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An entire summer's worth of rain fell in just a couple of hours on Friday, July 21, as an unprecedented deluge swept over southern Nova Scotia.
Parts of the Halifax Regional Municipality recorded more than 250 mm of rain during the prolific thunderstorms that persisted through the afternoon and evening hours.
The average summertime rainfall in Halifax is usually around 270 mm.
"This certainly ranks as one of the highest impact flash floods in Canadian history," say Chris Scott, Chief Meteorologist at The Weather Network.
A deeply tropical airmass flowing over the Maritimes was responsible for the historic rains that hit. Days of record warm temperatures and soupy humidity also helped to set the stage, as the enhanced moisture acted like a reservoir for the storms to tap into.
This is now the only way people can get in and out of Ellershouse @RachelSchoutsen @weathernetwork #nswx pic.twitter.com/5gAza6RFm3
This is now the only way people can get in and out of Ellershouse Nathan Coleman on Twitter: "This is now the only way people can get in and out of Ellershouse @RachelSchoutsen @weathernetwork #nswx pic.twitter.com/5gAza6RFm3 / Twitter" Nathan Coleman on Twitter: "This is now the only way people can get in and out of Ellershouse @RachelSchoutsen @weathernetwork #nswx pic.twitter.com/5gAza6RFm3 / Twitter" Nathan Coleman on Twitter: "This is now the only way people can get in and out of Ellershouse @RachelSchoutsen @weathernetwork #nswx pic.twitter.com/5gAza6RFm3 / Twitter" Nathan Coleman on Twitter: "This is now the only way people can get in and out of Ellershouse @RachelSchoutsen @weathernetwork #nswx pic.twitter.com/5gAza6RFm3 / Twitter"
Friday's thunderstorms repeatedly developed and moved over the same areas like train cars on railroad tracks. This created a classic "training" storm setup that's responsible for some of the most intense flash flooding possible.
"The storms just kept coming to the same place for about five to seven hours on Friday, and that's what did the damage," Scott says, adding that the intensity of the rainfall over such a short period of time resulted in similar storm totals of that of a hurricane.
"This situation relates to Hurricane Beth back in 1971 with similar types of rainfall amounts, however, that was over a longer period of time...so it's all about the intensity. That's why this was not only a big event, but a historic one, which did things we've never seen before in this part of the country," says Scott.
WATCH: Body of missing man, human remains found after N.S. floods
On Monday, the body of a missing 52-year-old man was found, as well as unidentified human remains, in an extensive search for four missing people after two vehicles were submerged in the devastating floodwaters in West Hants. Two children and one youth remain unaccounted for.
Nova Scotia Premier Tim Houston expressed his condolences from the West Hants RCMP detachment in Windsor, Nova Scotia on Monday.
"It's a heartbreaking day for our province," he said. "We can rebuild roads and bridges and buildings but we can't bring people back, and the legacy from these floods will be the incredibly tragic loss of life."
Now the question remains -- can we immediately tie this recent flood catastrophe to climate change? Be sure to watch the in-depth video above with Chief Meteorologist, Chris Scott and The Weather Network's Tyler Hamilton.
With files from Dennis Mersereau, The Weather Network | Not_Explicit |
Revamped ITPO Complex: PM Modi Performs 'Pooja' Ahead Of Inauguration; All You Need To Know
PM Modi will return to the ITPO for a grand inaugural ceremony at 6:30 pm on Wednesday.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday performed a 'pooja' at the inauguration of the International Convention Centre, ITPO, Pragati Maidan in Delhi.
Several Union ministers were also present at the event. PM Modi will return to the ITPO for a grand inaugural ceremony at 6:30 pm on Wednesday.
News agency PTI shared a video where PM Modi was seen felicitating labourers involved in the construction work at the redeveloped Pragati Maidan complex.
The International Exhibition-cum-Convention Centre will serve as a venue for the G20 summit.
New IECC Complex: All You Need To Know
Prime Minister’s vision of having a world class infrastructure for hosting meetings, conferences and exhibitions in the country has led to the conceptualization of the International Exhibition-cum-Convention Centre (IECC) at Pragati Maidan, a PIB release said.
The project, which revamped the old and outdated facilities at Pragati Maidan, was developed as a National project at a cost of about Rs 2700 crore.
With a campus area of approximately 123 acres, the IECC complex has been developed as India’s largest MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conferences, and Exhibitions) destination.
The newly developed IECC complex at Pragati Maidan comprises of multiple state-of-the-art facilities including Convention Centre, Exhibition halls, amphitheatres etc.
The Convention Centre is developed as the centerpiece of Pragati Maidan complex.
It is a grand architectural marvel, designed to host large-scale international exhibitions, trade fairs, conventions, conferences, and other prestigious events, PIB said.
It is equipped with multiple meeting rooms, lounges, auditoriums, an amphitheatre and business centre, making it capable of hosting a wide range of events.
Its multi-purpose hall and plenary hall have a combined capacity of seven thousand people, which is larger than the seating capacity of the famous Sydney Opera House in Australia.
Its Amphitheater is equipped with a seating capacity of 3,000 individuals.
Take A Look At New ITPO Complex
The architectural design of the Convention Centre building is inspired from Indian traditions and showcases India’s confidence and conviction in its past while also embracing modern facilities and way of life.
The shape of the building is derived from the Shankha (conch shell), different walls and facades of the Convention Centre depict several elements of India's traditional art and culture including ‘Surya Shakti’ highlighting India’s efforts in harnessing solar energy, ‘Zero to ISRO’, celebrating our achievements in space, Pancha Mahabhuta signifying the building blocks of universal foundation - Aakash (Sky), Vayu (Air), Agni (Fire), Jal (Water), Prithvi (Earth), among others.
Pragati Maidan Convention Centre: Featrures
Other facilities available in the Convention Centre include 5G-enabled fully Wi-Fi covered campus.
10G Intranet connectivity
Interpreter room equipped with cutting-edge technology to support 16 different languages
Advanced AV systems with huge-sized video walls
Building management system ensuring optimal functionality and energy efficiency
Light management system with dimming and occupancy sensors
State-of-the-art DCN (Data Communication Network) system
Integrated surveillance system and energy-efficient centralized air conditioning system.
Further, the IECC complex features a total of seven exhibition halls, each serving as a versatile space for hosting exhibitions, trade fairs, and business events.
The exhibition halls are designed to accommodate a diverse range of industries and showcase products and services from around the world. These state-of-the-art structures are a testament to modern engineering and architectural prowess.
The convenience of visitors is a priority at the IECC, reflected in the provision of over 5,500 vehicle parking spaces. The ease of access through signal-free roads ensures that visitors can reach the venue without any hassle. | Not_Explicit |
Tiger Global, DST Global, Peak XV, Steadview Capital, and Kotak Private Equity are among global and Indian investors who have asked the India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi to reconsider the recently announced taxation on online gaming.
The Goods and Services Tax Council, which comprises top federal and state finance ministers, said earlier this month that it had agreed to levy a 28% indirect tax on online gaming, casinos and horse racing. The council said there should be no distinction between “game of skill” and “game of chance,” closing a loophole that has allowed fantasy sports companies to justify their offerings as skill-based.
“The decision of the 50th GST Council has the unintended consequence of equating the constitutionally protected legitimate online skill gaming industry with gambling, betting and other “games of chance,” a group of 30 investors wrote in a letter to Narendra Modi, the Prime Minister of India, on Friday.
“We invested in this sector with the vision to make India the gaming capital of the world, which would help in generating, among other things, high-skilled jobs, billions in foreign capital and make the country a net exporter of innovation in gaming and allied areas such as animation, artificial intelligence and visual effects,” said the letter, titled “urgent prayer.”
Online gaming is one of the fastest growing consumer internet businesses in India. Fantasy sports startups — including Dream Sports, backed by Tiger Global and Alpha Wave Global and valued at over $8 billion, and Sequoia India-backed Mobile Premier League — have altogether raised billions as a generation of internet users build a habit of making bets on real-world sporting events in hopes to make money.
More to follow. | Not_Explicit |
British tourists said they had been left in “a living nightmare” after wildfires caused the emergency evacuation of 19,000 people on the Greek island of Rhodes.
More than 3,000 people were rescued from beaches and another 16,000 taken to safety on land as flames intensified in the south-eastern region of the island on Saturday.
The wildfires, which began six days ago, had prompted the biggest evacuation from a blaze in Greece’s history, the Athens government said on Sunday.
The British ambassador to Greece said the UK Foreign Office had sent a rapid deployment team to help stranded UK tourists, as travel companies cancelled holidays to Rhodes.
Local agencies have struggled to get the wildfires under control amid a prolonged heatwave across southern Europe, which officials warned could trigger further evacuations in the coming days.
Travel firm Jet2 on Sunday cancelled package holidays to Rhodes for at least a week, while easyJet and Tui aborted holidays due to depart up to Tuesday.
Thomas Cook announced it had cancelled all holidays to Kiotari and Lardos, the areas of the island most at risk, until 31 July.
However, Tui was criticised for flying holidaymakers out as late as Saturday night, when many hotels had been evacuated due to the worsening situation.
Holidaymakers described scenes of panic and chaos on beaches where thousands of people waited to be rescued.
One said they saw children falling into the sea from evacuation boats as ash fell from the sky. Another described people abandoning their belongings on beaches as they clambered on to rescue vessels.
Ian Murison, from London, likened the evacuation to “the end of the world” as the sea turned black with soot and people rushed towards boats.
Murison said he and his family had walked almost 4 miles in scorching heat towards Gennadi beach, where they were met by a scene of chaos.
“Thousands moved on to the beach. It was impossible to get on to coaches because people just ran. It was literally like the end of the world and the flames were now far more visible because of course it’s night-time and we couldn’t see that during the day,” he told Sky News.
“Suddenly there were leaping flames into the sky, and the sky was completely orange in the distance, so that sort of set about a level of panic.”
Murison said there were hundreds or thousands of people left on the beach, which was littered with suitcases that had been thrown off the rescue boat so more families could be taken to safety.
He said: “My wife ... was finding it stressful, particularly when they said it was women and children only on the bus and I kissed them goodbye. She thought it might be the last time she saw me.”
Helen Tonk, from the east Midlands, said Tui had flown her family and hundreds of others into a “living nightmare” in a flight that landed in Rhodes just before 11pm on Saturday.
Tonk was told when they landed that their hotel in Gennadi had been evacuated and that she, her husband and daughters aged 15, 21 and 22 would instead have to sleep in a school sports hall, which had been turned into an emergency refuge centre in the city of Rhodes.
“We shouldn’t be here in a million years,” she said. “It’s one thing being here already and being caught in the chaos – and we’ve been talking to families who have had to flee and there was just panic and chaos – but then we’ve added to the problem by effectively being dropped into it. Our plane should have come over empty and should have been bringing people back.”
She praised local people for providing food and support to those stranded but said her family and dozens of others had been “completely abandoned” by their holiday companies.
“We are adding to the problem. We’ve been completely abandoned. Abandoned is the word I would use, and we just don’t know what our options are.”
She added: “In my mind I don’t see how you could say this is an act of God because we weren’t already here. They [Tui] have chosen to bring us here. They’ve read the situation locally wrong and we should not be here.”
Another woman, Sharon Richards, described how her family were told to flee their hotel in Lardos, on the fire-ravaged south-east of the island, on Saturday night.
Richards, from Glasgow, said her family, including a nine-year-old boy and girls aged 11 and 17, and dozens of other British guests had been let down by UK travel companies.
Tourists from other countries had been evacuated but Jet2 and Tui had failed to provide any proper information to those on the ground, she said.
“We were told to leave our suitcases in our hotel and flee for the beach. The flames were on the hillside right next to us but there’s a petrol station right across the road from the hotel,” she said.
“We were quite scared really, not knowing what was happening. All the Polish and Scandinavian people in our hotel were bussed to other hotels more or less straight away whereas us Brits were just kind of left.”
Richards, speaking to the Guardian from an evacuation centre in the city of Rhodes, said they eventually reached the north of the island about 10 hours after being told to flee their hotel.
Her family, who are on a package holiday with Jet2, are due to fly home on Monday night but have not been told whether they will be able to collect their possessions.
A Tui spokesperson said: “We’re continuing to closely monitor the wildfires in Rhodes which have led to the evacuation of a number of hotels in the south of the island.
“We appreciate how distressing and difficult it is for customers who have been evacuated and ask they follow the advice of the local authorities who are managing tourist movements in impacted areas.
“Our resort teams are doing everything they can to support customers, working closely with the relevant authorities.” | Not_Explicit |
Great news for those traveling to China! You can finally enjoy the seamless, cashless payment experience that you may have heard about for years and avoid the awkward interaction of asking your local friends to pay and giving them paper money that they can’t spend anywhere.
This week, China’s two dominant mobile payment solutions, WeChat Pay and Alipay, announced that foreign users can now pay at Chinese retailers by linking their foreign credit cards, including Visa, Mastercard, and Discover.
Previously, using WeChat Pay and Alipay in China required a local bank account, making it challenging for short-term visitors to use these payment methods. While paying has become breezier for those living in China, finding places that accept cash is now a headache for foreign visitors, as the two payments giants have largely replaced cash from metropoles to villages despite the government’s efforts to warn merchants against rejecting cash.
The development is thus a huge improvement in foreign visitors’ experience in China. Given Alipay and WeChat Pay are literally ubiquitous in both China’s online and offline retail spheres, foreign visitors may now be able to hail a Didi car, ride the subway, rent a shared bike, buy fruit from a grocer, order food delivery, and even shop online for the myriad of Chinese e-commerce goods.
WeChat’s announcement provides useful details on what the setup looks like. To activate their WeChat wallets, foreign users will need to authenticate their identity by uploading their passports. Foreign phone numbers can be used for receiving verification codes.
Unfortunately, visitors won’t be able to try out the digitized Chinese hongbao custom, which involves sending or receiving digital versions of auspicious red envelopes filled with money. This feature was originally what drove WeChat’s early wave of mass adoption. Visitors also can’t conduct money transfers, which is unsurprising given China’s stringent control of capital flows across borders.
On WeChat, spending limits per transaction, month and year for foreign visitors are 6,000 yuan (around $835), 50,000 yuan and 60,000 yuan, respectively. Transaction fees are waived for payments under 200 yuan (around $28), and any amount above that charges a 3% fee. Exchange rates are based on the rates of the card organization and the issuing bank.
The payments giants previously had plans to integrate with international bank cards, but those didn’t materialize. Hopefully, the regulatory approvals and infrastructure are ready this time. We will report back once we’ve tried it out on the ground. | Not_Explicit |
Russian President Vladimir Putin, who faces an international arrest warrant for war crimes committed in Ukraine, will not attend a summit of BRICS countries in South Africa next month, the South African presidency said Wednesday.
“By mutual agreement, President Vladimir Putin of the Russian Federation will not attend the Summit but the Russian Federation will be represented by Foreign Minister, Mr Sergey Lavrov,” the South African government said in a statement.
In March, the International Criminal Court issued an arrest warrant against Putin over the forced transfer of children to Russia after the invasion of Ukraine.
As a signatory to the ICC, it would have been bound to enforce the warrant and arrest Putin if he visited the country for a planned leaders’ summit of the BRICS countries — Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa — in Pretoria in August.
On Tuesday, South African President Cyril Ramaphosa warned that his country had “obvious problems” with arresting Putin, which would constitute a “declaration of war.”
Russia, which has extended its influence in Africa in recent years — including through the Wagner paramilitary group — is due to host another meeting with African leaders in St. Petersburg on July 27-28.
The BRICS summit will thus be attended by leaders from Brazil, China, India and South Africa, according to the presidency’s statement. | Not_Explicit |
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WASHINGTON (AP) — New rules for the nation’s oil and gas leasing program would raise costs for energy companies to drill on public lands and strengthen requirements for cleaning up old wells where drilling is completed or abandoned, the Biden administration said Thursday.
A rule proposed by the Interior Department raises royalty rates for oil drilling by more than one-third, to 16.67 percent, in accordance with the sweeping climate law approved by Congress last year. The previous rate of 12.5 percent paid by oil and gas companies for federal drilling rights had remained unchanged for a century. The federal rate was significantly lower than what many states and private landowners charge for drilling leases on state or private lands.
The new rule does not go so far as to prohibit new oil and gas leasing on public lands, as many environmental groups have urged and as President Joe Biden promised during the 2020 campaign. But officials said the proposal would lead to a more responsible leasing process that provides a better return to U.S. taxpayers.
The plan codifies provisions in the climate law, known as the Inflation Reduction Act, as well as the 2021 infrastructure law and recommendations from an Interior report on oil and gas leasing issued in November 2021.
The new rule “provides a fair return to taxpayers, adequately accounts for environmental harms and discourages speculation by oil and gas companies,” said Laura Daniel-Davis, principal deputy assistant Interior secretary for land and minerals management.
Interior “is committed to creating a more transparent, inclusive and just approach to leasing and permitting that serves the public interest while protecting natural and cultural resources on our public lands,″ she added.
READ MORE: Major U.S. firms supplied equipment to keep Russian oil flowing after Ukraine invasion
The new royalty rate set by the climate law is expected to remain in place until August 2032, after which it can be increased.
The rule also would increase the minimum leasing bond paid by energy companies to $150,000, up from the previous $10,000 established in 1960. The higher bonding requirement is intended to ensure that companies meet their obligations to clean up drilling sites after they are done or cap wells that are abandoned.
The previous level was far too low to force companies to act and did not cover potential costs to reclaim a well, officials said. As a result, taxpayers frequently end up covering cleanup costs for abandoned or depleted wells if an operator refuses to do so or declares bankruptcy. Hundreds of thousands of “orphaned” oil and gas wells and abandoned coal and hardrock mines pose serious safety hazards, while causing ongoing environmental damage.
The Interior Department has made available more than $1 billion in the past two years from the infrastructure law to clean up orphaned oil and gas wells on public lands. The new rule aims to prevent that burden from falling on taxpayers in the future.
Bureau of Land Management Director Tracy Stone-Manning, whose agency issued the new rule, said the proposal “aims to ensure fairness to the taxpayer and balanced, responsible development as we continue to transition to a clean energy economy. It includes common-sense and needed fiscal revisions to BLM’s program, many directed by Congress.”
The BLM, an Interior Department agency, oversees more than 245 million acres of public lands, primarily in the West.
Environmental groups hailed the rule change as overdue and said the Biden administration recognized that business as usual by the oil and gas industry is incompatible with increased risks from climate change — a crisis the oil industry played a large role in creating.
WATCH: Biden’s complex relationship with oil and gas, despite campaign promises
“These changes were badly needed — to put it mildly — and will help make onshore leasing more fair to taxpayers and hold industry accountable for its harms,” said Josh Axelrod of the Natural Resources Defense Council.
But he and other advocates said Biden should keep his promise to end new drilling on public lands. “In addition to making polluters pay with these fiscal reforms, it’s time for the Biden administration to align our federal fossil fuel program with America’s transition to a clean energy economy,” said Mattea Mrkusic of Evergreen Action, another environmental group.
The oil industry said the rule change would discourage oil and gas production in the United States.
