11 weeks ago, Gething has faced a slew of allegations about donations, the deletion of messages during the pandemic and the sacking of a minister. On Wednesday he faces his most uncomfortable test yet, a vote on a motion of no confidence tabled by the Conservatives in the Senedd, the Welsh parliament. UK Labour leaders and strategists dismiss it as mischief-making but there is growing evidence in polling and doorstep conversations that the scandals are cutting through to voters. Butcher Tim Close: 'If someone gives you that, they want something back.' Photograph: Kara Thomas/Athena Pictures Lynette Ford, who has a knitting stall, said she had been pleased when Gething got in. "He seemed different but maybe they all just think of themselves." Gething's tenure has been overshadowed by £200,000 in donations he took from a company whose owner, David Neal, was convicted of dumping waste on the Gwent Levels in south Wales and criticised over a landfill site in Pembrokeshire described as a "stink bomb on steroids". The first minister has repeatedly said he followed the rules. He has expressed regret at the impact the donations have had but has not returned the cash. Last month the pressure increased with the emergence of iMessages with fellow Labour members from the time of the pandemic, when Gething was the Welsh health minister, in which he said he was going to delete a thread, which led to suspicions of decisions being covered up. It got worse when Gething sacked his minister for social partnership, Hannah Blythyn, suggesting she had leaked the messages, which she denied. Within hours, Plaid Cymru had ended its cooperation agreement with the Welsh government, making it trickier for the government to operate as it does not have an overall Senedd majority. Now comes the confidence vote. The motion calls on the Senedd to recognise the "genuine public concern" over the donation and highlights the iMessages and the ministerial sacking. Vaughan Gething has been Welsh Labour leader and first minister for 11 weeks. Photograph: Christopher Furlong/Getty Images The balance of the Senedd is delicate. Labour holds half of the 60 seats and Gething is helped by the llywydd – the presiding officer – being a Plaid member. If the vote on the no confidence motion is tied, she will be obliged to vote against it under standing orders. Unless Labour members rebel, Gething should be safe. The vote, in any case, is not legally binding and does not automatically trigger a process to remove him. But it is likely to further undermine his authority. Over the last few years the Welsh government has felt much more stable than those in Westminster, Scotland or Northern Ireland. It begins to feel a little shaky now. The former Labour minister Leighton Andrews said he believed Labour members would rally against a Tory motion in the middle of an election. "What happens after the general election in the run-up to the next Senedd election [in 2026] is another matter entirely," he said. It is not just in the Senedd that the issue is a live one. There are more than 4,000 signatures on two Gething petitions, one calling for a public inquiry into the donations, one for tighter rules around them. Whenever Keir Starmer and other UK leaders visit, they are asked about Gething's position. A Nerys Lloyd-Pierce: 'I will not be voting Labour while Gething is in post.' Photograph: supplied In Butetown, the old Cardiff dockside area and a Gething stronghold, there was some support for Gething. Mo, a student, said the first minister did a lot of good in the area. "He does his best for people around here, he has for years. Politics is a tough business. You need money to fight." But Lyn Eynon, a former secretary of the Butetown branch of the Labour party, said: "For me, the main issue is not Vaughan Gething as an individual but the role of money in Welsh politics. It will be difficult for me to vote Labour this year, and I am seriously considering voting for another party for the first time." Nerys Lloyd-Pierce, a Cardiff environment activist, said Gething had proved he didn't care about preserving the natural world. "I will not be voting Labour, either in Wales or nationally, while Gething is in post," she said.

uk

‘He’s lost our vote’: Vaughan Gething scandals cut through before confidence test. T here was no honeymoon period and precious little breathing room for Vaughan Gething to relish the historic achievement of becoming the first Black leader of a European country. Since he was chosen as Welsh Labour leader and first minister 11 weeks ago, Gething has faced a slew of allegations about donations, the deletion of messages during the pandemic and the sacking of a minister. On Wednesday he faces his most uncomfortable test yet, a vote on a motion of no confidence tabled by the Conservatives in the Senedd, the Welsh parliament. UK Labour leaders and strategists dismiss it as mischief-making but there is growing evidence in polling and doorstep conversations that the scandals are cutting through to voters. Butcher Tim Close: 'If someone gives you that, they want something back.' Photograph: Kara Thomas/Athena Pictures Lynette Ford, who has a knitting stall, said she had been pleased when Gething got in. "He seemed different but maybe they all just think of themselves." Gething's tenure has been overshadowed by £200,000 in donations he took from a company whose owner, David Neal, was convicted of dumping waste on the Gwent Levels in south Wales and criticised over a landfill site in Pembrokeshire described as a "stink bomb on steroids". The first minister has repeatedly said he followed the rules. He has expressed regret at the impact the donations have had but has not returned the cash. Last month the pressure increased with the emergence of iMessages with fellow Labour members from the time of the pandemic, when Gething was the Welsh health minister, in which he said he was going to delete a thread, which led to suspicions of decisions being covered up. It got worse when Gething sacked his minister for social partnership, Hannah Blythyn, suggesting she had leaked the messages, which she denied. Within hours, Plaid Cymru had ended its cooperation agreement with the Welsh government, making it trickier for the government to operate as it does not have an overall Senedd majority. Now comes the confidence vote. The motion calls on the Senedd to recognise the "genuine public concern" over the donation and highlights the iMessages and the ministerial sacking. Vaughan Gething has been Welsh Labour leader and first minister for 11 weeks. Photograph: Christopher Furlong/Getty Images The balance of the Senedd is delicate. Labour holds half of the 60 seats and Gething is helped by the llywydd – the presiding officer – being a Plaid member. If the vote on the no confidence motion is tied, she will be obliged to vote against it under standing orders. Unless Labour members rebel, Gething should be safe. The vote, in any case, is not legally binding and does not automatically trigger a process to remove him. But it is likely to further undermine his authority. Over the last few years the Welsh government has felt much more stable than those in Westminster, Scotland or Northern Ireland. It begins to feel a little shaky now. The former Labour minister Leighton Andrews said he believed Labour members would rally against a Tory motion in the middle of an election. "What happens after the general election in the run-up to the next Senedd election [in 2026] is another matter entirely," he said. It is not just in the Senedd that the issue is a live one. There are more than 4,000 signatures on two Gething petitions, one calling for a public inquiry into the donations, one for tighter rules around them. Whenever Keir Starmer and other UK leaders visit, they are asked about Gething's position. A Nerys Lloyd-Pierce: 'I will not be voting Labour while Gething is in post.' Photograph: supplied In Butetown, the old Cardiff dockside area and a Gething stronghold, there was some support for Gething. Mo, a student, said the first minister did a lot of good in the area. "He does his best for people around here, he has for years. Politics is a tough business. You need money to fight." But Lyn Eynon, a former secretary of the Butetown branch of the Labour party, said: "For me, the main issue is not Vaughan Gething as an individual but the role of money in Welsh politics. It will be difficult for me to vote Labour this year, and I am seriously considering voting for another party for the first time." Nerys Lloyd-Pierce, a Cardiff environment activist, said Gething had proved he didn't care about preserving the natural world. "I will not be voting Labour, either in Wales or nationally, while Gething is in post," she said.