“Responsible development of federal lands is critical for meeting the growing demand for affordable, reliable energy while reducing (greenhouse gas) emissions,” said Holly Hopkins, vice president of the American Petroleum Institute, an industry lobbying group.
“Amidst a global energy crisis, this action from the Department of the Interior is yet another attempt to add even more barriers to future energy production,” she said.
The proposal issued Thursday follows an Interior report on federal oil and gas leasing issued in November 2021. Biden ordered the report soon after taking office in January 2021 as he directed a pause in federal oil and gas lease sales, citing worries about climate change.
The moratorium drew sharp criticism from congressional Republicans and the oil industry, even as many environmentalists and Democrats urged Biden to make the leasing pause permanent.
The moratorium was overturned by the courts, and oil and gas lease sales have resumed, including some mandated by the climate law in a compromise with Democratic Sen. Joe Manchin of West Virginia.
A separate proposal by the Biden administration would put conservation on equal footing with industry. The plan would allow conservationists and others to lease federally owned land to restore it, much the same way oil companies buy leases to drill and ranchers pay to graze cattle. Leases also could be bought on behalf of companies such as oil drillers who want to offset damage to public land by restoring acreage elsewhere.
Critics including Republican lawmakers and agriculture industry representatives blast the BLM plan as a way to exclude mining, energy development and agriculture.
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Russia's Defense Ministry reported on its Telegram channel that two drones hit central Moscow in the early hours of July 24. Fragments of a drone were found later some two kilometers away from Russia's Defense Ministry's main building, according to local state news agencies.
Moscow Mayor Sergey Sobyanin said on his Telegram that the drones hit two office buildings. They were reportedly neutralized by electronic warfare. There were no casualties, according to the mayor.
Komsomolsky Avenue from the center of Moscow towards the outskirts of the city was closed, RIA news agency cited Moscow's Department of Transport.
A previous drone attack on Moscow, that targeted the Kremlin took place early on May 3, several days before Russia celebrated Victory Day. Russian officials at the time said the drones were intercepted and destroyed before they could cause injuries.
As explosions and drone strikes continue to happen in Russia, Ukrainian officials are often coy about the incidents, hinting that they’re responsible without directly taking credit. | Not_Explicit |
HAMILTON, New Zealand -- Hinata Miyazawa scored a pair of goals, while Mina Tanaka and Jun Endo each added a goal and an assist, as Japan shut out Zambia 5-0 to open Women’s World Cup play Saturday for both sides.
Miyazawa found the back of the net with one-time finishes on either side of halftime to secure an easy win over the Copper Queens in what was their World Cup debut.
Tanaka, denied goals twice on offside calls, scored in similar fashion in the 55th minute, assisted by Endo.
Endo then scored in the 71st minute, finding herself alone on the left side of goalkeeper Catherine Musonda’s goal and slotting home a left-footed strike.
Not only did Tanaka see two goals called back by VAR for offside, the Nakeshido were awarded an early second-half penalty only to see it rescinded for yet another offside call.
The Group C clash was the first time a senior World Cup match was hosted at Hamilton’s Waikato Stadium. Saturday’s attendance of 16,111 nearly filled the stadium that holds just over 18,000.
Zambia struggled to find its footing in its World Cup debut. Star striker Barbra Banda found herself isolated at the top of the pitch and marked by three Japanese defenders for much of the night.
Deep into second-half injury time, the Copper Queens' fortunes went from bad to worse as goalkeeper Catherine Musonda, who started the match in place of an injured Hazel Nali, was sent off with a second yellow card for a foul in the box.
Initially, Riko Ueki’s penalty hit the underside of the crossbar, but VAR ruled the penalty be retaken for goalkeeper encroachment. Ueki sent her second chance into the lower right corner of the net.
KEY MOMENT
Aoba Fujino nearly scored twice in the first 10 minutes of the match, but it was her ranging run and subsequent assist in the 43rd minute that put Japan in control. The victory was Fujino’s first World Cup match and first assist for her country at just 19 years old.
WHY IT MATTERS
Japan now sits first in Group C, ahead of Spain on goals scored, and the Nakeshido remain unbeaten in opening World Cup matches since 1995. With a loss and five goals to the bad on goal differential, Zambia faces a longshot fight to qualify for the round of 16 with Spain and Costa Rica as its next opponents.
WHAT’S NEXT
Japan will travel to Dunedin to face Costa Rica, who were shut out 3-0 in a poor showing against Spain. Zambia will take on a confident La Roja in its second match of the group stage in Auckland. Both matches will be played on Wednesday.
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Luke Vargas is a student in the John Curley Center for Sports Journalism at Penn State.
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AP Women’s World Cup coverage: https://apnews.com/hub/fifa-womens-world-cup and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports | Not_Explicit |
SAVANNAH, Ga. -- Prosecutors want the rapper Quando Rondo sent back to jail after he crashed a car while free on bond pending trial on gang and drug charges.
The 24-year-old rapper, whose given name Tyquian Terrel Bowman, was indicted last month in his hometown of Savannah. He was released from jail June 26 on a $100,000 bond. Now prosecutors are asking a judge to revoke his bond.
Their filing in Chatham County Superior Court says Bowman crashed a car while driving at high speed Wednesday, and that emergency responders “administered Narcan as he was exhibiting signs of an overdose.”
Narcan is a drug used to treat opioid overdoses. Bowman was ordered to refrain from using illegal drugs as a condition of his bond, according to court records.
Bowman's attorney, Kimberly Copeland, had no comment on the case, said a woman answering the phone at Copeland's law office Friday.
A judge scheduled a Thursday hearing on Bowman's bond. Prosecutors obtained a subpoena for toxicology tests and other medical records from the hospital that treated Bowman after the crash.
Bowman and 18 others were indicted last month by a Chatham County grand jury. Bowman was charged with four counts, including being a manager of an illegal street gang known as “Rollin’ 60’s.” His other charges include conspiring with others to distribute marijuana and to buy pills of the opioid hydrocodone.
Prosecutors said additional charges stemming from the car crash are pending.
As Quando Rondo, the rapper’s singles “I Remember” and “ABG” led to a deal with Atlantic Records, which released his debut album, “QPac,” in 2020. His follow-up album, “Recovery,” came out in March. | Not_Explicit |
The ‘Germany's Next Top Model’ host got all dressed up to party in Berlin
Heidi Klum is beating the heat this summer in her tiny denim cutoffs — with a twist!
The model, 50, took to Instagram on Saturday to show off her Berlin party look, which included an elevated pair of denim cutoffs. The shorts Klum wore were not just your basic denim — they were trimmed with complementary light blue feathers.
“Let’s Party BERLIN,” the America’s Got Talent judge wrote on her carousel post, which features multiple slides of her entire outfit as she posed for a fun photo shoot in front of her window. Klum paired the embellished shorts with delicate fishnet tights, a white bralette top featuring floral lace accents, nude heels and a brown statement belt. The accessories were minimal, but her blue glitter makeup look was the perfect complement to her eye-catching cutoffs. As always, the model was rocking her signature long blonde locks and bangs.
In a separate Instagram Story, Klum posed with artist Katy Bähm in a slightly altered look as she took the party outside. The former Project Runway host now rocked a navy bomber jacket and oversized pair of sunglasses, but still had her decorated denim cutoffs on full display.
While Berlin is close to home for the former Germany’s Next Top Model host, Klum and her husband, Tom Kaulitz, have been parading around on vacation all summer. From color-coordinated swim looks to dancing in little bikinis, the model has been garnering tons of style attention.
Another one of Klum’s most noteworthy vacation looks has been her two-piece Mona Lisa set, which she wore sailing in Europe at the beginning of the month. All of her looks and vacation escapades are usually shared on Instagram, but never with the comments on.
At the beginning of June, the former Victoria’s Secret angel took to social media to answer questions from her followers. One asked: “Why did you turn your comment section off?” to which Klum replied: “my own mental health.”
“I don’t think it’s nice sometimes what people have to say and I think it’s not good to be influenced by what people say,” the model continued. “It kind of makes you not do then what you feel in your gut, what you want to do."
“And I feel more free this way,” she added.
Klum continued, saying that there are some reasons she would like to keep them on — namely her fans — but that the cons outweigh the pros: “Obviously I’m sad for all the fans who I can’t speak with but there’s just too much hate, unfortunately, in the world right now."
The model went on to say that her Instagram is a place where she shares moments of love and happiness. Klum explained that people who fight in her comment section take away from that joy, and added: “That’s not what I’m all about.”
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Read the original article on People. | Not_Explicit |
This Place In Maharashtra Received The Highest Rainfall On July 20
Skymet shared a list on Thursday of the wettest cities in India. Matheran in Maharashtra recorded the highest rainfall.
Weather officials issued orange alert warning in the different districts of Maharashtra on July 20, 2023. Several districts received heavy rainfall but this small hill station received the highest rainfall on July 20 all over the country.
Private Weather Forecaster, Skymet shared a list on Thursday of the wettest cities in India.
Matheran in Maharashtra recorded 398 mm of rainfall, making it one of the wettest places in India on July 20, 2023.
Top Wettest Places In India
1. Matheran, Maharashtra: Asia's only automobile free hill-station, Matheran in Maharashtra received the highest rainfall of 398 mm on July 20, making it one of the wettest cities in India today.
2. Mahabaleshwar, Maharashtra: This beautiful place in India is known for its valleys and hills and the fact that there are five holy rivers. Mahabaleshwar in Maharashtra received the highest rainfall of 315 mm on July 20. It is the second wettest city in India today.
3. Dahanu, Maharashtra: The coastal town of Maharashtra is famous for its nature-loving environment and beaches. Dahanu in Maharashtra received the highest rainfall of 305 mm on July 20. It is the third wettest city in India today.
4. Surat, Gujarat: Famously known as the Diamond City of India, Surat in Gujarat received the highest rainfall of 145 mm on July 20. It is the fourth wettest city in India today.
5. Harnai, Maharashtra: The village in Maharashtra is famous for its religious sites, forts, and beaches. Harnai in Maharashtra received the highest rainfall of 131 mm on July 20. It is the fifth wettest place in India today.
6. Medak, Telangana: Famous for the old forts and cathedral this place is the most famous and powerful pilgrim destination in the country. The tourist place Medak in Telangana received the highest rainfall of 131 mm on July 20. It is the sixth wettest place in India today.
7. Valsad, Gujarat: The place famous for its handloom cloth, bricks, dyes, hills, and mountains. Valsad in Gujarat received the highest rainfall of 122 mm on July 20. It is the seventh wettest place in India today.
8. Santacruz, Maharashtra: The suburb of Mumbai - Santacruz is one of the popular localities for living. This suburb in Mumbai received the highest rainfall of 99 mm on July 20. It is the eighth wettest place in India today.
9. Bhavnagar, Gujarat: The city in the district of Saurashtra is famous for its maritime trade. Bhavnagar in Gujarat received the highest rainfall of 98 mm on July 20. It is the ninth wettest place in India today. | Not_Explicit |
Women's World Cup roundtable: Which group stage match will live up to hype?
The first round of group stage matches at the 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup has come to an end, but fear not; there are still plenty of games left to be played.
We asked our panel of soccer experts here at FOX Sports which of the remaining group stage matches they're most excited for — here's what they had to say:
Which group stage matchup that we haven't seen yet are you most excited about?
Carli Lloyd: France-Brazil. France has been injected with more confidence and belief from their newly appointed manager Herve Renard. Brazil is thriving right now and have many players who have been in form for their clubs and Brazil.
Alexi Lalas: Any game that the eight debutants play. Seeing the pride and happiness on the faces of these players is awesome. Just their mere presence can help motivate, inspire, and energize cultures that traditionally haven’t looked at the women’s game as worthy of attention or resources.
Stu Holden: USA-Netherlands. As a rematch of the 2019 final, I think it’s going to be a close and exciting match. It's a good early test for the USWNT and one in which we’ll find out if they have what it takes for the 3-peat.
Leslie Osborne: USA-Netherlands. A lot has changed for both teams since 2019. Who will come out on top?
Jimmy Conrad: Spain-Japan. Spain has the back-to-back reigning Ballon d’Or winner, Alexia Putellas, who is coming off a 10-month layoff due to an ACL tear, on their team, and Japan have one of the best young players in the world on theirs in 19-year-old Maika Hamano, who is heading to Chelsea next season. They're both the real deal. But that’s on the player level.
On a team level, Spain has the talent to win this tournament but have some major off-the-field distractions with their federation and coaching. Meanwhile, Japan, after winning the World Cup in 2011 and being finalists in 2015, crashed out in the round of 16 in 2019, so they’re going to be looking to restore their reputation as one of the world’s best.
Laken Litman: USA-Netherlands. What’s juicer than a 2019 World Cup final rematch in the group stage?
Doug McIntyre: USA.-Netherlands. Not only is it a rematch of the 2019 finale, I can’t remember the Americans ever having a more meaningful first round game at a World Cup. If the USWNT loses, they’ll almost certainly finish second in the group. And you know the Dutch will be up for it after what happened four years ago in France.
Martin Rogers: Aside from USA-Netherlands, I’d go for Australia-Canada. One of the host nations against the Olympic champion in a game both teams will likely be desperate to win, as second place in the group may mean a round of 16 meeting with England.
-
2023 Women's World Cup schedule: How to watch, TV channel, dates, results
Netherlands' tight win sets up showdown with USWNT
Women's World Cup Daily: Netherlands draws level with USA in Group E standings
-
What's with so many PKs, and so many misses, in this Women's World Cup?
Italy-Argentina, Germany-Morocco predictions, picks by Chris 'The Bear' Fallica
Women's World Cup power rankings: USA stays on top; Germany holds onto top-3 spot
-
2023 Women's World Cup odds: USA remains favorite to three-peat
Brazilian players at Women's World Cup urge fans to skip work to watch their matches
World Cup NOW: How Netherlands might give U.S. problems
-
2023 Women's World Cup schedule: How to watch, TV channel, dates, results
Netherlands' tight win sets up showdown with USWNT
Women's World Cup Daily: Netherlands draws level with USA in Group E standings
-
What's with so many PKs, and so many misses, in this Women's World Cup?
Italy-Argentina, Germany-Morocco predictions, picks by Chris 'The Bear' Fallica
Women's World Cup power rankings: USA stays on top; Germany holds onto top-3 spot
-
2023 Women's World Cup odds: USA remains favorite to three-peat
Brazilian players at Women's World Cup urge fans to skip work to watch their matches
World Cup NOW: How Netherlands might give U.S. problems | Not_Explicit |
TORONTO -- Toronto police are seeking help from the public to identify three suspects who allegedly stole luxury vehicles from a car dealership.
Police said Monday they responded to a vehicle theft call just after 3:40 p.m. on Saturday at a dealership in the downtown area of Dundas Street East and Carroll Street area.
They say three people entered the dealership and stole three luxury vehicles.
The stolen vehicles are a black 2021 Rolls Royce Dawn without a license plate, a black 2022 Bentley Bentayga with Ontario plate number CYAA632, and a white 2020 Rolls Royce Cullinan with Ontario plate number CXCY439. The combined value of the cars is worth more than 1 million Canadian dollars ($750,000)
The vehicles were last seen driving northbound on Carroll Street.
Police have released images of the suspects and are asking anyone with information to contact them or Crime Stoppers. The suspects are wearing masks in the photos.
Toronto has seen a large spike in car thefts this year. | Not_Explicit |
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WASHINGTON (AP) — A judge will hear arguments Wednesday in a lawsuit opposing an asylum rule that is a key part of the Biden administration’s immigration policy. Critics say the rule endangers migrants trying to cross the southern border and is against the law, while the administration argues that it encourages migrants to use lawful pathways into the U.S. and prevents chaos at the southern border.
The new rule took effect May 11 with the expiration of a COVID-19 restriction known as Title 42 that had limited asylum seekers at the U.S.-Mexico border. The new rule makes it extremely difficult for migrants who come directly to the southern border to get asylum unless they use a government app to get an appointment or they’ve already tried to seek protection in another country before coming to the U.S. It includes room for exceptions and would not apply to children traveling alone.
The lawsuit threatens to undermine a key tool that President Joe Biden’s administration has relied on to manage immigration as congressional Republicans attack the administration for what they say is a failure to control the roughly 2,000-mile (3,220-kilometer) border with Mexico. Republicans see immigration as a key issue in next year’s presidential election.
A group of immigrant rights organizations that sued argues the new rule violates immigration law that allows people to seek asylum wherever they arrive on the border. The groups argue that it forces migrants to seek protection in countries that don’t have the same robust asylum system and human rights protections as the United States and leaves them in a dangerous limbo.
READ MORE: Texas trooper’s accounts of bloodied and drowning migrants on U.S.-Mexico border unleashes criticism
“The rule is already inflicting untold suffering on thousands of asylum seekers, who are either being deported to persecution or stranded in Mexican states where migrants face horrific and pervasive violence,” the groups argue in court filings.
They also argue that the CBP One app that the government wants migrants to use to set up appointments is faulty. It doesn’t have enough appointments and isn’t available in enough languages, they argue.
Also, opponents say the Biden rule is essentially a rehash of efforts by President Donald Trump to limit immigration at the southern border. A federal appeals court prevented those similar but stricter measures from taking effect.
The Biden administration has argued that the asylum rule is not a rehash of Trump’s efforts but part of an overall strategy that provides a way into the U.S. for those who follow legal pathways and consequences for those who don’t. They also argue that the new asylum rule was needed because it took effect when immigration numbers at the southern border were expected to skyrocket when Title 42’s use went away. And, they say, the strategy is working. The number of border crossings peaked ahead of the end of Title 42 and then fell.
As for legal pathways, the government points to a program it created in January that allows 30,000 people a month to enter the country from Cuba, Nicaragua, Haiti and Venezuela if they have a sponsor and fly into an airport. Advocates for immigrants note that program covers only four countries.
Separately, Republican-aligned states are suing over that January program. A trial is slated for late August.
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Rishi Sunak has criticised the EU for its “regrettable choice of words” after it appeared to endorse the name that Argentina uses for the Falklands.
Downing Street was reacting after EU leaders attending a summit in Brussels supported an Argentinian-backed declaration that used the name Islas Malvinas alongside Falkland Islands.
UK diplomats have been asking the EU to “clarify” its position while Buenos Aires hailed a “diplomatic triumph” after the declaration was agreed at a meeting of EU leaders with counterparts from the Celac bloc of Latin America and the Caribbean on Tuesday.
A spokesperson for the European External Action Service – the EU’s diplomatic service – subsequently said the bloc had not changed its views on the disputed archipelago as there had been no mandate from the council of member states.
Sunak’s official spokesperson said: “The prime minister’s view is that it would have been entirely unacceptable for the EU to question the Falkland islanders’ right to decide their own future.
“To be clear, the Falkland Islands are British, that was the choice of the islanders themselves. The EU has rightly now clarified that their position on the Falklands has not changed after their regrettable choice of words.”
The spokesperson added that 99.8% of islanders who took part in a 2013 referendum had voted to retain the Falklands’ status as an overseas territory of the United Kingdom.
Part of the declaration of the EU-Celac summit stated: “Regarding the question of sovereignty over the Islas Malvinas/Falkland Islands, the European Union took note of Celac’s historical position based on the importance of dialogue and respect for international law in the peaceful solution of disputes.”
Santiago Cafiero, Argentina’s foreign minister, said on Wednesday that his government hoped to “further expand dialogue” with the EU on the question of the islands “off the back of this declaration”.
He added: “This joint declaration constitutes a further call from the international community for the UK to agree to meet its obligation to resume sovereignty negotiations with Argentina.”
Britain’s foreign secretary, James Cleverly, had asked the EU to keep the Falklands out of the declaration, the Financial Times reported.
UK government sources on Thursday pointed out that coverage in the Argentinian media had noted that the EU had insisted its position on the Falklands had not changed.
On Twitter, Cafiero criticised the coverage in his country’s largest selling newspaper, Clarín, describing it as a lie and insisting that Argentinian diplomacy had achieved a “forceful” triumph which incorporated the issue into a bi-regional declaration. | Not_Explicit |
ROME -- The United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Monday urged Russia to resume the internationally-brokered deal so grain can be shipped from Ukraine’s Black Sea ports, saying otherwise the world's most vulnerable among the hungry will suffer the worst consequences.
The U.N. chief made the call during a speech in Rome at the opening of a three-day food systems summit.
With the recent collapse of the Ukraine-Russia grain deal, “the most vulnerable will pay the highest price,'' Guterres said. He lamented that there are already negative effects on global wheat and corn prices, although he cited no figures.
Both Russia and Ukraine are “essential to global food security,'' the U.N. leader said. He noted that they have historically accounted for 30% of global wheat and barley exports, a fifth of all maize and more than half of all sunflower oil.
"For my part, I remain committed to facilitating unimpeded access to global markets for food products and fertilizer from both Ukraine and the Russian Federation and to deliver the food security every person deserves,'' the U.N. leader said.
“I call on the Russian Federation to return to the implementation of the Black Sea Initiative, in line with my latest proposal," Guterres said, urging the international community to stand united to find solutions for the issue during the summit's keynote speech.
Russia's refusal to renew the accord triggered the deal's collapse earlier this month. It said the Black Sea Initiative would be suspended until demands to get Russian exports of food and fertilizer to the world are met.
The accord had been brokered by the U.N. and Turkey as a way to keep grain flowing to developing countries, especially in Africa and the Middle East, despite the war unleashed by Moscow against Ukraine in February 2022.
When the grain deal was struck, the U.N. World Food Program regained a top supplier, allowing 725,000 metric tons of humanitarian food aid to leave Ukraine and reach countries on the brink of famine, including Ethiopia, Afghanistan and Yemen.
The deal's suspension as well as Russian attacks on the Black Sea ports of Ukraine have irked Russian ally China and as well as developing nations heavily dependent on the shipments to feed their people.
Besides the grain deal, the effects of climate change on food production will figure in discussions at the Rome summit.
The way food is grown and produced is contributing to climate change, weakening the agriculture-food system, according to Corinna Hawkes, director of the division of food systems and food safety at the Rome-based U.N. Food and Agriculture Organization, which is hosting the summit.
The gathering aims to take stock of progress and setbacks since the first food systems summit was held in 2021.
According to FAO, the summit has drawn participants from 161 countries, including 22 heads of state or government, and 150 non-governmental organizations. | Not_Explicit |
Inflation Set To Overshoot RBI's Target In Jul, Aug On High Vegetable Prices: Nomura
The Consumer Price Inflation rose to 4.81% in June from 4.31% in May, driven by a spike in food prices.
Consumer price inflation is expected to overshoot the Reserve Bank's tolerance mark of 6 per cent again in July and August due to the sky high vegetable prices, a Japanese brokerage said on Friday.
The government, which banned non-basmati rice exports earlier this week, is likely to usher in more supply-side measures to tame the price rise going forward, Nomura said in a note.
"We expect continued supply-side interventions, with inflation likely to be above 6% levels in July and August, buoyed by sky-high vegetable prices," Nomura economists said.
Last year, inflation had been above the 6% mark -- the upper tolerance level under the flexible inflation targeting set up -- for over three quarters at a go. This led to RBI writing an explanatory note to the government explaining the reasons for the price rise being above the set threshold.
The Reserve Bank of India started its efforts to tame inflation with rate hikes and upped the repo rate by a cumulative 2.50% in policy actions from May 2022 to arrest the price rise.
Earlier this year, the central bank paused its rate hike cycle to pay attention to growth, and many analysts expect a prolonged pause in policy rates before it starts cutting interest rates.
The Consumer Price Inflation rose to 4.81% in June from 4.31% in May, driven by a spike in food prices.
Nomura said the rice inflation rose to 12% in June from 9% earlier, and daily data is suggesting a further rise in the prices in July as well.
The government had imposed a 20% export tax on non-basmati rice in September last year, and with the latest move, 42% of the rice exports are now banned, Nomura said.
According to the note, the late arrival of monsoons and its uneven spread is disrupting paddy sowing which, as of mid-July, is 6% lower right now.
"It (the export ban) also marks the latest in a series of supply-side interventions, highlighting inflation as a political priority, with state elections in Q4 2023 and general elections in Q2 2024," the brokerage said.
Further, it said that India accounts for 40% of the global rice exports and that the ban will have an impact on global prices.
Thailand can gain through the Indian move because the South East Asian country is a net rice exporter. Among the rice importing nations, Philippines, Singapore, Hong Kong and Malaysia could be impacted by the move, it added. | Not_Explicit |
Deadly shooting in Auckland hours before Women's World Cup
- By Neil Johnston in Auckland and Emily McGarvey in London
- BBC Sport and BBC News
A shooting has left two people dead in the centre of Auckland, New Zealand, hours before the city is due to open the Fifa Women's World Cup.
Six other people, including police officers, were injured and the gunman is also dead after the incident at 07:22 (19:22 GMT) on a construction site in the central business district.
PM Chris Hipkins said the attack was not being seen as an act of terrorism.
The tournament would go ahead as planned, he said.
The public, he added, could be assured police had neutralised the threat and there was no ongoing risk after the incident on Queen Street.
No political or ideological motive for the attack had been identified, the prime minister said.
The gunman, he said, had been armed with a pump-action shotgun.
Mr Hipkins thanked "the brave men and women of the New Zealand police who ran into the gunfire, straight into harm's way, in order to save the lives of others".
"These kinds of situations move fast and the actions of those who risk their lives to save others are nothing short of heroic," he added.
According to Auckland Mayor Wayne Brown, all Fifa personnel and football teams are safe and have been accounted for.
"I can't remember anything like this ever happening in our beautiful city. This morning's events have been tragic and distressing for all Aucklanders, as this is not something that we are used to," Mr Brown said on Twitter.
Fifa expressed its "deepest condolences" to the victims' families and said it was in communication with New Zealand authorities.
"The participating teams in close proximity to this incident are being supported in relation to any impact that may have taken place," it said.
The opening match is to be held between New Zealand and Norway in the city's Eden Park.
Sport Minister Grant Robertson said there would be extra police in the area to provide reassurance.
The ninth Women's World Cup is being co-hosted by New Zealand and Australia.
Earlier, the mayor warned people should stay home and avoid travelling into the city. Mr Brown said it was a "dreadful thing to happen" in his city.
Police say they heard reports of a person discharging a firearm inside the construction site, and the gunman moved through the building and continued to fire.
The man then went into a lift shaft and police attempted to engage with him.
Further shots were fired by the man and he was found dead a short time later, police say.
Following the shooting there was a large armed police presence in the central business district not far from the waterfront and the fan park.
Tatjana Haenni, chief sporting director for National Women's Soccer league USA, is staying close to where the shooting happened.
She told BBC News she had woken up to sounds of police cars arriving and was told to stay inside. "So far we feel safe," she said.
The biggest Fifa Women's World Cup - featuring European champions England and debutants the Republic of Ireland - will finally get under way on Thursday.
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Yatharth Hospital IPO Subscription: Day 1 Live Updates
The IPO has been subscribed 0.21 times or 21% as of 11.06 am on Wednesday.
Yatharth Hospital & Trauma Care Services launched its initial public offering on Wednesday. The IPO includes a fresh issue of Rs 490 crore and an offer for sale of 65.51-lakh shares.
Yatharth Hospital operates three super-specialty hospitals located in the National Capital Region. With the company's acquisition of a 305-bed multi-specialty hospital in Orchha, Madhya Pradesh, its total bed capacity stands at 1,405 beds. As of March 31, the company had engaged 609 doctors and offered healthcare services across several specialties and super specialties.
Yatharth Hospital raised Rs 206 crore from anchor investors ahead of the IPO. The company allocated 68.65-lakh shares to 18 funds at an average price of Rs 300 apiece, according to the BSE circular. ICICI Prudential, HDFC Mutual Fund, SBI Life, Nippon Life, Aditya Birla Sun Life, BNP Paribas, HSBC and Goldman Sachs are among the major investors.
Issue Details
Issue opens: July 26.
Issue closes: July 28.
Listing date: on or around Aug. 7.
Total issue size: Rs 686.6 crore.
Total shares: 2,28,85,023 shares.
Face value: Rs 10 per share.
Fresh issue: Rs 490 crore.
Shares for fresh issue: 1,63,33,333 shares.
Offer for sale: Rs 196.6 crore.
Shares for OFS: 65,51,690 shares.
Price band: Rs 285–300 per share.
Lot size: 50 shares.
Lisiting: BSE and NSE.
Use of Proceeds
Repayment or prepayment of borrowings availed by the company: Rs 100 crore.
Repayment or prepayment of borrowings by the subsidiaries, namely, AKS and Ramraja: Rs 145 crore.
Funding capital expenditure expenses of the company for two hospitals: Rs 25.6 crore.
Funding capital expenditure expenses of the subsidiaries, AKS and Ramraja: Rs 107 crore.
Funding inorganic growth through acquisitions and other strategic initiatives: Rs 65 crore.
General corporate purposes.
Subscription Status: Day 1
The IPO has been fully subscribed 21% or 0.21 times as of 11.06 am on Wednesday.
Institutional investors: Zero
Non-institutional investors: 19% or 0.19 times.
Retail investors: 34% or 0.34 times. | Not_Explicit |
L&T Q1 Results Review - Strong Start To FY24 But Guidance Unchanged: Centrum Broking
The board has announced buy back of Rs 100 billion and special dividend of Rs 6/share.
BQ Prime’s special research section collates quality and in-depth equity and economy research reports from across India’s top brokerages, asset managers and research agencies. These reports offer BQ Prime’s subscribers an opportunity to expand their understanding of companies, sectors and the economy.
Centrum Broking Report
Larsen and Toubro Ltd. reported stellar set of numbers with strong 34%/46% YoY growth in revenue and adjusted profit after tax driven by better execution in projects and manufacturing segment.
While L&T's revenue was significantly ahead of our estimate, Ebitda margins at 10.2% were lower on account of legacy Covid projects and increased staff costs.
Despite strong show in Q1, the management has maintained its revenue guidance of 12-15% growth and 10-12% growth in order inflow for FY24 considering the possible softening in awarding activity in Q4 FY24 on account of general elections.
We expect the management to revise its guidance upwards if awarding and execution momentum is maintained in Q2 FY24.
Given the record orderbook of Rs 4.1 trillion, robust prospect pipeline of Rs 10 trillion, controlled net working capital environment and improving development business dynamics, we maintain our 'Add' rating on the stock with revised target price of Rs 2,892 (Rs 2,246 earlier).
Click on the attachment to read the full report:
DISCLAIMER
This report is authored by an external party. BQ Prime does not vouch for the accuracy of its contents nor is responsible for them in any way. The contents of this section do not constitute investment advice. For that you must always consult an expert based on your individual needs. The views expressed in the report are that of the author entity and do not represent the views of BQ Prime.
Users have no license to copy, modify, or distribute the content without permission of the Original Owner. | Not_Explicit |
A woman who is holidaying in Rhodes has said she was "absolutely petrified" amid "falling ash" and "orange skies" as wildfires spread across the island.
Katie Piercefield-Holmes and her family, from Newmarket in Suffolk, decided to lock themselves in the Princess Andriana hotel in Kiotari.
She said she had woken up "every half hour" on Saturday night and was packed and ready to run to the beach.
It has been "surreal" and "almost apocalyptic", she added.
Mrs Piercefield-Holmes said it was "like something out of a movie, with abandoned suitcases everywhere".
"When the tree opposite us caught fire I was ready to leave and I would have, but my husband was able to evaluate and assess what was best for our family and the risks of staying as opposed to going.
"So we stayed put and now we are very happy we made that decision," she said.
Rhodes has been battling wildfires fanned by strong winds since Tuesday, as Europe deals with a heatwave.
More than 3,500 people have been evacuated by land and sea to safety and many tourists have been left in limbo, with thousands fleeing hotels.
Katie and Brett Piercefield-Holmes, their two children, aged 11 and seven, and Mr Piercefield-Holmes' parents, are gathering in a ground floor room with a pool, as they thought it safer to be near water.
Fire on the hillside behind the Princess Andriana destroyed some of the hotel's buildings, including the kids club and sports facilities, but two other hotels on the hill have burned down.
Mrs Piercefield-Holmes said that on Saturday there had been "lots of ash coming down in the night but breakfast was fine" but "around lunchtime the sky was orange and brown".
"I went to the gym but when I got out there was carnage in reception," she said.
"People were rushing around... we heard a local town was being evacuated."
She said they received a national alert saying the area was being evacuated and were initially told to leave the hotel.
"We could see hundreds of people passing down the beach shouting for water," she said, "We rushed out to give water and wet towels.
"But there was thick smoke so we decided to lock ourselves in rather than leave.
"Then the wind shifted so we're glad we took that decision."
Mrs Piercefield-Holmes admitted that she was "absolutely petrified" but her husband, who had 20 years of training in the US airforce, said they should stay and monitor what was happening.
"We slept in our clothes in case we had to run and had the curtains open," she said.
The blaze has now "moved well back" and the hotel has told the family to continue to stay where they are.
"At the moment we are trying to make the most of it for the children," Mrs Piercefield-Holmes said.
She said they had found some drinks and a "plate of sandwiches" and "some fruit" but feared what happened next.
She added: "This is not a vacation, it's a survival exercise.
"My husband retired in May and this was supposed to be our family holiday to celebrate his retirement - it's not turned out how we envisaged but the main thing is we're safe.
"We feel very sorry for those who are sleeping on the floor or families that have been split up and we count ourselves quite fortunate."
She said she had received generic messages from tour operator Jet2, telling them to follow local advice, keep their phones on and call the company's helpline if needed.
"I had already done that and been on hold for 45 mins," she said, adding she had given up and the family were just "sitting it out".
The manager has told them the hotel should be able to reopen in a couple of days but things would not be completely back to normal as some buildings have burned down.
"Ideally I'd like to move but I'm practical," she said.
"It's peak holiday season and thousands of people are displaced so they won't be able to relocate us."
Jet2 said its "absolute priority" was the "health, safety and wellbeing of customers and colleagues in the affected area" and it had cancelled all flights and holidays that were due to depart to Rhodes.
In a statement it added that it was "contacting all customers in affected areas as quickly as possible by telephone so that we can support them with what they need".
"We are sending direct communications to affected customers to let them know this, and to remind them of our 24/7 Customer Helpline number."
It added that the situation was "under constant review". | Not_Explicit |
Byju’s, Lenders Aim To Amend $1.2 Billion Loan Terms By Aug. 3
A group of lenders to Byju’s is working with the Indian education-technology startup to change the terms of a $1.2 billion loan after the company fell into distress earlier this year, according to people with knowledge of the matter.
(Bloomberg) -- A group of lenders to Byju’s is working with the Indian education-technology startup to change the terms of a $1.2 billion loan after the company fell into distress earlier this year, according to people with knowledge of the matter.
A steering committee of lenders on the term loan and Byju’s have agreed to work toward a signed agreement before Aug. 3, the people said, asking not to be identified because the discussions are private. The talks are still ongoing, and the situation may change.
Byju’s, once India’s most valuable startup, has faced a series of crises after it missed deadlines to file audited financial account, skipped an interest payment on its term loan and triggered a legal fight with creditors. India’s government ordered an inspection into its finances after its auditor and three board members resigned.
There was no reply to emails from a spokesperson for Byju’s, who also couldn’t be reached by phone outside normal office hours.
The Economic Times reported earlier on the matter.
--With assistance from Anto Antony.
More stories like this are available on bloomberg.com
©2023 Bloomberg L.P. | Not_Explicit |
Ron DeSantis Is Starting to Look Like a Scott Walker–Level Loser
The governor of Florida is on a 2024 trajectory that mirrors the former governor of Wisconsin’s doomed 2016 campaign.
A brand new Rasmussen Reports survey has Florida Governor Ron DeSantis polling at just 13 percent in the race for the Republican presidential nomination—44 points behind Donald Trump. Despite Trump’s mounting legal troubles, the embattled former president has gained 10 points since the last Rasmussen poll, while DeSantis has lost seven.
Could it get any worse for DeSantis? Yes.
A Harvard-Harris poll, which like the Rasmussen poll was released on Monday, has DeSantis falling to just 12 percent with Republican voters nationwide—40 points behind Trump and just two points ahead of political newcomer Vivek Ramaswamy.
When the governor of Florida launched his presidential campaign two months ago, he positioned himself as a political “giant killer” whose “war on woke” crusade would displace Trump and secure the Republican Party’s 2024 nomination.
But, with each passing week, the governor of Florida is looking more and more like what Trump called him over the weekend: “a loser.”
DeSantis is shedding staff, struggling to gain traction in critical caucus and primary states, and making billionaire donors nervous about writing more checks to a campaign that has been burning through cash so fast that The New York Times recently observed, “DeSantis is spending hand over fist, and his dependence on large donors suggests a lack of grassroots support.”
Once heralded by the mainstream media as the alternative to Trump, DeSantis is now taking a pounding in the press. “DeSantis Can’t Shake Trump’s Long Shadow,” warns U.S. News and World Report. “There Is No Ron DeSantis 2.0,” asserts Politico in a dismal assessment of prospects for a campaign reset. The Atlantic simply notes “The Humiliation of Ron DeSantis.”
This all sounds oddly familiar to those of us who chronicled the rise and fall of another GOP “star” who imagined that a reputation as a headline-grabbing Republican governor, along with a penchant for mouthing social-conservative dogma, would be enough to win a Republican presidential nomination.
Eight years ago this summer, Scott Walker was the hottest commodity in GOP politics. The recently reelected governor of Wisconsin had joined the 2016 presidential field with a splashy announcement that drew the national press corps to an exposition center amid the suburban sprawl of what was then a reliably Republican county. Walker went live that night with Sean Hannity on Fox News—attacking “lame ideas” from “the left” such as the minimum wage. The next morning, images of the 47-year-old career politician plunging into a crowd of seemingly enthusiastic supporters were splashed across the front pages of the nation’s newspapers, as The New York Times reported that Walker would cast himself as a cultural conservative “who would defend the ‘unborn,’ the Americans who oppose same-sex marriage on religious grounds, and more broadly the conservative and traditional citizens who feel under attack from what they consider coastal elites.”