NYC boasts taxpayer-funded card program for illegal immigrants is helping lead nation through 'crisis'

NYC migrant rape suspect entered U.S. through Texas Texas Gov. Greg Abbott (R) says Joe Biden is putting American lives at risk with the ongoing border crisis after the president claims he is not playing politics with the border. New York City officials are boasting that a taxpayer-funded program that hands out $350 per week to migrant families is helping to set an example for the rest of the nation on how to manage the "national humanitarian crisis" created by mass illegal immigration. Although the program has drawn opposition from critics who question giving illegal immigrants no-strings handouts from the city's strapped coffers, officials seem to think the program is a major success. "New York City is leading the nation in managing this national humanitarian crisis, having cared for more than 203,900 migrants since the spring of 2022 and helping more than 65 percent move out of our care and take the next steps in their journeys," a city hall spokesperson told Fox News Digital. New York City officials began giving out prepaid debit cards to migrant families residing in the Big Apple earlier this year. The prepaid cards – the first of which were distributed in March as part of the city's Immediate Response Cards (IRC) program – are meant to be used only to purchase essential items like food. MIGRANT ARRESTED IN BROAD DAYLIGHT RAPE OF 13-YEAR-OLD IN NEW YORK PARK The prepaid cards – the first of which were distributed in March as part of the city's Immediate Response Cards program – are meant to be used only to purchase essential items like food. (Getty Images) Through the program, the city hall spokesperson noted that New York City has "helped 900 migrant families – including over 1,300 children – purchase their own food and baby supplies at stores that sell groceries and convenience items." "This has helped circulate approximately $600,000 back into the New York City economy," the spokesperson added. But it is unclear exactly how much the city has spent on the program to date. The effort is part of what was reported earlier this year to be a $53 million pilot program to hand out prepaid credit cards to migrant families housed in hotels despite public outcry. Access to the program, according to the mayor's office, is limited to those in a separate program that provides four-week hotel stays to families with children, and families expecting children. Allowances for illegal immigrants residing in the city are distributed on a weekly basis until the end of their four-week hotel stays, with families of four with two children under the age of five receiving up to nearly $350 each week. The IRC program, the city said, is in a subsection of the locations where the city is providing shelter and care to migrants, representing less than one percent of the total population of migrants currently under the city's care. Asylum seekers line up in front of the historic Roosevelt Hotel, converted into a city-run shelter for newly arrived migrant families, in New York City on September 27, 2023. (Selcuk Acar/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images) LOCAL OFFICIALS ATTACK NEW YORK CITY PLAN TO HOUSE MIGRANTS IN STATEN ISLAND CHURCH: 'HURTING THIS COMMUNITY' At the start of the program, the cards were reportedly being distributed at the city's arrival center, the Adams, a Democrat, vehemently defended the program and the "misinformation" surrounding it earlier this year. Appearing before a state legislative budget hearing in Albany in February, Adams said, "We're not giving people American Express cards." "We found that the food delivery service that we set up during the emergency – we could find a better way to do it in our belief that we want to cut 20% of the migrant costs. So we have a pilot project with 500 people that we are giving them food cards, so instead of a debit card, instead of having to deliver food, and have people eat food — we were seeing wasting food — they're now able to get their own food, that is going to be spent $12 a day," he said at the time. New York City's government previously projected that it will spend at least $10.6 billion on migrants by the summer of 2025. New York state has already vowed to contribute about $2 billion in the current budget cycle to the migrant crisis, but Adams told lawmakers that the state's pledge would only cover one-third of the city's migrant costs. Single migrant men, mostly from West Africa, congregate in Tompkins Square Park as volunteers give away food and clothing on January 27, 2024, in the East Village neighborhood of New York City. (Andrew Lichtenstein/Corbis via Getty Images) Roughly 180,000 migrants have arrived in New York City since 2022, overwhelming city resources as officials have struggled to find housing for them. Texas Gov. Greg Abbott has bused asylum-seekers to New York and other cities in an effort to assist them in traveling to sanctuary jurisdictions and also highlight the crisis that border communities face on a daily basis.

politics

NYC boasts taxpayer-funded card program for illegal immigrants is helping lead nation through 'crisis'. NYC migrant rape suspect entered U.S. through Texas Texas Gov. Greg Abbott (R) says Joe Biden is putting American lives at risk with the ongoing border crisis after the president claims he is not playing politics with the border. New York City officials are boasting that a taxpayer-funded program that hands out $350 per week to migrant families is helping to set an example for the rest of the nation on how to manage the "national humanitarian crisis" created by mass illegal immigration. Although the program has drawn opposition from critics who question giving illegal immigrants no-strings handouts from the city's strapped coffers, officials seem to think the program is a major success. "New York City is leading the nation in managing this national humanitarian crisis, having cared for more than 203,900 migrants since the spring of 2022 and helping more than 65 percent move out of our care and take the next steps in their journeys," a city hall spokesperson told Fox News Digital. New York City officials began giving out prepaid debit cards to migrant families residing in the Big Apple earlier this year. The prepaid cards – the first of which were distributed in March as part of the city's Immediate Response Cards (IRC) program – are meant to be used only to purchase essential items like food. MIGRANT ARRESTED IN BROAD DAYLIGHT RAPE OF 13-YEAR-OLD IN NEW YORK PARK The prepaid cards – the first of which were distributed in March as part of the city's Immediate Response Cards program – are meant to be used only to purchase essential items like food. (Getty Images) Through the program, the city hall spokesperson noted that New York City has "helped 900 migrant families – including over 1,300 children – purchase their own food and baby supplies at stores that sell groceries and convenience items." "This has helped circulate approximately $600,000 back into the New York City economy," the spokesperson added. But it is unclear exactly how much the city has spent on the program to date. The effort is part of what was reported earlier this year to be a $53 million pilot program to hand out prepaid credit cards to migrant families housed in hotels despite public outcry. Access to the program, according to the mayor's office, is limited to those in a separate program that provides four-week hotel stays to families with children, and families expecting children. Allowances for illegal immigrants residing in the city are distributed on a weekly basis until the end of their four-week hotel stays, with families of four with two children under the age of five receiving up to nearly $350 each week. The IRC program, the city said, is in a subsection of the locations where the city is providing shelter and care to migrants, representing less than one percent of the total population of migrants currently under the city's care. Asylum seekers line up in front of the historic Roosevelt Hotel, converted into a city-run shelter for newly arrived migrant families, in New York City on September 27, 2023. (Selcuk Acar/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images) LOCAL OFFICIALS ATTACK NEW YORK CITY PLAN TO HOUSE MIGRANTS IN STATEN ISLAND CHURCH: 'HURTING THIS COMMUNITY' At the start of the program, the cards were reportedly being distributed at the city's arrival center, the Adams, a Democrat, vehemently defended the program and the "misinformation" surrounding it earlier this year. Appearing before a state legislative budget hearing in Albany in February, Adams said, "We're not giving people American Express cards." "We found that the food delivery service that we set up during the emergency – we could find a better way to do it in our belief that we want to cut 20% of the migrant costs. So we have a pilot project with 500 people that we are giving them food cards, so instead of a debit card, instead of having to deliver food, and have people eat food — we were seeing wasting food — they're now able to get their own food, that is going to be spent $12 a day," he said at the time. New York City's government previously projected that it will spend at least $10.6 billion on migrants by the summer of 2025. New York state has already vowed to contribute about $2 billion in the current budget cycle to the migrant crisis, but Adams told lawmakers that the state's pledge would only cover one-third of the city's migrant costs. Single migrant men, mostly from West Africa, congregate in Tompkins Square Park as volunteers give away food and clothing on January 27, 2024, in the East Village neighborhood of New York City. (Andrew Lichtenstein/Corbis via Getty Images) Roughly 180,000 migrants have arrived in New York City since 2022, overwhelming city resources as officials have struggled to find housing for them. Texas Gov. Greg Abbott has bused asylum-seekers to New York and other cities in an effort to assist them in traveling to sanctuary jurisdictions and also highlight the crisis that border communities face on a daily basis.