Republican operatives assured reporters that the Wisconsinite had what it took to grab the GOP nod and take back the White House from President Barack Obama’s Democrats. Walker, South Carolina Republican Party chair Matt Moore announced, had “rocketed to the top tier of candidates.” A Reuters analysis noted that “a resume that appeals to conservatives” had “placed him among the top contenders for his party’s nomination in poll after poll.” In Iowa, he led surveys of likely Republican participants in the state’s first-in-the-nation caucuses. In New Hampshire, the first primary state, headlines reported that Walker was “surging.”
But, within weeks of its formal launch, there were signs that Walker’s campaign was unraveling. There were money problems. Staffing problems. Messaging problems. And Donald Trump problems, which surfaced when the political newcomer shredded Walker in debates. By September, just two months after he started running, Walker’s poll numbers had tanked to roughly zero. He quit the race with a feeble call for Republicans to unite against Trump and then, when political reality finally dawned on him, repositioned himself as a Trump enthusiast.
Defeated for reelection in 2018, Walker is now in the business of giving vapid advice to losing political candidates. He even has a tip for DeSantis: “light a fire with primary and caucus voters with some really bold ideas.” Walker doesn’t have an actual plan for DeSantis; just a word salad of political happy talk. The failed governor turned presidential candidate of 2015 says the failed governor turned presidential candidate of 2023 needs to “be lean and, at the same time, he needs to go bold. I know this firsthand.”
While Walker’s practical advice is trite–what candidate doesn’t want to “be lean” and “go bold”? —he’s right about his area of expertise.
Few Republicans know so much about getting beaten to a political pulp by Trump as Walker. But DeSantis is rapidly accumulating his own “firsthand knowledge” of how to tank a campaign for the Republican presidential nod. | Not_Explicit |
Over 8.75 Lakh HUFs Claimed Rs 3,803 Crore Tax Deductions In 2022-23: Finance Ministry
Over 8.75 lakh Hindu Undivided Families have filed income tax returns and claimed deductions worth Rs 3,803 crore during 2022-23
Over 8.75 lakh Hindu Undivided Families have filed income tax returns and claimed deductions worth Rs 3,803 crore during 2022-23, the Finance Ministry said on Tuesday.
Minister of State for Finance Pankaj Chaudhary in a reply to the Rajya Sabha provided details of the number of Hindu Undivided Families availing tax benefits (in the form of deduction under Chapter VIA of the Income-tax Act) during the last five years.
To a question on whether the government has assessed the impact of the Uniform Civil Code on tax benefits to HUFs in the country, the minister said: "No such assessment has been made as there is no such Code at present".
Currently, a debate is going on about the status of the HUFs, following the implementation of the Uniform Civil Code on which the Law Commission has invited comments from the public.
Under Hindu Law, a HUF is a family comprising all lineally descendants of a common ancestor, including wives and unmarried daughters. This provision also covers Jain and Sikh families.
The Income Tax Act accords 'legal person' status to HUF and entitles them to all tax deductions under Chapter VI-A. HUFs are taxed at the same rate as individuals, and they can claim applicable deductions.
According to the minister, in fiscal 2022-23 fiscal, 8,75,948 HUFs claimed deductions of Rs 3,802.86 crore. As many as 8,77,303 HUFs claimed deductions worth Rs 3,745.51 crore in 2021-22.
In 2020-21 and 2019-20, over 9.25 lakh and 9.02 lakh HUFs claimed deductions of Rs 4,173 crore and Rs 4,161 crore, respectively. In 2018-19, over 8.84 crore HUFs claimed deductions worth Rs 4,044 crore. | Not_Explicit |
Samsung Unpacked 2023
While Samsung already revealed its flagship Galaxy S23 phones earlier this year, summer is reserved for its foldable devices. This year, that event is taking place in South Korea, with the company teasing not just the latest Galaxy Z Fold 5 and Galaxy Z Flip 5 devices, but smartwatches and tablets as well — for more, check out our preview and video on what to expect. You'll have a couple of ways to follow along, so keep reading to find out more.
When is Samsung Unpacked 2023?
Unpacked 2023 takes place in Samsung's home country of South Korea for the first time, and will be streamed live on July 26th at 7AM ET.
How to watch Samsung Unpacked 2023
If yu can get up that early, Samsung is streaming the event on its website and YouTube channel and we've embedded the livestream above. If you'd rather have some in-depth commentary (or both), Engadget will be liveblogging the event starting at 7AM ET / 4AM PT / 11AM BST, and we have a reporter on the ground in South Korea. Follow all the activities by bookmarking our liveblog here, which will go live tomorrow morning. | Not_Explicit |
A kitchen shrine adorned with serpents, a bakery, human skeletons, exquisite frescos, and yes, a picture of something that looks very much like pizza. These are among the new finds being turned up at the Pompeii Archaeological Park.
Dig anywhere in the ancient city destroyed by Mount Vesuvius in AD79 and you will unearth an ancient treasure - a snapshot of a lost Roman world.
It's extraordinary to think that one-third of the city buried under pumice and ash has yet to be excavated.
"Much of that will be for future generations," says Alessandro Russo, the co-lead archaeologist on the new dig.
"We have a problem to conserve what we've already found. Future generations may have new ideas, new techniques."
The latest work returns to a sector in the park last explored in the late 19th Century.
Back then, archaeologists had opened up the frontage of houses on Via Di Nola, one of Pompeii's main thoroughfares, but hadn't delved far behind.
They had identified a laundry but that was about it.
Now, the diggers are progressively pulling away the volcanic ash and pea-sized stones, known as lapilli, that smothered Pompeii during the two catastrophic days of the Vesuvian eruption.
The dig site is, in effect, a whole city block. It is known as an insula and is some 3,000 sq m (32,000 sq ft) in size.
BBC News has been given exclusive access to the investigation with Lion TV, which is making a three-part series to be aired early next year on the BBC.
The oven
"Every room in every house has its own micro-story in the grander story of Pompeii. I want to uncover those micro-stories," said Gennaro Iovino.
The other co-lead archaeologist wants you to imagine that you are entering a delightful atrium - an entrance hall - with a hole in the roof where lion figureheads direct rainwater down onto a fountain, next to a statue.
The builders were clearly doing some repairs at the time of the eruption because the roof tiles are neatly stacked in two piles. But this is not a magnificent villa, like some of the imposing homes found elsewhere in Pompeii.
This building would have been part-commercial because, on turning right, you are confronted by a giant oven, big enough to be producing 100 loaves a day.
Roughly 50 bakeries have already been found in Pompeii. This, however, can't have been a shop because there is no shop front.
It's more likely to have been a wholesaler, distributing bread across town, perhaps to the many fast-food joints for which Pompeii was so famous.
That 'pizza'
The discovery of a fresco depicting a piece of round flatbread on a silver tray, surrounded by pomegranate, dates, nuts and arbutus fruits, caused a sensation when it was announced to the world in June.
It's not a pizza, though. Tomatoes and mozzarella, two ingredients in the classic Neapolitan recipe, were not available in Italy in the first century AD.
Perhaps it's a piece of focaccia? The pizza thing started as a bit of a joke, says Gennaro. "I emailed a picture to my boss, saying 'first the oven, now the pizza.'"
The world just went crazy after that. A cover will be built over the fresco to try to protect it from the elements. It will also be treated with a special sealant.
The 20,000 visitors who come to Pompeii every day will demand to see the "ancestor to the pizza", as some are now describing the fresco subject.
The skeletons
It's easy to forget that Pompeii was a human tragedy. We have little idea how many died. You have to believe most residents left when they saw the horror unfolding at the top of Vesuvius.
Skeletons have been recovered, perhaps 1,300 to 1,500 in total, and the new dig has its own examples: two women and a child of unknown sex.
Looking at the position where the victims were found, it's obvious that they were trying to take cover, hoping that by hiding under a staircase, they would be safe.
What they hadn't counted on was the roof collapsing from the weight of all the lapilli and ash. The heavy stonework smashed their bodies.
The burnt bed
The drama of those momentous days in October AD79 are also revealed on the other side of the atrium in what was once a bedroom.
The bed itself is a charred mass - caused by a fire. It is barely recognisable apart from its broad outline seared into the walls and floor.
If you look closely at the debris, you can see blackened fragments of the textile bedclothes and even the filling from the mattress.
Archaeologists can tell from the position of these carbonised remains that the fire occurred relatively early in the eruption. They speculate that a lamp might have been knocked over in the panic to get out.
"It would be interesting to understand who were the people that didn't make it," wonders park director Gabriel Zuchtriegel.
"Were they the poor? More women than men? Or maybe people who had property and tried to stay to protect what they had, while others who had nothing just took off and ran."
The shrine
Towards the back of the area so far excavated there is a wall that encloses three rooms. It's here that the removal of lapilli and ash has exposed more astonishing artwork.
In the middle room, covered by a tarpaulin, is yet another elegant fresco. It shows the episode in the myth of Achilles where the legendary hero soldier - with his unfortunate Achilles heel - tried to hide dressed as a woman to avoid fighting in the Trojan War.
In the third room, I pull back another tarp to reveal a magnificent shrine. Two yellow serpents in relief slither up a burgundy background. "These are good demons," says Alessandro. He points to a fresco further down the wall just above an opening to a box of some kind.
"This room is actually a kitchen. They would have made offerings here to their gods. Foods like fish or fruits. The snake is a connection between the gods and the humans."
As the insula is further revealed, scaffolding is being put up around what remains of the buildings to make protective roofing. In the future, the park hopes to erect a high walkway so tourists can see the new treasures that are emerging.
"People sometimes ask [us], 'What would you like to find? What are you looking for?'" explains Gabriel. He says such questions are misleading.
"What we're really looking for is what we don't know. We're always looking for a surprise. It's all emerging evidence, leading us somewhere, but we don't know where that journey goes."
Additional reporting by Rebecca Morelle, Alison Francis and Tony Jolliffe. The BBC/Lion TV series (Pompeii: The New Dig) will be broadcast early next year.
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TALLINN, Estonia (AP) — Russian prosecutors have asked a court to sentence imprisoned opposition leader Alexei Navalny to 20 years in prison on extremism charges, his ally Ivan Zhdanov said Thursday.
According to Zhdanov, the trial against Navalny, which has been held behind closed doors in the prison where the politician is serving another lengthy sentence, is scheduled to conclude with a verdict on Aug. 4. If the court finds Navalny guilty, it will be his fifth criminal conviction, all of which have been widely seen as a deliberate strategy by the Kremlin to silence its ardent opponent.
In his closing statement released Thursday by his team, Navalny bashed Russian authorities as being governed by “bargaining, power, bribery, deception, treachery … and not law.” Navalny said: “Anyone in Russia knows that a person who seeks justice in a court of law is completely vulnerable. The case of that person is hopeless.”
WATCH: Why Navalny poses a special challenge to Putin’s leadership
Navalny, 47, is President Vladimir Putin’s fiercest foe who exposed official corruption and organized major anti-Kremlin protests. He was arrested in January 2021 upon returning to Moscow after recuperating in Germany from nerve agent poisoning that he blamed on the Kremlin.
The authorities sentenced him to 2 1/2 years in prison for parole violations and then to another nine years on charges of fraud and contempt of court.
The politician is currently serving his sentence in a maximum-security prison east of Moscow. He has spent months in a tiny one-person cell, also called a “punishment cell,” for purported disciplinary violations such as an alleged failure to properly button his prison clothes, properly introduce himself to a guard or to wash his face at a specified time.
Navalny’s allies have accused prison authorities of failing to provide him with proper medical assistance and voiced concern about his health.
The new charges relate to the activities of Navalny’s anti-corruption foundation and statements by his top associates. His allies said the charges retroactively criminalize all the foundation’s activities since its creation in 2011.
Navalny has rejected all the charges against him as politically motivated and has accused the Kremlin of seeking to keep him behind bars for life.
One of his associates — Daniel Kholodny — was relocated from a different prison to face trial alongside him. The prosecution has asked to sentence Kholodny to 10 years in prison.
The trial against the two began a month ago and went along swiftly by Russian standards, where people often spend months, if not years, awaiting for their verdict. It was unusually shielded from public attention and Navalny’s lawyers haven’t offered any comments on the proceedings.
Navalny, in his sardonic social media posts, occasionally offered a glimpse of what was going on with his case. In one such post, the politician revealed that a song by a popular Russian rapper praising him was listed as evidence in the case files, and claimed that he made the judge and bailiffs laugh out loud as the song was read out during a court hearing. In another, he said that the case files linked him to U.S. mogul Warren Buffet.
Another insight into the trial came from three other prominent imprisoned dissidents: Vladimir Kara-Murza, Ilya Yashin and Alexei Gorinov — they all have revealed in recent weeks that they testified in the trial in Navalny’s favor.
In social media statements from behind bars, the three described Navalny as in good spirits and cheerful. Kara-Murza said the trial was “Kafkaesque.” Gorinov said he exchanged jokes with Navalny about similar treatment they both face while in prison. Yashin recalled how Navalny himself was asking him questions during Yashin’s testimony at the hearing, challenging the accusations levelled against him.
In his closing statement, Navalny once again described the trial against him as unjust and referred to the recent short-lived armed rebellion by the fighters of Russia’s private military company Wagner, after which their chief and the leader of the mutiny, Yevgeny Prigozhin, walked free, even though a number of Russian soldiers were killed by his troops.
READ MORE: Putins reveals he offered Wagner mercenaries the option to stay as a single unit after uprising
“Those who were declared traitors to their Motherland and betrayers, in the morning killed several Russian army officers as the entire Russia watched in astonishment, and by lunch agreed on something with someone and went home,” Navalny said.
“Thus, law and justice in Russia were once again put in their place. And that place is not prestigious. One sure can’t find them in court,” the politician said.
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Burchett will not lead UFO whistleblower hearing: ‘It’s just politics’
Burchett told The Hill that subcommittee chair Glenn Grothman will chair the hearing. But, he had expected to lead it after spearheading the hearing with Rep. Anna Paulina Luna (R-Fla.).
“Yeah, I’m upset. I mean, you know, I’ve spent a lot of time helping put this thing together. It’s just politics,” he said.
House Oversight Committee Chairman James Comer (R-Ky.) said Burchett misunderstood his role, saying, “he’s not a committee chairman.”
“Tim misunderstood. He is going to give an opening statement. He’s going to get to ask 20 questions.:
“You don’t — I mean, he’s not a committee chairman,” Comer added. “You don’t have a subcommittee. We’re gonna have a good UFO hearing tomorrow.”
Related coverage from The Hill
- How the search for UFOs went mainstream: A tale in 5 moves
- Here’s what scientists say about whistleblower claims that Pentagon has evidence of alien crashes
- Frustrated lawmakers demand answers on UFOs
Comer said Burchett is still the “main player” in the hearing and regretted the miscommunication.
The change in the role Burchett expected to have comes after he attacked the Pentagon one day before the UFO-focused hearing.
Members of the House will hear from a whistleblower who claims the U.S. is withholding evidence of “non-human craft” or unidentified anomalous phenomena (UAPs).
During an interview with Fox News, host Martha MacCallum showed clips of supposed “tic-tac” videos of suspected unidentified flying objects (UFOs) and unidentified aerial phenomena (UAP) released by the Department of Defense.
MacCallum asked Burchett what people should expect from Wednesday’s proceedings, and he first doubted the “tic-tac videos” before slamming the “war pimps at the Pentagon.”
“So this — the Tic Tac videos, which you showed earlier … The military denied that that even existed, and then it was put out and they said they were fakes and then they eventually came around,” Burchett said.
“The Pentagon is coming around because they smell dollars, man, the war pimps at the Pentagon, all they want to do is drain more dollars from us,” he continued. “We don’t need any more dollars. All we need is transparency. That’s the job of you all in the media and us in Congress.”
Emily Brooks contributed to this report.
Copyright 2023 Nexstar Media Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. | Not_Explicit |
World Cup NOW: Does 5-0 win show Japan is a real threat?
Led by Mina Tanaka and Hinata Miyazawa, the squad looked comfortable against an inexperienced Zambia lineup that took the pitch with their backup goalie. Still, Japan's showing was striking and could be a sign of good things to come.
The "World Cup NOW" crew — Jimmy Conrad, Leslie Osborne and Melissa Ortiz — discussed whether it's wise to go all in on Japan, or whether Zambia's porous performance aided its opponent in the easy victory.
Ortiz: "We saw today out of Japan how organized they were. They stuck to their game plan, and they were really able to use their strengths of being organized. … That's what they used to be known as so much, and then they went through this drought era, but I feel like they found their footing again in today's performance."
Holden: "So wait … Are we thinking really good Japan, or really bad Zambia? Because I will say, as good as Japan were — super dominant, won the game 5-0 — some of the defending I saw tonight from Zambia, and goalkeeping. … They're missing [Hazel] Nali, their starter is out, so then [Catherine] Musonda is out. … And you [Jimmy] picked her in the beginning as your player to watch, because she conceded 18 goals in six games. Well, chalk that up to — she conceded four of the five. … It just doesn't help, especially when your team is pretty disorganized defensively. That's what I was most disappointed with from a Zambia perspective, is … they made it way too easy for Japan. I'm a little cautious to go all in on Japan."
Ortiz: "No, I agree. Fun fact, Zambia has been in camp for over a month straight."
Holden: "Have they been working on defense at all?"
Ortiz: "No."
Conrad: "… There was nothing that was working for them tonight, and I find Japan's performance … a bit deceptive because when we harken back to the SheBelieves Cupp that happened in the U.S., they played against Brazil, lost 1-0, they played against the U.S., lost 1-0. And coming into this tournament … they were struggling to score goals and were dealing with a lot of criticism. But this is one of those cathartic performances where ‘okay, we start with an opponent that’s got a lot of hype coming in,' and that was a very professional performance from Japan. I don't want to say they're back, but that is a strong message that they're sending to everyone else."
Ortiz: "Well, I think one of the things to note also is they went up against Barbara Banda, and Barbara Banda as we've seen has been pretty much unstoppable. … What I want to applaud Japan is how to deal with a striker like Barbara Banda, it means that they were so composed and organized defensively. You saw every time that Barbara got the ball, there were two, even three defenders around her every time. And I think that was obviously part of the game plan, but they stuck to it. They made sure that she was not strong on the ball."
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Women's World Cup 2023 highlights: Nigeria-Canada ends in draw
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2023 Women's World Cup odds: Alternate betting options for USWNT-Vietnam
Women's World Cup Daily: Host countries New Zealand, Australia both pick up wins
Philippines-Switzerland, Spain-Costa Rica predictions, picks by Chris 'The Bear' Fallica
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Women's World Cup power rankings: United States No. 1; Canada moves down after draw
Women's World Cup 2023 highlights: Switzerland tops Philippines, 2-0 | Not_Explicit |
Staffers at San Domenico Palace — the Four Seasons hotel featured in “The White Lotus” — have been working at the posh Sicilian resort throughout Europe’s triple-digit heat wave — and one worker reportedly passed out on the job.
A worker sweeping the San Domenico Palace’s palazzo patio told The Times: “A cook fainted the other day. He went completely pale and had to be taken home.”
A gardener added that landscapers tend to the property’s citrus gardens from 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. daily without breaks.
“The automatic watering system isn’t working so we have to water them manually,” the gardener added, pointing to a useless tube on the floor.
“These are not normal temperatures,” he said with a pained laugh, The Times reported.