Canadians are the worst tippers in the world, survey suggests, and they want to tip less

Canadians are cutting back on tipping and getting creative with money-saving strategies when dining out Canadians are changing their habits to contend with the rising cost of dining out. Looking for ways to stretch their dollar, diners are tipping less and embracing money-saving strategies such as doggy bags, happy hours and value meals, according to Lightspeed Commerce's survey of more than 7,500 diners, including 1,500 in Canada. Of all the regions surveyed, Canadians are cutting back on tipping the most, with 25 per cent tipping less than diners in countries including the United States, the U.K. and France, which all saw a 19 per cent decrease. Though Canadians feel pressure to tip (67 per cent) — primarily because they don't want to seem stingy — more than half (53 per cent) say inflation has hindered their ability to do so. Enjoy the latest local, national and international news. Exclusive articles by Conrad Black, Barbara Kay and others. Plus, special edition NP Platformed and First Reading newsletters and virtual events. Unlimited online access to National Post and 15 news sites with one account. National Post ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition to view on any device, share and comment on. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. Support local journalism. Enjoy the latest local, national and international news. Exclusive articles by Conrad Black, Barbara Kay and others. Plus, special edition NP Platformed and First Reading newsletters and virtual events. Unlimited online access to National Post and 15 news sites with one account. National Post ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition to view on any device, share and comment on. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. Support local journalism. Article content Compared to their U.S. counterparts, Canadians are less likely to tip at higher percentages. Just over a quarter (27 per cent) of Canadians are open to tipping between 16 and 20 per cent, while 38 per cent of Americans are willing to do so. Nearly half (47 per cent) of Canadians prefer to tip between 10 and 15 per cent, with 15 per cent tipping less than 10 per cent. Besides expectations at restaurants, respondents support tipping delivery drivers (48 per cent) but are less enthusiastic about gratuities when placing an order at cafés (22 per cent) or counters (15 per cent). From your corner coffee shop to a fine-dining restaurant, auto-tipping prompts on digital screens are commonplace. Despite their ubiquity, the survey suggests that Canadians are overwhelmingly opposed to them, at 77 per cent. On the other end of the spectrum, a small but growing number of spots have adopted no-tipping policies, such as the Michelin-starred Restaurant 20 Victoria in Toronto and Vancouver's Folke. The data suggests that Canadian diners could get on board with this movement. Tied with Belgium, Canadians feel the most strongly about In addition to on-screen tipping prompts, Canadians have disdain for QR code menus, which became standard during the pandemic. They might appreciate their hygiene benefits (20 per cent), but most prefer to peruse a physical menu (90 per cent), especially at fine-dining restaurants (93 per cent). "Technology, on its own, does not necessarily provide a better customer experience," said Dax Dasilva, CEO and founder of Lightspeed. "Restaurants should think holistically about how best to integrate customer preference and technological innovation to create a unique dining experience. The use of QR codes is not inherently negative. They can be extremely useful in the case of at-table payments or quick ordering; it's more about understanding the use cases that work than applying a catch-all solution. By staying adaptable and responsive to changing consumer preferences, restaurants can not only survive but also thrive in the current landscape." According to the survey, 69 per cent of diners report paying higher prices at restaurants, and 42 per cent have noticed shrinkflation (paying the same price for less food). With roughly three-quarters of respondents dining out at least once a month, the data suggests that Canadians are searching for ways to make it affordable, using coupons (39 per cent), ordering value meals (33 per cent) and arriving early for happy hour specials (26 per cent). Diners also opt for doggy bags, with 36 per cent asking to box up their leftovers to take home.

lifestyle

Canadians are the worst tippers in the world, survey suggests, and they want to tip less. Canadians are cutting back on tipping and getting creative with money-saving strategies when dining out Canadians are changing their habits to contend with the rising cost of dining out. Looking for ways to stretch their dollar, diners are tipping less and embracing money-saving strategies such as doggy bags, happy hours and value meals, according to Lightspeed Commerce's survey of more than 7,500 diners, including 1,500 in Canada. Of all the regions surveyed, Canadians are cutting back on tipping the most, with 25 per cent tipping less than diners in countries including the United States, the U.K. and France, which all saw a 19 per cent decrease. Though Canadians feel pressure to tip (67 per cent) — primarily because they don't want to seem stingy — more than half (53 per cent) say inflation has hindered their ability to do so. Enjoy the latest local, national and international news. Exclusive articles by Conrad Black, Barbara Kay and others. Plus, special edition NP Platformed and First Reading newsletters and virtual events. Unlimited online access to National Post and 15 news sites with one account. National Post ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition to view on any device, share and comment on. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. Support local journalism. Enjoy the latest local, national and international news. Exclusive articles by Conrad Black, Barbara Kay and others. Plus, special edition NP Platformed and First Reading newsletters and virtual events. Unlimited online access to National Post and 15 news sites with one account. National Post ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition to view on any device, share and comment on. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. Support local journalism. Article content Compared to their U.S. counterparts, Canadians are less likely to tip at higher percentages. Just over a quarter (27 per cent) of Canadians are open to tipping between 16 and 20 per cent, while 38 per cent of Americans are willing to do so. Nearly half (47 per cent) of Canadians prefer to tip between 10 and 15 per cent, with 15 per cent tipping less than 10 per cent. Besides expectations at restaurants, respondents support tipping delivery drivers (48 per cent) but are less enthusiastic about gratuities when placing an order at cafés (22 per cent) or counters (15 per cent). From your corner coffee shop to a fine-dining restaurant, auto-tipping prompts on digital screens are commonplace. Despite their ubiquity, the survey suggests that Canadians are overwhelmingly opposed to them, at 77 per cent. On the other end of the spectrum, a small but growing number of spots have adopted no-tipping policies, such as the Michelin-starred Restaurant 20 Victoria in Toronto and Vancouver's Folke. The data suggests that Canadian diners could get on board with this movement. Tied with Belgium, Canadians feel the most strongly about In addition to on-screen tipping prompts, Canadians have disdain for QR code menus, which became standard during the pandemic. They might appreciate their hygiene benefits (20 per cent), but most prefer to peruse a physical menu (90 per cent), especially at fine-dining restaurants (93 per cent). "Technology, on its own, does not necessarily provide a better customer experience," said Dax Dasilva, CEO and founder of Lightspeed. "Restaurants should think holistically about how best to integrate customer preference and technological innovation to create a unique dining experience. The use of QR codes is not inherently negative. They can be extremely useful in the case of at-table payments or quick ordering; it's more about understanding the use cases that work than applying a catch-all solution. By staying adaptable and responsive to changing consumer preferences, restaurants can not only survive but also thrive in the current landscape." According to the survey, 69 per cent of diners report paying higher prices at restaurants, and 42 per cent have noticed shrinkflation (paying the same price for less food). With roughly three-quarters of respondents dining out at least once a month, the data suggests that Canadians are searching for ways to make it affordable, using coupons (39 per cent), ordering value meals (33 per cent) and arriving early for happy hour specials (26 per cent). Diners also opt for doggy bags, with 36 per cent asking to box up their leftovers to take home.

California considers unique safety regulations for AI companies, but faces tech firm opposition

FILE - State Sen. Scott Wiener, D-San Francisco, watches as the Senate votes on a measure at the Capitol in Sacramento, Calif., Thursday, April 11, 2024. Wiener is the author of a bill aiming to regulate powerful generative AI systems.Tech giants including Meta and Google are joining small tech startups in California to push back on the bill, they argue the proposal would stifle innovation in a state that is touting itself as a global AI hub. (AP Photo/Rich Pedroncelli,File) The Associated Press SACRAMENTO, Calif. -- California lawmakers are considering legislation that would require artificial intelligence companies to test their systems and add safety measures so they can't be potentially manipulated to wipe out the state's electric grid or help build chemical weapons — scenarios that experts say could be possible in the future as technology evolves at warp speed. Legislators plan to vote Tuesday on this first-of-its-kind bill, which aims to reduce risks created by AI. It is fiercely opposed by tech companies, including Meta, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram, and Google. They say the regulations take aim at developers and instead should be focused on those who use and exploit the AI systems for harm. Democratic state Sen. Scott Wiener, who authors the bill, said the proposal would provide reasonable safety standards by preventing "catastrophic harms" from extremely powerful AI models that may be created in the future. The requirements would only apply to systems that cost more than $100 million in computing power to train. No current AI models have hit that threshold as of July. "This is not about smaller AI models," Wiener said at a recent legislative hearing. "This is about incredibly large and powerful models that, as far as we know, do not exist today but will exist in the near future." Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom has touted California as an early AI adopter and regulator, saying the state could soon deploy generative AI tools to address highway congestion, make roads safer and provide tax guidance. At the same time, his administration is considering new rules against AI discrimination in hiring practices. He declined to comment on the bill but has warned that overregulation could put the state in a "perilous position." The proposal, supported by some of the most renowned AI researchers, would also create a new state agency to oversee developers and provide best practices. The state attorney general also would be able to pursue legal actions in case of violations. A growing coalition of tech companies argue the requirements would discourage companies from developing large AI systems or keeping their technology open-source. "The bill will make the AI ecosystem less safe, jeopardize open-source models relied on by startups and small businesses, rely on standards that do not exist, and introduce regulatory fragmentation," Rob Sherman, Meta vice president and deputy chief privacy officer, wrote in a letter sent to lawmakers. The proposal could also drive companies out of state to avoid the regulations, the state's Chamber of Commerce said. Opponents want to wait for more guidance from the federal government. Proponents of the bill said California cannot wait, citing hard lessons they learned not acting soon enough to reign in social media companies. State lawmakers were also considering Tuesday another ambitious measure to fight automation discrimination when companies use AI models to screen job resumes and rental apartment applications.

business

California considers unique safety regulations for AI companies, but faces tech firm opposition. FILE - State Sen. Scott Wiener, D-San Francisco, watches as the Senate votes on a measure at the Capitol in Sacramento, Calif., Thursday, April 11, 2024. Wiener is the author of a bill aiming to regulate powerful generative AI systems.Tech giants including Meta and Google are joining small tech startups in California to push back on the bill, they argue the proposal would stifle innovation in a state that is touting itself as a global AI hub. (AP Photo/Rich Pedroncelli,File) The Associated Press SACRAMENTO, Calif. -- California lawmakers are considering legislation that would require artificial intelligence companies to test their systems and add safety measures so they can't be potentially manipulated to wipe out the state's electric grid or help build chemical weapons — scenarios that experts say could be possible in the future as technology evolves at warp speed. Legislators plan to vote Tuesday on this first-of-its-kind bill, which aims to reduce risks created by AI. It is fiercely opposed by tech companies, including Meta, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram, and Google. They say the regulations take aim at developers and instead should be focused on those who use and exploit the AI systems for harm. Democratic state Sen. Scott Wiener, who authors the bill, said the proposal would provide reasonable safety standards by preventing "catastrophic harms" from extremely powerful AI models that may be created in the future. The requirements would only apply to systems that cost more than $100 million in computing power to train. No current AI models have hit that threshold as of July. "This is not about smaller AI models," Wiener said at a recent legislative hearing. "This is about incredibly large and powerful models that, as far as we know, do not exist today but will exist in the near future." Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom has touted California as an early AI adopter and regulator, saying the state could soon deploy generative AI tools to address highway congestion, make roads safer and provide tax guidance. At the same time, his administration is considering new rules against AI discrimination in hiring practices. He declined to comment on the bill but has warned that overregulation could put the state in a "perilous position." The proposal, supported by some of the most renowned AI researchers, would also create a new state agency to oversee developers and provide best practices. The state attorney general also would be able to pursue legal actions in case of violations. A growing coalition of tech companies argue the requirements would discourage companies from developing large AI systems or keeping their technology open-source. "The bill will make the AI ecosystem less safe, jeopardize open-source models relied on by startups and small businesses, rely on standards that do not exist, and introduce regulatory fragmentation," Rob Sherman, Meta vice president and deputy chief privacy officer, wrote in a letter sent to lawmakers. The proposal could also drive companies out of state to avoid the regulations, the state's Chamber of Commerce said. Opponents want to wait for more guidance from the federal government. Proponents of the bill said California cannot wait, citing hard lessons they learned not acting soon enough to reign in social media companies. State lawmakers were also considering Tuesday another ambitious measure to fight automation discrimination when companies use AI models to screen job resumes and rental apartment applications.