“Not for plants and not for workers,” the staffer added, noting that some greenery is noticeably drooping in the heat, which has soared to record-breaking temperatures across Europe this summer.
A spokeswoman for the San Domenico Palace assured The Post that “the hotel is thoroughly air conditioned.” She declined to comment further.
A waitress told the outlet that water bottles are in shorter supply these days as requests from guests have tripled, and the fruit selection has also been suffering.
“We change the fruit at the breakfast buffet five times every morning that way it remains fresh,” the waitress added, noting that “sometimes we don’t have enough strawberries and blueberries to go round.”
The server noted that there was “a big problem with a banana” last week, suggesting that a hotel guest was quite unhappy when they realized the heat wave meant the hotel wouldn’t be able to provide a banana at breakfast each morning.
When another guest also asked for a banana on a different morning, it was served sliced on a plate and garnished with petals, The Times reported.
A couple who served as a witness recalls the gust seeming “traumatized” at the presentation.
The couple — Tyler Peters, 36, and Olivia Austin, 34, from California, who were staying at the hotel to attend a friend’s wedding at a venue nearby — said they were spending their stay moving from the blistering outdoors to the air-conditioned hotel.
It’s “like moving from an oven to a refrigerator,” Peters told The Times.
When Peters and Austin went to the wedding, they noted that the church wasn’t air conditioned.
“The priest fainted at the end of the wedding ceremony and a family member had to deliver the blessings,” Peters told the outlet.
He continued: “We were in a church with zero air conditioning. An uncle who was also a doctor missed the initial cocktails at the after-party. He stayed with the priest because he was worried he’d have a heart attack. These churches get hot: so many robes.”
Though the 104-degree heat that plagued Sicily led to cases of heat-related illness, unlike the famed HBO series starring Jennifer Coolidge, there were thankfully no casualties.
Meanwhile, guests are also reportedly struggling to get to the hotel since a faulty air conditioning unit at the local Catania Airport forced it to partially close.
Travelers who would normally get to the San Domenico via Catania, which is only 35 miles away from the property, now have to reroute through the Reggio Calabria or Palermo airports, which are hundreds of miles away from the hotel.
A receptionist told The Times that some of the hotel’s wealthy clientele have opted to “arrive by boat or by helicopter” instead.
“There’s a launchpad nearby,” the concierge added, whose job sometimes includes helping guests book private jets.
The San Domenico is no stranger to dealing with wealthy customers — including the likes of Melbourne socialite Sarah Lew and her husband, restaurateur Chris Lucas, who have been honeymooning in Taormina and staying at the hotel since they tied the knot in Venice last month.
Lew told The Times that the newlyweds have been sticking around the hotel grounds due to the heat, and she’s been entertaining herself by people watching.
“When you spend a few days here you get to know everyone’s story and who’s married to whom,” she told the outlet. “You think you’ve got everyone’s storyline and then somebody else comes into the picture.”
Lucas chimed in, referencing “The White Lotus:” “All you need now is for somebody to be murdered.” | Not_Explicit |
More than four decades after a young New Hampshire woman was killed, law enforcement officials have solved the crime through DNA analysis and the use of forensic genealogy technology, the state attorney general said Thursday.
But solving the case doesn't bring with it the satisfaction of seeing justice: The man responsible for killing 23-year-old Laura Kempton died from an overdose in 2005, Attorney General John Formella said.
Formella told reporters at a news conference in Portsmouth, where the killing took place in September 1981, that the investigators' conclusion was "bittersweet" but underscored their resolve.
The conclusion of the investigation after so many years should "send a message to anyone who has been affected by a case that has gone cold in this state that we will never stop working these cases," he said. "We will never forget about these victims."
A police officer found Kempton dead in her apartment after attempting to serve a court summons for parking meter violations. An electrical cord was tied around her ankles, and a phone cord was around her neck and shoulder area. Blood was on a rug underneath her head, and an autopsy concluded that she died from head trauma.
Kempton, a Portsmouth Beauty School student who worked at a gift shop and ice cream parlor, was last seen earlier that morning, returning alone to her apartment after a night out with a friend, police said.
Evidence collected at the scene, including a cigarette butt, a pillow and a glass bottle, revealed a male DNA profile years later.
For the next four decades, investigators pursued many leads and potential suspects, but without success. Last year, the Portsmouth Police Department and cold case unit worked with New Hampshire and Maine's forensic laboratories and a forensic genetic genealogy firm to identify the person believed to be responsible for Kempton's death. A DNA profile was a confirmed match to another in a public genealogy database.
The man believed to be responsible was Ronney James Lee, who was working as a security officer in 1981, Formella said. Members of Lee's family were briefed on the investigation's conclusion. Investigators declined to release their names to reporters.
The Associated Press attempted to reach several people believed to have been associated with Lee, but messages were not immediately returned.
There was no known relationship between Kempton and Lee, who was 21 at the time. Lee, who died at 45 in February 2005 from a cocaine overdose, would have been charged with murder if he were still alive, Formella said.
"It is my hope that this conclusion and announcement will be the long-awaited first step in providing what closure the criminal justice system can provide for Laura Kempton's family and community," Formella said.
The Kempton family expressed gratitude to the Portsmouth Police Department. "Their diligence and determination, along with extraordinary personal commitment over the past decades, have led to this moment for Laura," the family said in a statement.
Investigators say New Hampshire has 130 cold cases that are still being pursued, CBS Boston.
Genetic genealogy is increasingly being used by investigators to solve cold cases. It's what prosecutors said, a lawyer accused of raping and kidnapping several people in Boston back in 2007 and 2008.
Even if a suspect hasn't willingly uploaded their DNA into a public system, investigators can match the DNA to a relative who may have used a genealogy website, and follow the trail from there.
"I think we can expect a ton of crimes to be solved that are decades old," professional forensic genealogist Michael Brophy told CBS Boston for the Nilo case.
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The relative of one of the party’s MPs has been desperately avoiding media and refusing to answer his door in recent weeks.
A source said: “He has been going around associates, friends and family demanding to know who has reported him. He is absolutely livid as you can imagine.
“There has been a confrontation in a shopping centre – it has been causing all sorts of trouble. He thinks the police have been outside his house and he is not happy about getting caught up in this scandal.
“His MP relative is also keeping very quiet about the whole thing.”
A whistleblower has claimed senior party figures received donations but they then broke electoral law by failing to publish details. The allegations made in a letter to police and the Lord Advocate, the country’s chief prosecutor, are understood to involve tens of thousands of pounds.
Police Scotland have said they are still assessing the letter. Political parties are legally obliged to declare donations worth more than £500 with failure to do so a criminal offence.
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Regulatory Changes In Insurance Sector Will Create Value For Customers: Deepak Parekh
He also said HDFC International Life has received the regulatory approval to establish a branch in the IFSC.
The massive changes taking place on the regulatory front in the insurance space will help in ease of doing business, encourage development of longer-term products and improve persistency, thereby creating value for customers, according to HDFC Life Chairman Deepak Parekh.
Addressing the company's 23rd annual general meeting, Parekh, who till June 30 was the chairman of HDFC which got merged with HDFC Bank, said several changes that the regulator Irdai is proposing would enhance insurance penetration, facilitate sustainable growth and ease the operating environment.
The regulator has already introduced use and file regime for faster product launches and revised the expenses of management and commission guidelines to provide greater flexibility to companies to manage their cost structures.
These regulations will increase the ease of doing business, encourage development of longer-term products, improve persistency, thereby creating value for customers, Parekh said.
Further, he said that granting of composite licences, enabling distribution of other financial products by insurers and allowing insurers to set up an insurtech subsidiary, are being discussed by the government to boost stakeholders' confidence in the insurance space.
Parekh said the life insurance sector has recovered from the aftermath of the pandemic in FY23 and grew 18% and collected new business premium of Rs 3.7 lakh crore compared to Rs 3.1 lakh crore in FY22.
Private life insurers grew 24% in individual business and recorded a 17% growth in group business during this period.
Meanwhile, Parekh said HDFC Life subsidiary HDFC Pension Management Company has doubled its assets under management in 18 months, exceeding Rs 45,000 crore in FY23.
This makes it the largest and fastest growing pension fund manager in both retail and corporate NPS segments with a market share of 41.2% from 36.9% with 60% growth in assets under management, he added.
He also said HDFC International Life has received the regulatory approval to establish a branch in the IFSC which will help the company tap new opportunities by serving the needs of global Indians.
He said the low insurance coverage, favourable demographics, increasing life expectancy and growing consumer awareness regarding financial protection bode well for the industry.
Longer life expectancy also signifies a greater need for retirement planning, making the retirement space a substantial opportunity in India alongside life insurance business, he said. | Not_Explicit |
A federal grand jury met Thursday to hear more evidence in the special counsel probe of the Jan. 6 attack on the Capitol and former President Donald Trump’s sweeping effort to overturn the 2020 election.
The panel could hand up an indictment of Trump anytime after the former president was hit Sunday with a letter naming him as a target in the sprawling investigation.
But most legal analysts believe Smith will wait to seek charges in part because he might want to give Trump’s lawyers a chance to ask for a meeting to convince him not to file charges.
Trump says the target letter he got gave him until Thursday to testify before the grand jury, an option legal analysts say he is unlikely to take because of the danger of further incriminating himself.
The grand jury heard testimony Thursday from a relatively junior Trump campaign aide who was with the former president on Jan. 6.
William Russell, a former White House aide who now works for Trump’s presidential campaign, made a second appearance before the panel. It’s not known why Russell was called back or what he might have added to the probe.
The grand jury, which operates in secret, has already heard testimony from dozens of witnesses, including many of Trump’s closest aides and once-trusted lieutenants, in the wide-ranging and fast-moving investigation.
The target letter sent to Trump reportedly mentions three federal statutes that he is accused of violating including a conspiracy to defraud the United States, depriving people of their rights, and witness tampering.
The possible charges mentioned in the letter suggest Smith’s team is focused more on the broad plot to overturn the election as opposed to leading or inciting the actual violence on Jan. 6.
Trump last month became the first ex-president in American history to be criminally charged when he was indicted in connection with a separate probe regarding mishandling of classified documents that he took when he left the White House. | Not_Explicit |
MADRID — Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez is poised to remain prime minister as a result of Sunday’s inconclusive national elections in which the center-right Popular Party won the most votes but was left with no clear path to form a government.
As expected, none of Spain’s major parties secured a governing majority. With 99 percent of the votes tallied, the Popular Party had 136 seats, the Socialists 122, the far-right Vox 33, and the left-wing Sumar 31.
Prior to the vote, conservative leader Alberto Núñez Feijóo indicated that he would be willing to form a coalition government with Vox, but both parties fell short of the 176 seats needed to control the Spanish parliament.
There is no scenario in which Spanish MPs would back a minority government composed of the Popular Party and Vox, and Feijóo does not appear to have enough support among the country’s smaller, regional parties to cobble together the support he would need for minority rule on his own.
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The outcome opens the door to Sánchez remaining in power.
Together with Yolanda Díaz’s left-wing Sumar coalition, the prime minister’s Socialist Party could form a coalition that controls 153 seats in parliament, but in order to govern he’ll need to forge deals with a variety of political groups with wildly different objectives.
Sánchez is unlikely to be able to obtain the backing of the 176 MPs needed to be confirmed as prime minister the first time the new parliament discusses the matter, but he could make a bid during the second round of voting, in which the candidate to head the new government has to receive more yays than nays.
In 2019, Sánchez became prime minister following that same roadmap after making deals with regional parties. But in these high-stakes elections, voters opted to back larger parties, leading smaller groups like Teruel Existe to lose their seats.
That means the Socialists will have to look for support from Basque and Catalan nationalists — among them those belonging to former Catalan president Carles Puigdemont‘s Junts party.
Puigdemont fled Spain in the immediate aftermath of the 2017 Catalan independence referendum and was subsequently elected to the European Parliament; a top EU court recently stripped his legal immunity, paving the way for his extradition to Spain.
Junts candidate Míriam Nogueras told the press that her party had “understood the result” and would “take advantage of the opportunity.”
“This is a possibility for change, to recover unity,” she said. “But we will not make Pedro Sánchez president in exchange for nothing.”
Over 37 million Spaniards were registered to vote in these elections, which were framed as a referendum on Sánchez. The tight race meant the stakes were incredibly high, with Spain facing the possibility of ending up with a government with far-right ministers for the first time since the death of Francisco Franco.
That could have signaled a wider sea-change in Europe ahead of next year’s European Parliament elections and given fuel to right-wing forces that want the EU to take more hardline stances on everything from climate policy to migration.
With 33 seats, the far-right Vox party remains the third-largest political group in the Spanish parliament, but these elections have seen it shrink from the 52 seats it secured in 2019, indicating the group may be losing steam.
At the Socialist Party headquarters in Madrid on Sunday night, euphoric supporters cheered Sánchez while shouting “¡No pasarán!,” the anti-fascist slogan used by Spain’s legitimate government in its struggle against Franco’s forces during the Spanish Civil War.
Despite being held in the middle of the summer and in the midst of a heatwave, some 24 million Spaniards voted in person, while a record 2.4 million opted for mail-in voting. | Not_Explicit |
United States vs. Vietnam live updates: Women's World Cup 2023 top plays
The U.S. — four-time winners of the tournament, including emerging victorious in the past two World Cups — is the No. 1-ranked team in the world, according to FIFA, while Vietnam is ranked No. 32.
The USWNT, which is eyeing an unprecedented three-peat this year, is 20-3-1 all-time in the group stage at the World Cup. The Americans are also undefeated in the opening game of the tournament. What's more, the last time the Americans played an Asian Football Confederation (AFC) nation in a World Cup, they defeated Thailand 13-0.
Of the 23 players on the U.S.'s roster, 14 are making their World Cup debut, including young forwards Sophia Smith — the 22-year-old phenom who leads the National Women's Soccer League with 10 goals in 13 matches — Trinity Rodman and Alyssa Thompson. The USWNT also returns veteran stars such as Alex Morgan and Megan Rapinoe, who announced earlier this month that she will retire after the tournament.
On the other side, Vietnam is captained by Huynh Nhu, who has scored 67 goals in 103 appearances for the national team, also known as the Golden Star Women Warriors. Other key players to watch for Vietnam are powerhouse midfielders Nguyen Thi Tuyet Dung and Nguyen Thi Thanh Nha.
Follow our live coverage below, including live analysis from FOX Sports' Michael Cohen!
PREGAME
Setting the stage
The "World Cup NOW" and "World Cup Live" crews previewed the match ahead of kickoff.
The U.S. is ready to roll
The USWNT was all business ahead of Friday's match. | Not_Explicit |
Suzlon Energy Net Profit Falls 96% To Rs 101 Crore In Q1
Suzlon Energy registered a 96% decline in consolidated net profit at Rs 101 crore in the April-June quarter.
Suzlon Energy registered a 96% decline in consolidated net profit at Rs 101 crore in the April-June quarter.
The company had registered a consolidated net profit of Rs 2,433 crore in the year-ago quarter, an investors' presentation showed.
The company's net revenue in the first quarter of this fiscal also came down to Rs 1,348 crore from Rs 1,378 crore in the year-ago period.
Girish Tanti, vice-chairman, Suzlon Group, said in a statement, "With the country poised to lead decarbonisation of its economy, we are seeing renewed enthusiasm from India Inc. to drive this green energy transition." J P Chalasani, chief executive officer, Suzlon Group, said in the statement, "At Suzlon, we continue to show stable and steady growth in line with our business plan. With the fruition of our initiatives to strengthen the balance sheet and reduce debt, our focus is now on ramping up our operations to service our cumulative orders, which stand at a healthy 1,582 MW as on date."
Himanshu Mody, chief financial officer, Suzlon Group, said in the statement, "Q1 of FY24 takes forward our consistent efforts to consolidate and stabilise our performance over the last few quarters. Q1 FY24 shows YoY (year-on-year) growth and an improvement in overall profitability with a steady performance on all our key parameters."
After a sustained effort to reduce debt in 2022-23, which has resulted in a healthier and sustainable balance sheet for the company, our focus in FY24 remains on funding our operations and fulfilling our commitments to customers and other stakeholders, he said.
"We continue to maintain strict control on costs and are in the process of further optimising our organisational structure to drive excellence and continual improvement on the strong foundation set with over the last three years," he added. | Not_Explicit |
At least 15 people are dead after a ferry sank off Indonesia’s Sulawesi island, according to local authorities.
The ferry had 40 passengers on board when it sank at approximately midnight (16:00 GMT) and authorities are searching for 19 people who remain missing, Indonesia’s national search and rescue agency said on Monday.
Six passengers were rescued and are being treated in hospital, the agency said.
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It was not clear how many people were on board as it is not uncommon in Indonesia for the actual number of passengers on a boat to differ from the manifest.
“The search will be conducted by dividing into two teams. The first team will dive around the accident site,” Muhamad Arafah, head of the local search and rescue agency in Kendari city in Southeast Sulawesi, said in a statement.
“The second team will conduct a sweep above the water surface around the accident site using a rubberboat and longboat.”
Ferry accidents are not uncommon in Indonesia, which is the world’s largest archipelago country with more than 17,000 islands.
In 2018, as many as 192 people drowned when an overloaded ferry overturned and sank on Lake Toba on Sumatra island.
In May last year, a ferry with more than 800 people on board ran aground in waters off East Nusa Tenggara province. No one was hurt in the incident. | Not_Explicit |
Seniors' voter turnout has been the most reliable in every presidential election for decades, outpacing younger voters. This election cycle will be no different, as age will play another major factor in the 2024 presidential election if a rematch occurs between the oldest candidates President Joe Biden, 80, and former President Donald Trump, 77.
Biden and Trump nearly tied among older voters, 45% to 46%, respectively, according to a poll from the American Association of Retired Persons, known as AARP.
“Voters 50-plus are the key to winning and losing elections — and they show up,” John Anzalone, a veteran Democratic pollster from Impact Research, said.
Although seniors 65 and older have not widely supported a Democratic presidential candidate since Al Gore in 2000, Biden did surprisingly well among older voters in the 2020 election. Trump narrowly led over Biden in the election among older voters. Biden won over voters under 30 with more than a 20-point margin, according to the Pew Research Center.
“We know that voters age 50-plus will make up the majority of the electorate in 2024,” Nancy LeaMond, AARP executive vice president and chief advocacy and engagement officer, said. “The fact that this group is divided shows that no one running for office should take them for granted or write them off. Candidates who want to win need to connect with them and address their concerns.”
Voters are concerned about Biden's age. Thirty-seven percent of Democratic and independent voters believe Biden's age makes them less likely to vote for him, according to a USA TODAY/Suffolk University poll. A majority of people believe a president can be too old to hold office, according to a Yahoo News/YouGov poll.
Older voters continue to favor the Republican Party, with 48% of voters 50-plus saying they prefer a GOP candidate, while only 40% would support a Democratic candidate. Voters between the ages 50 to 64 are more likely to vote along Republican lines, with 52% of the age range supporting a GOP candidate compared to 35% supporting Democrats. However, voters narrowly favor Democrats to Republicans, 46% to 43%. | Not_Explicit |
BARCELONA.- La mayoría de sondeos apuntaban a que la llave del próximo gobierno la tendría la extrema derecha, pero las ajustadas elecciones legislativas españolas convirtieron al independentista catalán Carles Puigdemont en un protagonista inesperado, ya que su formación podría ser clave.