Kirkland Summer Concert Series Named Among Top 10 Best Outdoor Concert Series in the Nation by USA Today

Kirkland Downtown Association is thrilled to announce that our Kirkland Summer Concert Series has been recognized as one of the top 10 best outdoor concert series in the United States by USA Today. This prestigious acknowledgment highlights the dedication and passion of our community in making these concerts a standout event year after year. For over 40 years, the Kirkland Summer Concert Series has been a staple of summer entertainment in our picturesque town of Kirkland, Washington, on the shores of Lake Washington. Held every Thursday night in July and August at Marina Park, these free concerts bring together families, friends, and music lovers to enjoy a variety of musical acts against the stunning backdrop of the waterfront. This year's season kicks off with a special concert featuring the incredibly talented Christie Huff on Wednesday, July 3 rd following our Wednesday Farmers Market at Marina Park. This special concert will kick-off our Independence Day celebrations. Join us for an unforgettable evening filled with amazing music, community spirit, and festive vibes. Christie Huff's captivating voice and performance are sure to set the stage for a spectacular summer of music. "We are incredibly honored to be recognized as one of the best outdoor concert series in the nation," said Anne Hess, Executive Director of the Kirkland Downtown Association. "This achievement reflects the hard work of our team, the support of our sponsors, and the enthusiasm of our community. We look forward to continuing to provide an exceptional variety of music for everyone who attends. This year's lineup of artists is our best yet." Kirkland Summer Concert Series offers an array of genres, ensuring that there is something for everyone to enjoy. From local bands to renowned artists, each performance promises a night of unforgettable music and community spirit. Our Thursday concert series begins on

business

Kirkland Summer Concert Series Named Among Top 10 Best Outdoor Concert Series in the Nation by USA Today. Kirkland Downtown Association is thrilled to announce that our Kirkland Summer Concert Series has been recognized as one of the top 10 best outdoor concert series in the United States by USA Today. This prestigious acknowledgment highlights the dedication and passion of our community in making these concerts a standout event year after year. For over 40 years, the Kirkland Summer Concert Series has been a staple of summer entertainment in our picturesque town of Kirkland, Washington, on the shores of Lake Washington. Held every Thursday night in July and August at Marina Park, these free concerts bring together families, friends, and music lovers to enjoy a variety of musical acts against the stunning backdrop of the waterfront. This year's season kicks off with a special concert featuring the incredibly talented Christie Huff on Wednesday, July 3 rd following our Wednesday Farmers Market at Marina Park. This special concert will kick-off our Independence Day celebrations. Join us for an unforgettable evening filled with amazing music, community spirit, and festive vibes. Christie Huff's captivating voice and performance are sure to set the stage for a spectacular summer of music. "We are incredibly honored to be recognized as one of the best outdoor concert series in the nation," said Anne Hess, Executive Director of the Kirkland Downtown Association. "This achievement reflects the hard work of our team, the support of our sponsors, and the enthusiasm of our community. We look forward to continuing to provide an exceptional variety of music for everyone who attends. This year's lineup of artists is our best yet." Kirkland Summer Concert Series offers an array of genres, ensuring that there is something for everyone to enjoy. From local bands to renowned artists, each performance promises a night of unforgettable music and community spirit. Our Thursday concert series begins on

3 Alabama men die after becoming distressed while swimming at Florida beach

Three Alabama men have died from likely drowning after becoming distressed while swimming at a Florida Panhandle beach, authorities said Saturday morning. The young men had traveled to the Panama City Beach area Friday evening, the Bay County Sheriff's Office said in a Facebook post. PENNSYLVANIA PARENTS VACATIONING WITH CHILDREN IN FLORIDA DROWN AFTER GETTING CAUGHT IN RIP CURRENT The sheriff's office received an emergency call about the distressed swimmers shortly after 8 p.m., officials said. The U.S. Coast Guard and others began rescue efforts. The men, who were not immediately identified, were found separately and eventually pronounced dead at local hospitals. Earlier this week, single red flags had been posted at the beach, indicating high-hazard surf and rip current conditions. On Thursday, a Pennsylvania couple visiting Florida with their six children drowned after they were caught in a rip current while swimming. The man and woman were caught in the current on Hutchinson Island, along Florida’s southeast coast, the Martin County Sheriff’s Office said in a Facebook post.

usa

3 Alabama men die after becoming distressed while swimming at Florida beach. Three Alabama men have died from likely drowning after becoming distressed while swimming at a Florida Panhandle beach, authorities said Saturday morning. The young men had traveled to the Panama City Beach area Friday evening, the Bay County Sheriff's Office said in a Facebook post. PENNSYLVANIA PARENTS VACATIONING WITH CHILDREN IN FLORIDA DROWN AFTER GETTING CAUGHT IN RIP CURRENT The sheriff's office received an emergency call about the distressed swimmers shortly after 8 p.m., officials said. The U.S. Coast Guard and others began rescue efforts. The men, who were not immediately identified, were found separately and eventually pronounced dead at local hospitals. Earlier this week, single red flags had been posted at the beach, indicating high-hazard surf and rip current conditions. On Thursday, a Pennsylvania couple visiting Florida with their six children drowned after they were caught in a rip current while swimming. The man and woman were caught in the current on Hutchinson Island, along Florida’s southeast coast, the Martin County Sheriff’s Office said in a Facebook post.

Woman with $3.77 million in investments needs balance between private equity, GICs

79-year-old's income largely comes from interest earned from savings and PE investments, but that's not the best strategy

business,lifestyle

Woman with $3.77 million in investments needs balance between private equity, GICs. 79-year-old's income largely comes from interest earned from savings and PE investments, but that's not the best strategy

B.C. sets nurse-to-patient ratios for 6 areas of hospital care

B.C. sets nurse-to-patient ratios for 6 areas of hospital care B.C.'s Ministry of Health has established nurse-to-patient ratios that will be used in hospitals to improve workload. The new standards set the minimum number of nurses required for six specific areas of care, including general medicine and intensive care. Posted: Mar 01, 2024 5:03 PM EST | Last Updated: March 1 Social Sharing British Columbia's Ministry of Health has established nurse-to-patient ratios that will be used in hospitals across the province to improve workload standards. The new standards set the minimum number of nurses required for six specific areas of care, including general medicine and intensive care. With this move, B.C. becomes the first province in Canada to implement minimum nurse-to-patient ratios. It also makes good on a provincial commitment to the B.C. Nurses' Union (BCNU), with minimum ratios a key plank of contract negotiations last year. Health Minister Adrian Dix says the new ratios will improve the quality of care in hospitals, allow nurses to spend more time with patients and reduce the risk of burnout. "It's not enough just to recruit nurses, we have to retain and support the nurses that are in place. They are critical to ensuring a healthy, safe and inspired workplace," he said. B.C. to become 1st province to adopt nurse-to-patient ratio The six new minimum nurse-to-patient ratios are: General medical/surgical inpatient: one nurse to four patients Rehabilitation: one nurse to five patients during the day and evening, and one nurse to seven patients at night The ratios were set in collaboration with the BCNU and follow similar models in Australia and California. Adriane Gear, president of the BCNU, said the standards mark a milestone in B.C. healthcare, adding that ratios should reduce mortality rates and provide nurses with a quality work environment. "The implementation of ratios in hospitals. will be a game changer for how health care is delivered and will be received," she said. The ministry said it will continue to work with the BCNU to set ratios for any remaining hospital settings, as well as long-term care, assisted living and other non-hospital settings. Health Minister Adrian Dix announced new funding to support nurse recruitment and retention efforts in B.C. (Ben Nelms/CBC) Funding for recruitment and retention The Ministry of Health has also committed $237.6 million to support the new minimum ratios and help retain, recruit, return and train nurses in B.C. Gear said the ministry's commitment to recruitment and retention is significant, adding that nurses have been working in the face of an unprecedented shortage. Among the measures, the province highlighted its nursing tuition credits, which provide students enrolled in nursing programs in public post-secondary institutions a credit of $2,000 each year. Meanwhile, Indigenous students in a bachelor of science in nursing program will receive an additional credit of $5,000 per year. The ministry has also launched signing bonuses in certain remote and rural communities to fill high-need vacancies. Nurses warn of 'breaking point' at Prince George hospital, the largest in northern B.C. As of April 1st, nurses working in these positions will receive up to $30,000 in Northern B.C. and up to $20,000 in other remote and rural areas. In return, nurses will be required to sign a two-year commitment. In 2023, the ministry said there were more than 6,500 newly registered nurses in B.C. The Hospital Employees Union said the new staffing and rural retention incentives are good, but called on the government to extend the measures to include other health-care workers including care aides. "Only by expanding these investments in improving working and caring conditions across health care can we better ensure all British Columbians have access to high quality care in the future," said Meena Brisard, the Hospital Employees Union spokesperson.

health

B.C. sets nurse-to-patient ratios for 6 areas of hospital care. B.C. sets nurse-to-patient ratios for 6 areas of hospital care B.C.'s Ministry of Health has established nurse-to-patient ratios that will be used in hospitals to improve workload. The new standards set the minimum number of nurses required for six specific areas of care, including general medicine and intensive care. Posted: Mar 01, 2024 5:03 PM EST | Last Updated: March 1 Social Sharing British Columbia's Ministry of Health has established nurse-to-patient ratios that will be used in hospitals across the province to improve workload standards. The new standards set the minimum number of nurses required for six specific areas of care, including general medicine and intensive care. With this move, B.C. becomes the first province in Canada to implement minimum nurse-to-patient ratios. It also makes good on a provincial commitment to the B.C. Nurses' Union (BCNU), with minimum ratios a key plank of contract negotiations last year. Health Minister Adrian Dix says the new ratios will improve the quality of care in hospitals, allow nurses to spend more time with patients and reduce the risk of burnout. "It's not enough just to recruit nurses, we have to retain and support the nurses that are in place. They are critical to ensuring a healthy, safe and inspired workplace," he said. B.C. to become 1st province to adopt nurse-to-patient ratio The six new minimum nurse-to-patient ratios are: General medical/surgical inpatient: one nurse to four patients Rehabilitation: one nurse to five patients during the day and evening, and one nurse to seven patients at night The ratios were set in collaboration with the BCNU and follow similar models in Australia and California. Adriane Gear, president of the BCNU, said the standards mark a milestone in B.C. healthcare, adding that ratios should reduce mortality rates and provide nurses with a quality work environment. "The implementation of ratios in hospitals. will be a game changer for how health care is delivered and will be received," she said. The ministry said it will continue to work with the BCNU to set ratios for any remaining hospital settings, as well as long-term care, assisted living and other non-hospital settings. Health Minister Adrian Dix announced new funding to support nurse recruitment and retention efforts in B.C. (Ben Nelms/CBC) Funding for recruitment and retention The Ministry of Health has also committed $237.6 million to support the new minimum ratios and help retain, recruit, return and train nurses in B.C. Gear said the ministry's commitment to recruitment and retention is significant, adding that nurses have been working in the face of an unprecedented shortage. Among the measures, the province highlighted its nursing tuition credits, which provide students enrolled in nursing programs in public post-secondary institutions a credit of $2,000 each year. Meanwhile, Indigenous students in a bachelor of science in nursing program will receive an additional credit of $5,000 per year. The ministry has also launched signing bonuses in certain remote and rural communities to fill high-need vacancies. Nurses warn of 'breaking point' at Prince George hospital, the largest in northern B.C. As of April 1st, nurses working in these positions will receive up to $30,000 in Northern B.C. and up to $20,000 in other remote and rural areas. In return, nurses will be required to sign a two-year commitment. In 2023, the ministry said there were more than 6,500 newly registered nurses in B.C. The Hospital Employees Union said the new staffing and rural retention incentives are good, but called on the government to extend the measures to include other health-care workers including care aides. "Only by expanding these investments in improving working and caring conditions across health care can we better ensure all British Columbians have access to high quality care in the future," said Meena Brisard, the Hospital Employees Union spokesperson.

Moscow awaits US response to prisoner swap proposal

About a week before American journalist Evan Gershkovich is set to stand trial in Russia on espionage charges he denies, Russia said Wednesday it had presented its ideas for a prisoner swap to the United States and was waiting for a reply. "The ball is in the court of the United States. We are waiting for them to respond to the ideas that were presented to them," Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov told Russian news agency TASS in an interview. FILE - Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov attends a meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin at the Novo-Ogaryovo State residence outside Moscow in Moscow, Oct. 16, 2023. "They are well known to the relevant parts of the U.S. administration. I understand that, perhaps, something in these ideas does not suit the Americans. That's their problem," Ryabkov added. "We consider our approaches to be fully justified, sensible, balanced. We expect that this is how they will view them," he said. Gershkovich, a Russian correspondent for The Wall Street Journal, has been jailed since March 2023 on spying accusations that he, his employer and the U.S. government vehemently deny. The U.S. State Department has also declared the 32-year-old wrongfully detained. Gershkovich's closed-door trial is set to begin on June 26 in the Urals city of Yekaterinburg, where he was arrested more than a year ago. Press freedom experts have said the trial will almost certainly be a sham. Yekaterinburg is about 1,400 kilometers east of Moscow. SEE ALSO: American journalist jailed in Russia to be tried behind closed doors If convicted, Gershkovich faces up to 20 years behind bars. Russian authorities, however, have said a trial is required before a prisoner swap can take place. Russian President Vladimir Putin has previously indicated that Moscow would be willing to exchange Gershkovich for a Russian man currently jailed in Germany for killing a Chechen dissident. Gershkovich is one of two American journalists currently jailed in Russia. Alsu Kurmasheva, a dual U.S.-Russian national who works at VOA's sister outlet Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty in Prague, has been jailed since October 2023 on charges of failing to self-register as a "foreign agent" and spreading what Moscow views as false information about the Russian military.

politics,world

Moscow awaits US response to prisoner swap proposal. About a week before American journalist Evan Gershkovich is set to stand trial in Russia on espionage charges he denies, Russia said Wednesday it had presented its ideas for a prisoner swap to the United States and was waiting for a reply. "The ball is in the court of the United States. We are waiting for them to respond to the ideas that were presented to them," Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov told Russian news agency TASS in an interview. FILE - Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov attends a meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin at the Novo-Ogaryovo State residence outside Moscow in Moscow, Oct. 16, 2023. "They are well known to the relevant parts of the U.S. administration. I understand that, perhaps, something in these ideas does not suit the Americans. That's their problem," Ryabkov added. "We consider our approaches to be fully justified, sensible, balanced. We expect that this is how they will view them," he said. Gershkovich, a Russian correspondent for The Wall Street Journal, has been jailed since March 2023 on spying accusations that he, his employer and the U.S. government vehemently deny. The U.S. State Department has also declared the 32-year-old wrongfully detained. Gershkovich's closed-door trial is set to begin on June 26 in the Urals city of Yekaterinburg, where he was arrested more than a year ago. Press freedom experts have said the trial will almost certainly be a sham. Yekaterinburg is about 1,400 kilometers east of Moscow. SEE ALSO: American journalist jailed in Russia to be tried behind closed doors If convicted, Gershkovich faces up to 20 years behind bars. Russian authorities, however, have said a trial is required before a prisoner swap can take place. Russian President Vladimir Putin has previously indicated that Moscow would be willing to exchange Gershkovich for a Russian man currently jailed in Germany for killing a Chechen dissident. Gershkovich is one of two American journalists currently jailed in Russia. Alsu Kurmasheva, a dual U.S.-Russian national who works at VOA's sister outlet Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty in Prague, has been jailed since October 2023 on charges of failing to self-register as a "foreign agent" and spreading what Moscow views as false information about the Russian military.