Pese a que el Partido Popular (PP) venció en los comicios, su resultado no fue suficiente para lograr mayoría absoluta, ni siquiera con un eventual apoyo de la ultraderecha de Vox, lo que complica mucho sus opciones de poder gobernar.
Esto abre una vía para que el presidente del gobierno saliente, el socialista Pedro Sánchez, trate de negociar una compleja investidura. Tiene ya el apoyo de la coalición de izquierda radical Sumar, y ahora debería conseguir de nuevo el apoyo de varios partidos nacionalistas vascos, catalanes y gallego, con los que suele contar en el Congreso.
Pero esta vez Sánchez necesitaría, además, la decisiva abstención de los siete diputados logrados por Junts per Catalunya, la formación fundada por Puigdemont, quien se autoexilió en Bélgica desde el intento fallido de secesión en 2017.
El aglomerado de izquierda Sumar anunció el lunes que encargó a uno de sus antiguos dirigentes en Cataluña iniciar las negociaciones con Junts para “explorar todas las vías de acuerdo”.
Sin embargo, este lunes, un día después de las elecciones, la Fiscalía española pidió a un juez que vuelva a cursar una orden de busca y captura internacional en contra del expresidente de la Generalitat de Cataluña.
“Un día eres decisivo para formar el gobierno español, y al siguiente España ordena tu arresto”, ironizó en Twitter Puigdemont, poco después de que la Fiscalía solicitara reactivar su orden de detención tras el rechazo de la justicia europea al recurso contra el levantamiento de su inmunidad.
One day you are decisive in order to form a Spanish government, the next day Spain orders your arrest. https://t.co/7e33rCzd6S
— krls.eth / Carles Puigdemont (@KRLS) July 24, 2023
Representante de la línea dura del secesionismo, y contraria al diálogo emprendido con Madrid, Junts adoptó una postura de oposición sistemática al gobierno de Sánchez, a diferencia del otro gran partido independentista, ERC, convertido en uno de sus apoyos regulares.
Y, ahora en una posición clave, los dirigentes de Junts no piensan poner las cosas fáciles.
“Nosotros no haremos presidente a Pedro Sánchez a cambio de nada, nuestra prioridad es Cataluña, no es la gobernabilidad del Estado español”, aseguró su cabeza de lista al Congreso, Miriam Nogueras, la misma noche del domingo.
🎥 Candidata @miriamnoguerasM: “No em tremolarà en absolut el pols en continuar mantenint la posició. @JuntsXCat no farem president a Pedro Sánchez a 'cambio de nada'. La nostra prioritat és Catalunya, no la governabilitat de l’Estat Espanyol.”#PerCatalunya pic.twitter.com/3XlFOzZWal
— Junts per Catalunya🎗 (@JuntsXCat) July 23, 2023
“Inasumibles”
Desde Junts, que ya votó en contra de la investidura de Sánchez en 2020, reiteran que sus posiciones nunca han cambiado, y no facilitarán el gobierno de nadie que no apoye un referéndum de autodeterminación en Cataluña y la amnistía de los encausados por su papel en la intentona secesionista.
La celebración por parte del gobierno que lideraba Puigdemont de un referéndum en 2017, pese a la prohibición de la justicia, derivó en una de las crisis políticas más graves vividas en España en las últimas décadas.
Pese a que Sánchez –quien hizo de la distensión en Cataluña una de sus prioridades tras llegar al poder en 2018– tomó decisiones como indultar a los nueve políticos independentistas en prisión, el líder socialista nunca cedería a esas reivindicaciones, estiman los analistas
“Son completamente inasumibles por cualquier gobierno de España, o partido de ámbito estatal, cualquiera de estas dos condiciones”, estimó Ana Sofía Cardenal, profesora de Ciencias Políticas de la Universitat Oberta de Catalunya.
En Junts “saben que es inasumible esto, pero van a ir hasta el final”, agregó.
“Ironía”
La decisión final de la formación dependerá, sin embargo, de sus propios cálculos y su íntima competencia con ERC, que viene acusando una marcada pérdida de votos en las últimas elecciones.
“Si Junts es el responsable de una repetición electoral, ¿cómo le va a pasar factura eso electoralmente? Creo que esa es la pregunta que se están haciendo ahora”, estimó de su lado Oriol Bartomeus, de la Universidad Autónoma de Barcelona.
Si la formación valora finalmente que un nuevo escrutinio podría “hundir a Esquerra”, que cayó de 13 a 7 diputados en las legislativas, optarán por no facilitar el gobierno de Sánchez, opina el investigador.
El inesperado resultado del domingo deja todavía muchos interrogantes abiertos.
“Es como una ironía del destino”, apuntó Ana Sofía Cardenal. “Mucha gente del PSOE que se ha ido a la derecha con el tema catalán” –en referencia a las concesiones de Sánchez al independentismo, muy controvertidas incluso dentro de su propio partido– “y resulta que [Puigdemont] está en el centro del tablero político para la gobernabilidad de España”, indicó.
Agencias AFP y ANSA | Not_Explicit |
The gap is closing at the Women’s World Cup as the underdogs rise up
The underdogs are rising up at the 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup.
There were enough examples of that during the men's World Cup in Qatar last year with Saudi Arabia beating eventual champion Argentina, while Morocco became the first African team to advance to the semifinals.
"Smaller countries are getting that understanding. We might not have the resources the bigger countries do in terms of equipment and traveling and games, but I think there's an understanding there with coaches and technical staff and everything that our preparation is a little bit better all around," said Jamaica coach Lorne Donaldson.
"Once upon a time the US by far was very, very dominant and you can just see the gap is closing. I think the smaller nations are jumping on the bandwagon and saying, ‘We can do this too.'"
France coach Hervé Renard, who led Saudi Arabia's men to that unforgettable win against Lionel Messi's Argentina, agrees.
"The French are used to having the upper hand during the opening games, but this is something that is going to change because things are getting a lot closer," he said.
One reason why the traditionally smaller nations are providing such competition for their bigger rivals is the undoubted quality they now boast.
Haiti's 19-year-old forward Melchie Dumornay looks set to become a global star.
"The players are developing," said Donaldson. "They are getting a chance, some of these players, to go and play in the top leagues and they are taking it."
While upsets are becoming more commonplace in international soccer, it remains to be seen if one of the underdogs can go all the way at a major tournament.
The men's World Cup final ended up with Messi's Argentina facing off against then-defending champion France with Kylian Mbappe leading its attack.
The US is aiming for a three-peat at the Women's World Cup and is favorite to become the first nation to do so.
England and Australia were pushed close, but are still well-placed to advance from the group stages after winning their opening games. Both will be expected to improve - especially Australia if star forward Sam Kerr can recover from a calf injury.
And Renard, who has won two Africa Cup of Nations tournaments, has no doubts about France's ability to build from a disappointing start.
"I'm satisfied with the mindset of my girls," he said. "They showed fighting spirit and this will be very useful for us in what comes next.
"I think we need to keep a cool head. I have full faith in my girls and this is how I tend to function. We are going to move forward all together and we are on the right track."
Reporting by The Associated press. | Not_Explicit |
Abby Wambach sends it to penalties: Women's World Cup Moment No. 2
Editor's note: Each day between now and the kickoff of the first match of the 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup on July 20, FOX Sports is counting down the most memorable moments in the tournament's 32-year history.
On one hand, Rapinoe couldn't have played a better ball in if she tried. It flew over Brazil's back line and to the far post to Wambach. On the other hand, Wambach had to get up and over her defender and out-stretched arms of the goalkeeper — no small feat, even for a player of Wambach's quality.
Whatever your preference is, there is no wrong answer. Rapinoe's cross is so iconic that it's now simply known as "The Cross," and Wambach's 122nd minute finish is the latest goal in World Cup, men's on women's.
The U.S. went on in to win in penalties thanks to a big save from Hope Solo and a clutch goal from Ali Krieger.
-
Cristiano Ronaldo on Lionel Messi joining MLS: 'Saudi League is better'
2023 Women's World Cup odds: Chris 'The Bear' Fallica's best futures bets to make now
2023 Women's World Cup schedule: How to watch, TV channel, dates, results
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Women's World Cup Guide, Group E: United States, Netherlands, Portugal, Vietnam
Women's World Cup roundtable: Which team poses biggest threat to USWNT?
USWNT's quest to win 2023 World Cup to be subject of Netflix docuseries
-
France's reality-bending 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup ad goes viral
Alexis Putellas quits Spain training after 30 minutes, raising concerns
Parity, bigger field mean there could be surprises at the Women's World Cup
-
Cristiano Ronaldo on Lionel Messi joining MLS: 'Saudi League is better'
2023 Women's World Cup odds: Chris 'The Bear' Fallica's best futures bets to make now
2023 Women's World Cup schedule: How to watch, TV channel, dates, results
-
Women's World Cup Guide, Group E: United States, Netherlands, Portugal, Vietnam
Women's World Cup roundtable: Which team poses biggest threat to USWNT?
USWNT's quest to win 2023 World Cup to be subject of Netflix docuseries
-
France's reality-bending 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup ad goes viral
Alexis Putellas quits Spain training after 30 minutes, raising concerns
Parity, bigger field mean there could be surprises at the Women's World Cup | Not_Explicit |
A new Senate push to add billions of dollars in new spending next year is setting up a battle later this year in Congress that could result in a partial government shutdown if it can't be resolved by September 30.
The top Democrat and Republican on the Senate Appropriations Committee struck a deal on Thursday to add $13.7 billion in additional "emergency" funding for defense and non-defense discretionary spending. A Senate aide told Fox News Digital, "It is a very routine thing. They do that almost every year, if not every year.
But that addition will put the Senate on a collision course with House Republicans, whose conservative flank has been pushing for spending cuts even below those set in the debt limit deal between House Speaker Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif, and President Biden. The Senate's higher number was already angering Republicans in the House who worked for months to get the deal done, and don't want to see their promised cuts evaporate.
"It is a concern for those of us in the House who see the final debt ceiling agreement as spending too much, and for Appropriations, which is grappling with the need to get 218 votes, we're recognizing that we're gonna have to make additional cuts to get things passed on the floor," Rep. Ben Cline, R-Va., a member of the House Appropriations Committee and the conservative Freedom Caucus, told Fox News Digital on Friday. "It does seem as though we're moving even further apart."
Senate Appropriations Chair Patty Murray, D-Wash., stressed on Thursday that additional emergency dollars were sought by both sides of the aisle and would not violate the McCarthy-Biden agreement.
"Members on both sides of the aisle — on and off committee — have voiced serious, bipartisan concerns about the cuts in the debt ceiling deal to vital non-defense programs and the caps it imposes on defense spending," Murray said at a committee hearing. "Vice Chair Collins and I have discussed how best to address these concerns, and we have agreed to make use of additional emergency appropriations — just as we do every year, and is fully allowed under the debt ceiling deal — to address in a bipartisan way some of the pressing challenges our nation faces."
Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine, also said later in the hearing, "I want to point out that this bill, as well as many of the others that we have approved, are actually below last year's funding levels, as enacted in the omnibus bill. And so, the idea that these are fiscally irresponsible is countered by that fact."
But House Republicans, including those who supported the final deal, made clear they would not be entertaining any compromise that can be seen as adding to the agreed-upon spending levels.
"House Republicans won't go along with this added spending," Rep. Kevin Hern, R-Okla., chair of the conservative Republican Study Committee, told Fox News Digital. "Our majority is committed to reducing our debt and spending taxpayer dollars responsibly. Meanwhile, many in the Senate are happy to turn a blind eye to our rising federal debt and have clearly learned nothing from the Democrats' spending-fueled inflation crisis. The caps agreed to this spring are the ceiling, not the floor."
Rep. Dusty Johnson, R-S.D., leader of the moderate Main Street Caucus, called the $13.7 billion addition "a non-starter in the House."
"GOP won the battle on never-before-seen savings during debt ceiling negotiations, the Senate is working to walk those savings back," he wrote on Twitter.
Several top conservatives met with House GOP leaders, including McCarthy, in a Wednesday night meeting where they plotted out how to cut spending even further below their current mark, according to Roll Call. That’s after House Appropriations Committee Chair Kay Granger, R-Texas, committed to bringing spending bills that lined up with fiscal 2022 levels — below the McCarthy-Biden deal.
Cline told Fox News Digital he was in the meeting but declined to discuss the details. "I will say that it was an attempt to reach consensus on how to move forward . . . and there are many on the more conservative side of our conference who recognize that the first bills out of the chute are spending up instead of making the necessary savings."
If an agreement cannot be forged on a path forward by September 30, Congress risks leaving the government in a partial shutdown. Cline did not say directly whether he was concerned that one would occur, but said, "Nobody wants to shut down." | Not_Explicit |
Paytm Q1 Loss Narrows To Rs 358.4 Crore, Revenue Jumps 39.4%
Fintech firm One97 Communications, which operates under the Paytm brand, on Friday reported narrowing of loss to Rs 358.4 crore.
Fintech firm One97 Communications, which operates under the Paytm brand, on Friday reported narrowing of loss to Rs 358.4 crore.
The company had posted a loss of Rs 645.4 crore in the same period a year ago.
The revenue from operations of the company increased by 39.4% to Rs 2,341.6 crore during the reported quarter from Rs 1,679.6 crore in the June 2022 quarter.
The company said that its merchant payments volume (GMV) grew 37% YoY to Rs 4.05 lakh crore in the April-June quarter of FY2023-24.
"Paytm's EBITDA before ESOP margin stood at 4% on the account of consistent improvement in profitability due to strong revenue growth, increasing contribution margin and operating leverage," the statement said.
Paytm said that due to an increase in gross merchandise value of non-UPI instruments like EMI and cards, and lower interchange cost for Wallet, post-interoperability circular by NPCI, and Postpaid due to better portfolio quality, Paytm’s net payment processing margin has further improved and is now at the top end of 7-9 basis points range.
Sharing update on the Reserve Bank of India's bar on onboarding of new customers by Paytm Payments Bank, Paytm Chairman, Managing Director and CEO Vijay Shekhar Sharma said that the bank has submitted compliance report to the banking regulator and the same is under review.
During financial year 2022, RBI had directed the Paytm Payments Bank to stop the onboarding of new customers with effect from March 1, 2022.
During FY 2023, RBI appointed an external auditor for conducting a comprehensive systems audit of the PPBL.
On October 21, 2022, PPBL received the final report thereof from RBI outlining the need for continued strengthening of IT outsourcing processes and operational risk management, including KYC etc at the Bank.
"Pursuant to a supervisory engagement thereafter, RBI recommended remediating action steps (including further steps to be taken by the Bank) in a time-bound manner. The Bank has submitted the compliance to these instructions of RBI and the same is currently being reviewed by RBI," Sharma said. | Not_Explicit |
SYDNEY - The United States commissioned a warship in Sydney on Saturday, the first time a U.S. Navy vessel joined active service at a foreign port, as the two close allies step up their military ties in response to China's expanding regional reach.
The Independence-class littoral combat ship -- named after a Royal Australian Navy cruiser that was sunk while supporting the U.S. Marine landings on Guadalcanal in 1942 -- was commissioned at a ceremony at an Australian naval base on Sydney Harbor, officially joining the U.S. Navy's active fleet.
"Australians can be proud that this ship, designed in Western Australia by local industry and named after HMAS Canberra, is being commissioned here for the first time in the history of the United States Navy," Australian Defense Minister Richard Marles said in a statement.
The commissioning of the U.S. ship in Australian waters reflected "our shared commitment to upholding the rules-based order," he added.
The ceremony comes amid the biennial Talisman Sabre military exercises between the U.S. and Australia, seen as a show of force and unity as China increasingly asserts power in the Indo-Pacific.
The exercises, taking place in various locations across Australia over two weeks, include mock land and air combat, as well as amphibious landings.
In addition to Australia and the U.S., forces from Canada, Fiji, France, Germany, Indonesia, Japan, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, the Republic of Korea, Tonga and Britain are taking part.
Germany is participating for the first time with 210 paratroopers and marines taking part, as the European nation bolsters its presence in the region.
Under the AUKUS project announced in March, the United States and Britain have agreed to help Australia acquire a fleet of nuclear-powered submarines.
Before that, in the early 2030s, the United States is supposed to sell Australia three U.S. Virginia-class nuclear-powered submarines, with an option for Australia to buy two more. | Not_Explicit |
Former Phoenix councilmember Daniel Valenzuela announces run for Maricopa County Supervisor
Jul 24, 2023, 3:20 PM
(Daniel Valenzuela for Arizona)
PHOENIX – Former Phoenix City Councilmember Daniel Valenzuela announced Monday he is running for Maricopa County Supervisor District 3.
Republican supervisor Bill Gates announced in June he would be vacating the seat and would not be seeking reelection saying he wanted to pursue other opportunities.
Valenzuela, a Democrat, was elected to the city council in 2011 and left in 2018 to run for Phoenix mayor.
The board has five members, four Republicans and a Democrat. It sets the agenda and approves a budget that allocates money to all departments and elected offices.
Why he’s running
Valenzuela emphasized his past successes as a city councilmember including chairing the city’s two pension reform efforts, helping enact the city’s Anti-Discrimination Ordinance and being a leader on economic development and job creation.
“I have worked hard my entire life as a coalition builder and problem solver,” he said in a press release. “My family and I are excited to move forward with overwhelming support from first responders, community, business, non-profit and labor leaders.”
Valenzuela said he looks forward to focusing on many issues including keeping people and families safe, moving the economy forward and working toward smart investments around infrastructure for future planning.
“I will also work to protect our democracy, making voting as accessible and equitable as possible throughout the county. I want to take a regional leadership approach to these important issues and others, including housing and homelessness,” he said. | Not_Explicit |
CSB Bank Q1 Result Review - Strong Quarter Despite Elevated Opex: Dolat Capital
Growth driven by gold; credit costs continue to surprise.
BQ Prime’s special research section collates quality and in-depth equity and economy research reports from across India’s top brokerages, asset managers and research agencies. These reports offer BQ Prime’s subscribers an opportunity to expand their understanding of companies, sectors and the economy.
Dolat Capital Report
CSB Bank Ltd. reported good set of numbers with net interest income/pre-provision operating profit growth of 17% YoY each. Sequentially stable net interest margin at 5.4%, robust core fee lines, and low credit costs aided profit after tax growth of 15% and return on asset of 1.8% for the quarter.
With continued investment towards people and technology, opex growth was up sharply (11.5% QoQ), partly owing to one-offs. Loan growth at 2% during the quarter was led by gold (up 4% QoQ) other retail (up 6% QoQ).
We tweak estimates, factoring higher other income and lower slippages, offset by rise in opex assumptions.
Outlook and view
CSB Bank stands out for its robust liability franchise, superior NIM and strong asset quality metrics. The next two years could see significant investment in people, distribution and technology, in preparation for scale phase from FY26.
A likely Fairfax stake in IDBI Bank Ltd. remains an overhang.
Maintain 'Buy' with an unrevised target price of Rs 370 (1.5 times FY25E adjusted book value). The stock trades at 1.2 times FY25E ABV.
Risks to our view: Weaker than anticipated growth trends, higher than anticipated pressure on NIM, inability to contain opex.
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This report is authored by an external party. BQ Prime does not vouch for the accuracy of its contents nor is responsible for them in any way. The contents of this section do not constitute investment advice. For that you must always consult an expert based on your individual needs. The views expressed in the report are that of the author entity and do not represent the views of BQ Prime.
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RICHMOND, Va. (WRIC) – Virginia Democrats have launched “The Majority Project,” an early-voting campaign touted as the “biggest, earliest voter turnout project” in state legislative history that aims to counter a similar initiative unveiled by Gov. Glenn Youngkin and state Republicans.
The seven-figure project aims to boost Democratic absentee and early voting for the 2023 Virginia General Assembly elections in November, crucial contests that will determine which party controls the legislature next year.
The program, which began work in May but formally launched Thursday, has sent more than 100 staffers to state legislative districts across Virginia.
“The Virginia Democrats’ campaign launched on a scale that has never been seen before in the Commonwealth,” House Minority Leader Don L. Scott Jr. (D-Portsmouth) said in a statement.
The coordinated effort from the House Democratic Caucus, Senate Democratic Caucus and the Democratic Party of Virginia includes a “relational organizing” and field program with staffers going door-to-door and calling potential voters to increase early and absentee voting.
“Democrats have been ahead of the curve on early and absentee voting for years now, and that is because we are investing in people over corporations and standing up for women’s rights and the rights of Virginians all across the Commonwealth,” Scott added.
“The Majority Project” comes on the heels of a new Republican effort led by Gov. Youngkin to help boost early and absentee voting among GOP voters in the Nov. 7 elections, an initiative Del. Scott called “blatant hypocrisy.”
Republicans’ “Secure Your Vote Virginia” website drew criticism from Democrats who pointed to GOP efforts this year to restrict early voting in the state, including failed proposals to ban ballot drop boxes and shorten the window for early in-person voting to two weeks.
State Sen. Mamie E. Locke (D-Hampton), chair of the Senate Democratic Caucus, reiterated those views in a statement Thursday.
“Senate Democrats are meeting voters at their doors on these key issues such as protecting reproductive rights, funding our public schools and our teachers, and preventing gun violence,” Sen. Locke said. “Secure your vote is a fallacy because MAGA Republicans are determined to take away these very rights.”
All 140 General Assembly seats are on the line in the Nov. 7 elections, making this year’s campaign season pivotal to both parties’ plans to seize control of the state legislature. Democrats control the state Senate and Republicans have a majority in the House of Delegates.
“Virginians are motivated to show up and elect legislators who will safeguard access to abortion, fully fund our public schools, and fight for hardworking Virginians,” Democratic Caucus Chair Charniele Herring (D-Alexandria) said in a statement. | Not_Explicit |
Mark Graham lived to tell the tale of his encounter with a "super inquisitive" great white shark that nibbled on his GoPro camera during a dive
A United Kingdom resident has a shark tale you have to see to believe — luckily, the shocking interaction was caught on camera.
According to The New York Post, Mark Graham recently took a sea trip that could have turned deadly. While embarking on a Great White Shark Cage Diving Crew tour in South Africa, as the tour's videographer, he came face to face with an apex predator. "People seem to love the clip," the 31-year-old said of the great white shark footage, which is currently making its rounds on social media.
The unforgettable expedition took place in Klein Brak, Mossel Bay. Graham's GoPro Hero camera was recording when the great white appeared before the dive group. The device captured the aquatic inhabitant opening its large mouth, baring rows of razor-sharp teeth,
In the clip, the shark swims up to Graham in the murky South African waters. Per National Geographic, great whites can reach over 20 feet in length and weigh more than 4,000 pounds. Their massive muscles and mouth allow them to wreak havoc on their prey.
However, Graham described his shark encounter as "gentle" and "super inquisitive." After approaching the diver, the shark lightly nudged the GoPro Hero attached to his head and swam away.
"Their electro receptors can pick up the GoPro, so they get super curious and come in close to investigate," Graham told Media Drum World, per the New York Post. "It was an incredibly gentle interaction from the shark. It was just trying to figure out what the strange electrical thingy in the water was."
Graham added that others who saw the incident may have been "freaked out," but he appreciated the rare moment.
"Having such a personal and gentle interaction with such a big animal felt extremely captivating," he confessed. And although movies like Jaws and Deep Blue Sea may not paint the predators in the best light, the U.K. diver wants individuals to respect the deep sea creatures.
"I think humans have an instinctive fear of what they can't see and don't understand. If you get the chance to see them in the wild, go and see them, I guarantee your perception will change," he said earlier this year after a similar encounter.
While Graham made it through his shark experience untouched, a Florida resident can't say the same. On July 14, Chris Pospisil, a University of Central Florida student, had a near-fatal interaction with a shark. The 21-year-old was surfing with his friend Reece Redish at New Smyrna Beach when a shark knocked him off his surfboard. The predator then latched onto the young man's foot.
"The shark came from under me, on my board, and tipped me backwards off my board, and I was falling backwards, I saw my foot in his mouth, and it dragged me under," Pospisil recalled as he spoke to FOX affiliate WOFL-TV. He credits Redish for helping him survive the terrifying ordeal.
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"Reece was already there, already on top of me, got me by my shirt, and pulled me on the board," Pospisil said. Once on shore, he hoped his injuries would be minimal. "I remember asking the lifeguard, 'Am I going to lose my foot?' He was like, 'I don't know, man,'" the college student added.
While noting that "The top of my foot is going to be numb in some areas for the rest of my life, and my foot might be stiff because they had to repair all seven tendons," Pospisil added that he is ready to return to the water. "It hasn't changed anything. I'm definitely going to keep surfing. It's my lifestyle, and it's something I love to do," he admitted.
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Politics Jack Schlossberg, JFK’s Grandson, Slams Cousin Robert F. Kennedy Jr.: ‘An Embarrassment’ “I’ve listened to him. I know him. I have no idea why anyone thinks he should be president,” Schlossberg, who voiced support for Biden, said in a passionate Instagram video posted early Friday morning By Tracey Harrington McCoy Tracey Harrington McCoy Tracey Harrington McCoy is a celebrity news writer at PEOPLE Digital. She has been working at PEOPLE since 2022. Her work has also appeared in Forbes, Newsweek, Parents Magazine, AOL, and Huffington Post. People Editorial Guidelines Published on July 21, 2023 10:26AM EDT Jack Schlossberg, Robert F. Kennedy Jr., and Joe Biden. Photo: Shutterstock, Getty Just days after presidential hopeful Robert F. Kennedy Jr. was slammed for giving a speech full of conspiracy theories about the COVID-19 virus, John F. Kennedy’s grandson, Jack Schlossberg, blasted his cousin in a scathing video message. Early Friday morning, Schlossberg posted a video on Instagram criticizing his cousin’s presidential candidacy — and strongly endorsing incumbent President Joe Biden as the person to carry on his grandfather's legacy. He filmed the selfie video from a car. “Hi, I’m Jack Schlossberg and I have something to say,” the 30-year-old attorney said, addressing the camera directly. “President John F. Kennedy is my grandfather and his legacy is important. It’s about a lot more than Camelot and conspiracy theories. It’s about public service and courage. It’s about civil rights, the Cuban missile crisis, and landing a man on the moon.” Robert Kennedy Jr. Leans into Conspiracy That CIA Was Involved in Uncle John F. Kennedy's Assassination JFK’s only grandson continued, diving into a full scale endorsement of Biden as the 2024 Democratic presidential nominee. “Joe Biden shares my grandfather's vision for America. That we do things not because they are easy but because they are hard," Schlossberg said, "and he’s in the middle of becoming the greatest progressive president we’ve ever had.” President Joe Biden delivers the 2023 State of the Union address with Vice President Kamala Harris and House Speaker Kevin McCarthy behind him. Drew Angerer/Getty The selfie video continued with Schlossberg listing some of Biden’s successes while in office. "Under Biden, we’ve added 13 million jobs. Unemployment is at its lowest in 60 years. Biden passed the largest investment in infrastructure since The New Deal. And the largest investment in green energy ever. He’s appointed more federal judges than any president since my grandfather. He ended our longest war. He ended the COVID pandemic. And he ended Donald Trump," Schlossberg said. “These are the issues that matter," he continued, "and if my cousin, Bobby Kennedy Jr., cared about any of them, he would support Joe Biden, too. Instead, he’s trading in on Camelot, celebrity, conspiracy theories, and conflict for personal gain and fame." Biden 'Hugely Popular' Among Kennedy Relatives, Says Source, as RFK Jr. Launches 2024 Campaign (Exclusive) Schlossberg then got more pointed in denouncing his cousin, saying, "I’ve listened to him. I know him. I have no idea why anyone thinks he should be president. What I do know is, his candidacy is an embarrassment. Let’s not be distracted, again, by somebody’s vanity project.” “I’m excited to vote for Joe Biden in my state’s primary and again in the general election — and I hope you will too,” he ended the video. RFK Jr. Slammed for Pushing 'Abhorrent' COVID-19 Conspiracy Theory About Jews and Chinese People Robert F. Kennedy Jr. Eva Marie Uzcategui/Bloomberg via Getty Schlossberg and Kennedy are cousins, once removed. Schlossberg’s mom, Caroline Kennedy, is RFK Jr.'s first cousin. Earlier this week, advocacy organizations criticized RFK Jr.'s reckless comments at a private New York City event, which were captured on video by The New York Post. “COVID-19. There is an argument that it is ethnically targeted. COVID-19 attacks certain races disproportionately,” Kennedy, 69, said. “COVID-19 is targeted to attack Caucasians and Black people. The people who are most immune are Ashkenazi Jews and Chinese.” A Look Back at Robert F. Kennedy's Tragic Presidential Campaign as His Son Declares Candidacy 55 Years Later Known for his track record of spouting debunked misinformation about COVID-19 and vaccinations, Kennedy echoed antisemitic discourse that Jews engineered and spread the COVID-19 virus, according to the 2021 Antisemitism Worldwide Report by Tel Aviv University. Similar conspiracies about Jewish people and disease have been made for centuries. Ted Deutch, a former congressman and CEO of the American Jewish Committee, tweeted Saturday that Kennedy’s comments are “deeply offensive and incredibly dangerous.” “Every aspect of his comments reflects some of the most abhorrent antisemitic conspiracy theories throughout history and contributes to today’s dangerous rise of antisemitism,” Deutch continued via Twitter. RFK Jr.'s younger sister, Kerry Kennedy — who runs a human rights organization named after their father, Robert F. Kennedy — also weighed in on the controversy, tweeting, "I STRONGLY condemn my brother's deplorable and untruthful remarks last week about Covid being engineered for ethnic targeting." Kerry Kennedy Speaks Out on Bobby's Presidential Bid: 'Love My Brother, but Do Not Share or Endorse His Views' Robert F. Kennedy Jr. JOSEPH PREZIOSO/AFP via Getty The 2024 presidential hopeful responded to the backlash to his comments via Twitter in a lengthy video of a conversation with Rabbi Shmuley Boteach, calling the insinuation that his comments were antisemitic “a disgusting fabrication.” “I understand the emotional pain that these inaccurate distortions and fabrications have caused to many Jews who recall the blood libels of poison wells and the deliberate spread of disease as the pretext for genocidal programs against their ancestors,” Kennedy wrote in the tweet. “My father and my uncles, John F. Kennedy and Senator Edward Kennedy, devoted enormous political energies during their careers to supporting Israel and fighting antisemitism. I intend to spend my political career making those family causes my priority," he continued. RFK Jr.’s Instagram Account Reinstated More than 2 Years After COVID-19 Misinformation Got Him Banned On Thursday, hours before Schlossberg posted his video, House Republicans invited Kennedy to speak at a hearing by the GOP-led House Subcommittee on the Weaponization of the Federal Government. During the hearing, Kennedy accused political foes — including the Biden administration — of trying to silence him, and insisted, “In my entire life, and while I’m under oath I have never uttered a phrase that was either racist or antisemitic.” He also claimed, “I’ve never been anti-vaccine,” despite repeatedly spreading scientifically discredited narratives about vaccines and founding an anti-vaccination advocacy group in 2011. | Not_Explicit |
Amit Shah Speaks To Gujarat CM, Delhi LG; Enquires About Flood-Like Situation, Yamuna Status
Shah also had a discussion with Delhi Lieutenant Governor V K Saxena about the water level in the Yamuna river.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah spoke to Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel on Sunday and enquired about the flood-like situation in various parts of the state.
Shah also had a discussion with Delhi Lieutenant Governor V K Saxena about the water level in the Yamuna river.
"Spoke to Gujarat CM Shri @Bhupendrapbjp Ji about the flood-like situation occurring in various parts of the state due to the recent heavy rainfall. Also had a discussion with LG of Delhi, Shri VK Saxena Ji about the water level in the Yamuna river. Ample numbers of SDRF and NDRF teams are available to help the people in need," the home minister said on Twitter.
Heavy to very heavy rains pounded several districts in Gujarat's southern and Saurashtra regions on Saturday, triggering a flood-like situation in urban areas and isolating villages amid the water level in dams and rivers surging to danger levels.
The water level of the Yamuna in Delhi breached the danger mark again on Sunday following a surge in the discharge from the Hathnikund barrage into the river after heavy rain in parts of Uttarakhand and Himachal Pradesh.
A further increase in the water level of the river is likely to impact the relief-and-rehabilitation work in the flood-affected low-lying areas of the national capital, officials said. | Not_Explicit |
Thousands of scaffolding that are both ubiquitous and widely regarded as eyesores in New York City may come down quicker under a plan unveiled Monday by Mayor Adams.
Under current regulations, building owners are required to erect scaffolding when conditions exist that could result in debris falling from a structure’s facade. But the rules also grant owners wide latitude around how long those protective structures can remain up — with some becoming part of the cityscape for longer than a decade.
For many landlords, it’s less expensive to erect the sheds and delay repairs than it is to do the repairs in a timely manner.
But Adams is hoping to turn that incentive structure on its head. On Monday he laid out a roadmap on how to accomplish that goal — including proposed fines that would be tied to how long a sidewalk shed remains up and new aesthetic requirements for the temporary structures.
“City rules are incentivizing property owners to leave sheds up and put off critical work,” Adams said at a press conference in Chelsea. “Most sheds stay up for longer than a year, and some have darkened our streets for more than a decade. We have normalized the sheds all over our city, and that is unacceptable.”
Adams held his announcement outside a Seventh Ave. building that had scaffolding up for about 20 months prior to the press conference. According to Manhattan Borough President Mark Levine, the scaffolding came down after the property owner got wind of Adams’ announcement.
Right now, there are about 9,000 permitted sheds in use throughout the city, according to city data. Those sheds, on average, have been up for 497 days and span nearly 400 miles, or about 3% of the city’s sidewalk space. Last year, the city’s Independent Budget Office revealed that the use of scaffolding on city streets has tripled over the past 20 years.
To get them down faster, Adams and Levine are planning to push for new legislation that would create a fine structure to be applied to sheds erected for building repairs.
Under the plan, fines would start kicking in 90 days after a shed is first permitted and could run from between $6,000 to $10,000 per month, depending on the building’s location. Landlords with sheds covering buildings in Midtown Manhattan, Downtown Brooklyn, Long Island City and on the Grand Concourse in the Bronx would be subject to $10,000 penalties under the plan.
“Once a sidewalk shed goes up, the clock starts ticking. At 90 days, the first penalties are issued. So you have to act,” Deputy Mayor Meera Joshi said. “Every month thereafter, until repairs are complete, we’ll issue another penalty.”
Buildings Department Commissioner Jimmy Oddo said the city doesn’t intend to be inflexible when issuing fines, though, noting that when repair work begins, “we’ll have conversations about the fines that have been issued.”
The penalties outlined by Joshi and Oddo would require City Council approval. While the mayor’s relationship with the Council has been frosty lately, Adams has at least two supporters on the lawmaking body, Council members Gale Brewer and Keith Powers who were both on hand to back Adams in his announcement Monday.
Inside NYC Politics
Brewer suggested that some negotiations over the finer points of the plan could be in the offing, though. After Adams and several other top city officials spoke Monday, she noted that while some landlords have the means to make their repairs more quickly, others — like church and synagogue owners — might delay in doing so due to a lack of cash.
Brewer said she was heartened that the administration included in its plan a low-interest loan program to provide aid for struggling small property owners that might not have the financial wherewithal to work within the city’s new shed-removal timeframe.
The specific contours of that loan program, however, are not yet entirely clear.
Other measures laid out by Adams include replacing sheds with netting in cases were it’s safe to do so. Safety netting for facade work is currently permitted, but rarely used due to a lack of standardized netting designs, according to city officials. To encourage the use of netting, the Buildings Department plans to issue a new bulletin with specific rules pertaining to its use.
That agency is also planning to request new proposals for more aesthetically pleasing shed designs to replace the pipe-and-plywood structures most New Yorkers have become inured to over the years. The updated designs will require better lighting and allow for art to be placed on shed panels, according to city officials.
Adams would not say definitively whether or not such aesthetic standards might be extended to other parts of the city landscape — like store awnings, for example — but hinted that policies along similar lines might be in the works.
“Everything is on the table,” the mayor said. “As we reach a point of announcement, we will do something like this.” | Not_Explicit |
ICICI Bank Q1 Result Review - NIMs Declined QoQ; Return On Asset Sustained At Multi Quarter High: IDBI Capital
Asset quality remain stable with gross non-performing asset at 2.76%.
BQ Prime’s special research section collates quality and in-depth equity and economy research reports from across India’s top brokerages, asset managers and research agencies. These reports offer BQ Prime’s subscribers an opportunity to expand their understanding of companies, sectors and the economy.
IDBI Capital Report
ICICI Bank Ltd.’s (one of our top picks) reported decline in net interest margins by 12 basis points QoQ to 4.78% during Q1 FY24 led by higher cost of deposits.
Asset quality remain stable with gross non-performing asset at 2.76% versus 2.81% QoQ led by higher slippages. Also, restructured assets stood at 0.4% versus 0.4% QoQ.
Credit growth declined to 18% YoY versus 19% YoY (FY23) as overseas book declined by 29.5% YoY.
ICICI Bank reported strong profitability growth at 40% YoY led by strong net interest income growth. During Q1 FY24, NII grew by 38% YoY against a loan growth of 19% YoY; however margins declined QoQ.
Pre provision operating profit grew by 37% YoY led by lower other income (up 17% YoY).
Lower credit costs led by better recoveries resulted in best return ratios in last few years; return on asset maintained at 2.4%.
We maintain ‘Buy’ with a target price of Rs 1,240, valuing parent business at Rs 1,082 at 2.9 times price/adjusted book value FY25E and rest for the subsidiaries.
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This report is authored by an external party. BQ Prime does not vouch for the accuracy of its contents nor is responsible for them in any way. The contents of this section do not constitute investment advice. For that you must always consult an expert based on your individual needs. The views expressed in the report are that of the author entity and do not represent the views of BQ Prime.