Wales flanker Callender joins Harlequins

Callender has been one of Wales' outstanding players in recent years but was left without a club following the collapse of Worcester Warriors Women last autumn. She instead captained Brython Thunder in this year's Celtic Challenge. Her leadership skills have also seen her named Wales' vice-captain under Hannah Jones.

world

Wales flanker Callender joins Harlequins. Callender has been one of Wales' outstanding players in recent years but was left without a club following the collapse of Worcester Warriors Women last autumn. She instead captained Brython Thunder in this year's Celtic Challenge. Her leadership skills have also seen her named Wales' vice-captain under Hannah Jones.

‘How do we tame it?’ AI tools are already changing art and illustration in the comic book industry

From top left, clockwise: Melissa Capriglione, Tony Moy, Julie Snyder, Kit Steele, and Fabrice Sapolsky. (Photos via ECCC site) At this year’s Emerald City Comic Con in Seattle, one of the panel discussions brought together several working artists to discuss how the advent of generative AI tools have already changed the face of their profession, the other problems they see going forward, and what they’d like to see from tech firms and legislators. Actor Julie Snyder hosted a group discussion that included Fabrice Sapolsky , CEO of indie publisher Fair Square Comics ; painter and illustrator Kit Steele ; Tony Moy , watercolorist, writer, and creator of the WWII webcomic 4Forty2nd – The Lost Battalion on Webtoon; and Melissa Capriglione , a writer, illustrator, and creator of the webcomic Falconhyrste , who recently published her debut graphic novel Basil & Oregano at Dark Horse. All four artists shared stories of issues they’ve had with AI art, both in general and with other creators, along with several proposed solutions. “To me, you can use AI for translation, to write marketing copy, to check your grammar, to do a lot of other things that aren’t necessarily evil,” said Sapolsky. “The main problem is moral. We live in an era where technology goes faster than law.” Sapolsky added, “AI is not going to go away. We have to get used to it. Now, how do we tame it?” AI vs. reality “Thai Iced Tea” is an entry into Kit Steele’s “Tea Dragons” art series, which pairs dragons with their favorite beverages. (Kit Steele Image) All four artists on the panel had run into issues that arose directly from the use of generative AI, particularly how it had affected their own practices and client interactions. “One of the things that [AI] does, in terms of stealing, is eyeballs,” Moy said. “We all have a finite amount of time to scroll on our phones, and for every AI account that comes across your feed, that’s eyeballs away from someone’s actual art.” An artist using traditional tools, such as pen and ink or watercolors, might take hours to create a single piece, whereas AI can generate dozens or hundreds of images in the same period of time. Someone like Moy might only be able to post new art once a day or less via social media, while accounts that are devoted to AI art can drown him out by sheer volume. “I’ve seen Tony [painting] in hotel lobbies at 4 a.m. because he had a commission to finish,” Sapolsky said. “He spends eight, 10 hours on a piece, while someone can spend 25 seconds aping Tony’s style through Midjourney or Leonardo. That’s a problem.” That in turn can and has set up unrealistic expectations from clients, who end up with inflated ideas about what a human artist is actually capable of doing. “There’s an element of the level of expectation [AI sets] for human ability,” Steele said. “We’ve all seen the photos that show up on Facebook, like [sculptures] that just physically aren’t possible, regardless of the skill or talent of the original sculptor. You’re getting people who have completely handed their level of critical thinking over to the internet, and trusting what they see is reality.” Capriglione added, “It feeds into the expectation on social media of instant gratification: ’This person isn’t posting enough, so I’ll follow this AI artist who’s posting more.’ We’re expected to post every day, but I want to work. I want to draw. C’mon.” The result, particularly for a working artist that makes some amount of their overall income through commissions, is an audience with a loosening grasp on how, and why, art is made. Art is not a democracy During ECCC 2024, several working artists got together to discuss how they’ve seen generative AI affect their experiences and profession. Left to right: Tony Moy, Kit Steele, Fabrice Sapolsky, Melissa Capriglione, host Julie Snyder. (GeekWire Photo / Thomas Wilde) A common argument by proponents of AI art is often that these programs “democratize” the ability to create, by removing the need for someone to train, practice, or get educated before they can work on some art. It’s a relatively common topic on pro-AI corners of social media, and Hopkins brought it up to the panel to get their reaction. “Nowadays, people say that learning art is inaccessible because you need to go to art school,” Capriglione said. “You can go on YouTube, type ‘how to draw’ or ‘how to watercolor,’ and watch somebody’s process for free in 10 minutes. You can create with a $10 box of terrible markers. We can create with anything.” Steele added, “What is there to democratize? Can you pick up a pencil? Great. You’ve got a start. Can you draw a circle? Awesome. You’re an artist. Keep going.” Moy took a different approach. “Art was always about the singular perspective of the artist,” he said. “As a critique, as a commentary, on society, on how the artist views the world. Art is about gaining an interesting perspective from the artist’s point of view. To consider art to be ‘democratized’ also speaks to what we want the state of art and creativity to be, as [AI] tools become more prevalent.” Rules of law Tony Moy’s 4Forty2nd is a watercolor comic strip about the Japanese-American Infantry Regiment, which fought in World War II and became the most decorated unit in U.S. military history. (Tony Moy Image) While no one on the panel argued for an end to generative AI, particularly when it’s used for personal entertainment purposes, a frequent topic was what could be done to legally protect artists in this environment. “ France has a rule that if you use Photoshop for any photography for advertising, you have to notify [viewers] that hey, this model was digitally touched up,” Moy said. “There are going to have to be laws and regulations that say, if it is AI, there’s a statement that says it was created with AI. We can create some simple rules and regulations to help us navigate the new environment.” This could include methods by which artists can deliberately opt out or into their work being used by machine learning models, with a payment program for artists who choose to participate. It’s not simply the use of art as training data, but rather, that so much of it has been used without permission or even notification. Sapolsky drew a parallel here between AI companies’ unregulated use of artists’ work and the American recording industry, which routinely tracks down unlicensed use of clients’ music on YouTube or Twitch. It’s a useful model for potential enforcement, should a company be found to have stolen artists’ work. Offenders could readily be punished through methods such as algorithm disgorgement , where a company that’s found to be using training data without creators’ permission is forced to delete both that data and the products made with it. The FTC has already used or proposed algorithm disgorgement in several settlements, including a case last summer that involved Amazon’s Ring . However, no one on the panel was particularly optimistic about that kind of pro-artist legislation being enacted in the U.S. The European Union has several initiatives and boards dedicated to arts and culture, which have no American parallel. That leaves American artists, for the time being, forced to organize and work on a grass-roots level. This includes the ongoing lawsuit against Stable Diffusion , which has several Pacific Northwest artists such as Sarah Anderson and Phil Foglio attached as plaintiffs. At the end of the hour, the general impression I walked away with was that the issue here isn’t the existence of generative AI tools by themselves, but instead, how they’re used and often misused. This was particularly driven home by Sapolsky, who frequently spoke up to point out that AI in general is simply a machine. It’s not good or bad by itself. However, it does represent a potential branch point in arts and culture, particularly in our relationship with what and how we choose to create. “What do we want art to represent?” Moy asked at the panel. “Safe stuff? Clean stuff? Does it challenge our thoughts, how we think and how we perceive? That’s a question that we all have to think about and answer.”

tech,entertainment

‘How do we tame it?’ AI tools are already changing art and illustration in the comic book industry. From top left, clockwise: Melissa Capriglione, Tony Moy, Julie Snyder, Kit Steele, and Fabrice Sapolsky. (Photos via ECCC site) At this year’s Emerald City Comic Con in Seattle, one of the panel discussions brought together several working artists to discuss how the advent of generative AI tools have already changed the face of their profession, the other problems they see going forward, and what they’d like to see from tech firms and legislators. Actor Julie Snyder hosted a group discussion that included Fabrice Sapolsky , CEO of indie publisher Fair Square Comics ; painter and illustrator Kit Steele ; Tony Moy , watercolorist, writer, and creator of the WWII webcomic 4Forty2nd – The Lost Battalion on Webtoon; and Melissa Capriglione , a writer, illustrator, and creator of the webcomic Falconhyrste , who recently published her debut graphic novel Basil & Oregano at Dark Horse. All four artists shared stories of issues they’ve had with AI art, both in general and with other creators, along with several proposed solutions. “To me, you can use AI for translation, to write marketing copy, to check your grammar, to do a lot of other things that aren’t necessarily evil,” said Sapolsky. “The main problem is moral. We live in an era where technology goes faster than law.” Sapolsky added, “AI is not going to go away. We have to get used to it. Now, how do we tame it?” AI vs. reality “Thai Iced Tea” is an entry into Kit Steele’s “Tea Dragons” art series, which pairs dragons with their favorite beverages. (Kit Steele Image) All four artists on the panel had run into issues that arose directly from the use of generative AI, particularly how it had affected their own practices and client interactions. “One of the things that [AI] does, in terms of stealing, is eyeballs,” Moy said. “We all have a finite amount of time to scroll on our phones, and for every AI account that comes across your feed, that’s eyeballs away from someone’s actual art.” An artist using traditional tools, such as pen and ink or watercolors, might take hours to create a single piece, whereas AI can generate dozens or hundreds of images in the same period of time. Someone like Moy might only be able to post new art once a day or less via social media, while accounts that are devoted to AI art can drown him out by sheer volume. “I’ve seen Tony [painting] in hotel lobbies at 4 a.m. because he had a commission to finish,” Sapolsky said. “He spends eight, 10 hours on a piece, while someone can spend 25 seconds aping Tony’s style through Midjourney or Leonardo. That’s a problem.” That in turn can and has set up unrealistic expectations from clients, who end up with inflated ideas about what a human artist is actually capable of doing. “There’s an element of the level of expectation [AI sets] for human ability,” Steele said. “We’ve all seen the photos that show up on Facebook, like [sculptures] that just physically aren’t possible, regardless of the skill or talent of the original sculptor. You’re getting people who have completely handed their level of critical thinking over to the internet, and trusting what they see is reality.” Capriglione added, “It feeds into the expectation on social media of instant gratification: ’This person isn’t posting enough, so I’ll follow this AI artist who’s posting more.’ We’re expected to post every day, but I want to work. I want to draw. C’mon.” The result, particularly for a working artist that makes some amount of their overall income through commissions, is an audience with a loosening grasp on how, and why, art is made. Art is not a democracy During ECCC 2024, several working artists got together to discuss how they’ve seen generative AI affect their experiences and profession. Left to right: Tony Moy, Kit Steele, Fabrice Sapolsky, Melissa Capriglione, host Julie Snyder. (GeekWire Photo / Thomas Wilde) A common argument by proponents of AI art is often that these programs “democratize” the ability to create, by removing the need for someone to train, practice, or get educated before they can work on some art. It’s a relatively common topic on pro-AI corners of social media, and Hopkins brought it up to the panel to get their reaction. “Nowadays, people say that learning art is inaccessible because you need to go to art school,” Capriglione said. “You can go on YouTube, type ‘how to draw’ or ‘how to watercolor,’ and watch somebody’s process for free in 10 minutes. You can create with a $10 box of terrible markers. We can create with anything.” Steele added, “What is there to democratize? Can you pick up a pencil? Great. You’ve got a start. Can you draw a circle? Awesome. You’re an artist. Keep going.” Moy took a different approach. “Art was always about the singular perspective of the artist,” he said. “As a critique, as a commentary, on society, on how the artist views the world. Art is about gaining an interesting perspective from the artist’s point of view. To consider art to be ‘democratized’ also speaks to what we want the state of art and creativity to be, as [AI] tools become more prevalent.” Rules of law Tony Moy’s 4Forty2nd is a watercolor comic strip about the Japanese-American Infantry Regiment, which fought in World War II and became the most decorated unit in U.S. military history. (Tony Moy Image) While no one on the panel argued for an end to generative AI, particularly when it’s used for personal entertainment purposes, a frequent topic was what could be done to legally protect artists in this environment. “ France has a rule that if you use Photoshop for any photography for advertising, you have to notify [viewers] that hey, this model was digitally touched up,” Moy said. “There are going to have to be laws and regulations that say, if it is AI, there’s a statement that says it was created with AI. We can create some simple rules and regulations to help us navigate the new environment.” This could include methods by which artists can deliberately opt out or into their work being used by machine learning models, with a payment program for artists who choose to participate. It’s not simply the use of art as training data, but rather, that so much of it has been used without permission or even notification. Sapolsky drew a parallel here between AI companies’ unregulated use of artists’ work and the American recording industry, which routinely tracks down unlicensed use of clients’ music on YouTube or Twitch. It’s a useful model for potential enforcement, should a company be found to have stolen artists’ work. Offenders could readily be punished through methods such as algorithm disgorgement , where a company that’s found to be using training data without creators’ permission is forced to delete both that data and the products made with it. The FTC has already used or proposed algorithm disgorgement in several settlements, including a case last summer that involved Amazon’s Ring . However, no one on the panel was particularly optimistic about that kind of pro-artist legislation being enacted in the U.S. The European Union has several initiatives and boards dedicated to arts and culture, which have no American parallel. That leaves American artists, for the time being, forced to organize and work on a grass-roots level. This includes the ongoing lawsuit against Stable Diffusion , which has several Pacific Northwest artists such as Sarah Anderson and Phil Foglio attached as plaintiffs. At the end of the hour, the general impression I walked away with was that the issue here isn’t the existence of generative AI tools by themselves, but instead, how they’re used and often misused. This was particularly driven home by Sapolsky, who frequently spoke up to point out that AI in general is simply a machine. It’s not good or bad by itself. However, it does represent a potential branch point in arts and culture, particularly in our relationship with what and how we choose to create. “What do we want art to represent?” Moy asked at the panel. “Safe stuff? Clean stuff? Does it challenge our thoughts, how we think and how we perceive? That’s a question that we all have to think about and answer.”