Users have no license to copy, modify, or distribute the content without permission of the Original Owner. | Not_Explicit |
Bloomberg via Getty Images
toggle caption
Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg during a meeting of President Biden's Competition Council in the State Dining Room of the White House in Washington, D.C., on Wednesday.
Bloomberg via Getty Images
Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg during a meeting of President Biden's Competition Council in the State Dining Room of the White House in Washington, D.C., on Wednesday.
Bloomberg via Getty Images
Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg on Thursday slammed the growing political rhetoric and focus on culture war issues, such as LGBTQ concerns that overtook an appropriations debate on Capitol Hill earlier this week.
Buttigieg, the first openly gay man confirmed to a Cabinet position, made the remarks in a wide-ranging interview at the Department of Transportation with members of the National Association of Hispanic Journalists.
He said he had not "very closely" tracked the argument that broke out Tuesday in a House appropriations meeting on funding for transportation, housing and urban development. At the meeting Democrats slammed Republicans for proposing to eliminate funding for LGBTQ efforts, including community centers in Pennsylvania.
Buttigieg said the focus on such culture war issues isn't reflective of what's a major priority for communities across the country. He alluded to fights over drag shows and ads by beer companies that have led to boycotts.
"When I'm out in Wheeling, West Virginia or Pittsburgh at the airport or anywhere else, the questions are not about beer bottles or drag queens. The questions are about making sure that we can deliver these transportation assets that people can count on," he said. "It is maddening sometimes to look at the split screen on cable TV, and I'm trying to make sure people are aware of the literally tens of thousands of good projects we've already supported around the country."
In Tuesday's meeting, the top Democrat on the House Appropriations Committee, Connecticut Rep. Rosa DeLauro called Republicans "terrorists" for moving to block funding for LGBTQ centers and other programs. Republicans pushed back, arguing that they were not targeting specific groups, and asking for DeLauro's remarks to be "taken down," or removed from the record.
The hearing recessed several times after members traded insults.
Buttigieg says the political rhetoric focused on culture wars has ultimately eclipsed other major issues, including the annual funding measure for his agency and others that must pass to avert a government shutdown.
"We need to do two things and it should not be hard to do. One is to safeguard vulnerable groups as a matter of policy, which is something we believe in as administration and is the right thing to do, and another is to keep doing the work of taking care of the basics," he said.
Buttigieg also noted that his agency is closely watching if Congress will make next budgetary deadlines to fund his agency. The Fiscal Responsibility Act signed into law last month to lift the nation's debt ceiling also sets out new budget restraints.
"We're working to make sure that we can get the resources we need for what Americans were expecting of us in the context of some very real constraints presented by the Fiscal Responsibility Act," he said. "A lot of the [Infrastructure Act] money is advanced appropriated, but a lot of what we need to do isn't ... and so, as we get closer and closer to budget time, it's something we're going to be really concerned about." | Not_Explicit |
IMF raises global economic growth expectations to 3 percent
The International Monetary Fund has raised its global economic growth forecast for 2023 to 3 percent from 2.8 percent, the organization announced Tuesday.
That’s a slight decrease from 2022’s 3.4 percent economic growth, but shows improvement over previous expectations. The U.S. economy is expected to grow by 1.8 percent in 2023 — above the average for other advanced economies — and 1 percent in 2024.
“The global economy continues to gradually recover from the pandemic and Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. In the near term, the signs of progress are undeniable,” IMF Research Director Pierre-Olivier Gourinchas said. “Yet many challenges still cloud the horizon, and it is too early to celebrate.”
The global focus on fighting inflation has led to depressed economic growth, the IMF said, and its still unclear if policymakers can achieve a “soft landing,” solving inflation without a recession.
“Tentative signs in early 2023 that the world economy could achieve a soft landing — with inflation coming down and growth steady — have receded amid stubbornly high inflation and recent financial sector turmoil,” the report states.
“Although inflation has declined as central banks have raised interest rates and food and energy prices have come down, underlying price pressures are proving sticky, with labor markets tight in a number of economies.”
While factors like inflation are going in the right direction, the IMF report says economists are unsure if the global economy can avoid another crisis like a resurgent COVID-19 or a worsening war in Ukraine.
If the global financial markets worsen, advanced economies could see 2.5 percent growth this year. That would be the smallest growth outside of a recession since 2001, the report says.
“The anemic outlook reflects the tight policy stances needed to bring down inflation, the fallout from the recent deterioration in financial conditions, the ongoing war in Ukraine, and growing geoeconomic fragmentation,” the report states.
Global inflation is expected to reduce to 6.8 percent this year from 8.7 percent in 2022, and reduce again to 5.2 percent in 2024. That projection is also a slight improvement over previous forecasts.
But inflation still won’t return to target levels, 2 to 3 percent, until after 2025. Only then will interest rates also return to lower levels as well, according to the report.
“Risks to the outlook are heavily skewed to the downside, with the chances of a hard landing having risen sharply,” the report states. “Policymakers have a narrow path to walk to improve prospects and minimize risks.”
In the U.S., inflation has hit its lowest mark since early 2021, slowing to 3 percent year-over-year as of June, according to the Labor Department.
The Consumer Price Index also marked the smallest year-over-year increase since March 2021.
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MOSCOW, July 20 (Reuters) - Russian President Vladimir Putin approved Arctic LNG 2's first line departure via the Northern Sea Route from the Murmansk region to its future production site on the Gydan peninsula, the Kremlin said on Thursday.
Putin, the ultimate decision-maker in Russia, pays special attention to energy projects in the country. Russia heavily relies on oil and gas production, while Moscow is focusing on developing its own know-how at a time of Western sanctions.
The Murmansk region hosts the world's first facility for mass producing natural gas liquefaction trains on gravity-based structures (GBS), which will be used in Arctic LNG 2.
Arctic LNG 2 would be Russia's third large-scale project for producing liquefied natural gas (LNG) after a Gazprom (GAZP.MM)-led Sakhalin 2 plant in Russia's Pacific and Yamal LNG controlled by Novatek (NVTK.MM).
It would help Russia achieve its goal of gaining 20% of the global LNG market by 2035 from around 8% currently.
"LNG projects are very important. They allow us to conquer share on global LNG market, to develop related sectors... There are reasons to believe that Arctic LNG 2 will be implemented on time," Putin said in televised comments.
Novatek, with a 60% stake, leads Arctic LNG 2, which is expected to start producing the super-cooled gas at the end of this year or in early 2024 at its first technological line.
Arctic LNG 2's three lines will have production capacity of 6.6 million tonnes of LNG per year each. Investments in the project are estimated at $21.3 billion.
Other shareholders of Arctic LNG 2 are French energy major TotalEnergies (TTEF.PA) (10%), China's CNPC (10%) and CNOOC (0883.HK) (10%), as well as Japan Arctic LNG (10%), a consortium of Mitsui & Co, Ltd. (8031.T) and JOGMEC.
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From July 1 to July 24, Scott and his PAC, Trust in the Mission, spent a combined $3.1 billion on television and digital ads for the 2024 presidential primary, according to AdImpact. The pro-Scott super PAC also placed a $40 million TV and digital ad reservation in addition to $7 million slated for August — the first campaign to do so post-Labor Day.
If this substantial spending continues, Scott has the potential to slip into third place behind the former president and Gov. Ron DeSantis (R-FL).
This is significant as Scott and some outsider candidates are slightly rising in some state polls, narrowing their margin between themselves and DeSantis. The South Carolina senator reached double digits in Iowa and South Carolina, two GOP primary battleground states.
In Iowa, New Hampshire, and South Carolina, Scott's Trust in the Mission PAC reserved $19.9 million, making the PAC the biggest spender of the presidential race at $25.9 million. On July 21, one day later, the pro-Scott PAC bumped its total spending up to $30.8 million.
Pro-Scott spending nationwide sits at $31.9 million, over $10 million more than pro-Trump spending and over $15 million more than pro-DeSantis spending, as of July 20.
#Election2024: In the last 2 days, we've seen Trust in the Mission PAC (Pro-Tim Scott) reserve $19.9M in IA, NH, and SC. They're now the highest spender of the Presidential race ($25.9M).— AdImpact Politics (@AdImpact_Pol) July 20, 2023
Pro-Scott spending now stands at $31.9M nationwide.
Pro-Trump: $21.6M
Pro-DeSantis: $16.7M
DeSantis himself has trickled down to a 19.3% RCP average, a slight dip from his ratings in March and early summer where he broke or hit around 30%. Trump maintains a significant lead, with Real Clear Politics marking him at an average of 51.0%.
Still, Trump's super PAC, MAGA Inc., and DeSantis's super PAC, Never Back Down, remain the top ad spenders, with the former spending $19.9 million and the latter spending $15.6 million. Scott sits in fourth place with $4.3 million spent on ads.
DeSantis, Scott, Trump, as well as former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley, entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy, and former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie all qualify for the Republican National Committee's first primary debate on Aug. 23.
Scott is counting on the debates to help him present himself as a compelling and optimistic alternative to Trump, as big-money Republican donors are reportedly dissatisfied with their options. If Trump does not appear at the RNC debate, for which he is still noncommital, it could be a showdown between DeSantis and Scott. | Not_Explicit |
AUCKLAND, New Zealand -- The U.S. women's national team arrived at the 2023 Women's World Cup 10 days ago. The players have talked about the environment, their teammates and how they fill the days. Now, with less than 24 hours to go before their first game, they finally have an opponent to talk about, that being World Cup debutantes Vietnam.
Manager Mai Duc Chung's side is something of a wild card, having qualified out of the Asian Confederation via a playoff at the expense of Chinese Taipei and Thailand. Their recent friendly results have been a hodgepodge; there's no disgrace in losing to Germany 2-1, a match in which the Golden Star Women Warriors showed improved organization and defensive discipline. But that was followed up by a 2-0 defeat to New Zealand and a 9-0 hammering by Spain behind closed doors.
So what version of Vietnam is the U.S. expecting? U.S. manager Vlatko Andonovski is clearly consulting his "Worst Case Scenario Handbook."
"We're preparing to see the best Vietnam team that has ever been on the field, and if that is the team that we saw against Germany, that's what we're preparing for," Andonovski said at the pre-game press conference. "And at the end, I hope we have a good result. I hope we finish the game and win the game with multiple goals, but we won't know anything until the game is over. All we can do is just prepare the best that we can to be ready for it."
The U.S. players are of similar minds.
"You can't take them for granted," forward Lynn Williams said about Vietnam. "I think that every single opponent we come up against, it's going to be tough. Every single [team] is qualified for the World Cup, so there's that."
Vietnam is under no illusions about the magnitude of its task. Mai referenced the fact that Vietnam is the lowest-ranked team in the tournament, while the U.S. is ranked first. And while he emphasized his team is here to learn, they don't intend to be pushovers either.
"The U.S. is a very, very strong team. It is like a mountain," said Mai during Friday's press conference via a translator. "But it doesn't mean that we will give up. We will have very suitable tactics so that we can minimize the goals and we can minimize the injuries. And if we can score goals, then it will be great."
Forward Huynh Nhu added, "At the moment, no fear at all... I believe all my comrades and friends [are] the same; no fear."
The expectation is that Vietnam will sit deep, defend stoutly and then try to hit the U.S. on the counterattack through forward Huynh Nhu. It's an approach the U.S. struggled to cope with in its final pre-World Cup friendly against Wales, when it took two second-half goals from Trinity Rodman to finally get the win. But Williams said the U.S. has to be ready for anything.
"I think that they're going to play a different style than we are probably used to," she said. "So it's just our ability to adapt. Obviously, every single opponent that we play -- we scout them, and then half the time it's not what we scouted. So just trusting each other and being able to adapt on the fly and trust that somebody behind you is seeing something and talking that through. What we've been talking about a lot is just we stick to our game plan, what makes us great, and then also having the ability to adapt in the game."
Four years ago, the U.S. faced Thailand in its opener and went goal wild on their way to 13-0 victory. U.S. defender Crystal Dunn recalls that the two teams met on the final day of the first set of matches. The Americans were pent up and ready to be let loose, resulting in a lopsided scoreline. This time around, the Americans' first game comes on Day 3 of the tournament.
"I think this go around, we have that same excitement," Dunn said. "Everyone's always asking us questions about the Netherlands and Portugal. I'm like, 'We have Vietnam. We've got to get through this game before we even consider talking about the second game.' And I think we're all focused on that first game, that first kickoff."
Vietnam's recent results, not to mention the United States' significant edge in speed and size, have only added another layer of expectation that fans will witness a similarly uneven scoreline Saturday. But Dunn and her teammates are determined to tune out that kind of noise. In 2019, the Americans proved themselves adept at creating a bubble that kept outside distractions and the expectations of others to a minimum; that same approach is being applied this time. Against Vietnam, getting the three points is the objective, no matter how it happens.
"In a World Cup setting vs. a friendly match, it's really about getting the job done, moving on to the next, and fine-tuning the little things along the way," Dunn said. "But we're going to obviously try to put our best foot out there, and it doesn't always have to result in a 13-0 win. Sometimes you could play well and a team just defends their heart out. And I think that is something that we have to have to anticipate against Vietnam."
Four years against ago against Thailand, the U.S. took some heat for some seemingly over-the-top celebrations as the goals piled up. Williams, who at age 30 endured a long wait to get to her first World Cup, said that if she gets on the scoresheet, she won't be holding back.
"You have to remember: It's the group stage, so goal differential matters," she said. "And two, I think that you are taking away people's ability to celebrate maybe their first goals in the World Cup ever. And I just don't think that we would ever see that on the men's side of like, 'Don't celebrate.' I think that the most sportsmanlike thing we can do is treat Vietnam, if we're in that position, like any other opponent that we would play." | Not_Explicit |
Strikes in schools across England may still happen in September, after local branches of the largest union representing teachers told the Observer this weekend that they would vote against the proposed pay offer.
Two weeks ago the government announced that it would accept the recommendation of the independent School Teachers’ Review Body for a 6.5% pay rise for most teachers from September, and the four education unions representing teachers and heads advised their members to vote in favour of the offer.
But on social media last week, many teachers and heads were arguing that the rise was not enough to solve the crisis in retaining and recruiting teachers. Many also said they did not trust government reassurances that the deal was properly funded.
After emergency meetings last week, some local branches of the National Education Union (NEU), the largest education union – including ones in Oxfordshire, Worcestershire, Birmingham and some parts of London – defied their national executive and recommended that their members reject the offer.
Leigh-Amanda Seedhouse, a special educational needs (SEN) teacher and the secretary of the Oxfordshire branch of the NEU, said: “There is anger out there that this offer is still short of what we were asking and most certainly does not redress the real-term losses we have all suffered over the past 13 years.”
She told the Observer that one SEN school in her area had already been forced to move to opening only four days a week because of teacher shortages.
“We can’t continue with the current crisis and this offer won’t fix it,” she said.
One significant issue is whether schools can afford the proposed pay rises. The Department for Education has said 3% will come from “reprioritising” within its own budget, though it said no cash would be taken from “frontline services”, including SEN funding, school building, nurseries or funding for those aged 16 to 19.
Schools will be expected to fund the remaining 3.5% from their budgets, drawing on the £2bn which the government said it would provide for each of the next two years in last year’s autumn statement.
But some schools say this money has already been taken up by the rising cost of energy and everything else they buy, because inflation has soared.
The head of a primary school in Birmingham said she and her staff would be voting against the pay offer because their budget was already at breaking point. “It is an utter fallacy to say this is funded,” she said. “Yes, the government did put in more money, but it was all sucked into the hole that was already there.”
She added: “We’ve reached the precipice. My worry is that no amount of money will fix the serious problems we have now after being underfunded for so long.”
The head said she could not afford to order even basics such as paper this term. The school had been hiring its own family support worker for one day a week because public services were now so depleted that families had been left with no outside support, she said. However, this term they had had to let the support worker go because they could not afford to pay her.
“She was helping families where six people were living in a two-bed flat full of mould and needed help to get out,” the head said.
“It is bad enough that we had to hire someone to do this sort of thing ourselves, but now having to take it away feels terrible.”
Mary Bousted, general secretary of the NEU, said: “I’m not selling this as the best deal ever, but given the government we are dealing with, this is a real achievement and I’m very proud of our members.”
She added: “We are saying: ‘You can absolutely reject this, but that means committing to multiple days of strike action in the autumn term and the government still won’t budge.’”
The Department for Education declined to comment. | Not_Explicit |
Gallego nearly doubles Sinema’s Q2 fundraising in Arizona’s US Senate race
Jul 20, 2023, 10:19 AM
(Facebook Photos)
PHOENIX – U.S. Rep. Ruben Gallego was the top second-quarter fundraiser in Arizona’s Senate race, but incumbent Kyrsten Sinema had the largest war chest of the potential candidates who submitted campaign finance reports earlier this month.
That comes after Gallego outraised Sinema in the first quarter of 2023, $3.74 million to $2.1 million.
Pinal County Sheriff Mark Lamb, a Republican who entered the race in April, reported nearly $608,000 in contributions in his first FEC filing. No other Republicans have submitted fundraising numbers in the 2024 Senate race.
Sinema, an independent who hasn’t yet said whether she intends to seek reelection next year, had nearly $10.8 million cash on hand after spending around $842,000 in the second quarter.
Gallego spent nearly $2.1 million from April to June, leaving his campaign with about $3.8 million in the bank.
Lamb went through just over $272,000 in the second quarter and carried around $335,000 into July.
What about the race for Ruben Gallego’s seat?
Gallego is leaving a safe Democratic congressional district to pursue Sinema’s seat.
Four Democrats have entered the race to succeed Gallego in District 3 and submitted their first campaign finance reports earlier this month.
Phoenix City Councilwoman Yassamin Ansari, the city’s current vice mayor, was the leading fundraiser and spender in the race, taking in $510,229, more than her three opponents combined.
Ansari spent $97,498, leaving her with $412,730 cash on hand, more than doubling the war chest of her closest competitor, Raquel Terán.
Terán, who resigned from the state Senate to run for Congress, reported $206,037 in contributions and $47,206 in disbursements, leaving her with $158,830 heading into the third quarter.
Phoenix City Councilwoman Laura Pastor, whose late father Ed Pastor once held the House seat she’s seeking, had $106,825 cash on hand after raising $116,001 and spending $9,175.
Ylenia Aguilar, a member of the Central Arizona Project Water Board, raised $59,770 and didn’t spend much, reporting only $3,451 in disbursements. That left her campaign with $56,319 in the bank. | Not_Explicit |
The consultation into the plan to close hundreds of ticket offices in England is set to be extended for at least another month, the BBC understands.
The 21-day period for passengers to share their views is due to end on Wednesday. But chairman of Network Rail, Lord Peter Hendy, told the BBC it was "going to be extended".
More than 170,000 responses have been received, according to Transport Focus.
The plan has been met with concern from unions and disability groups.
Lord Hendy told BBC Breakfast an extension to the consultation would be "a really good thing for our customers, because the railway ought to listen to its passengers."
Posters went up in stations earlier this month, inviting the public to send in their responses.
The Department for Transport has not denied a report in the Mirror newspaper that the extension might now run into September.
The ticket office closure proposals have been put forward by train operating companies. They are under pressure from the government to cut costs after being supported heavily during the Covid pandemic, and argue only 12% of tickets are now bought at station kiosks.
Currently 299 stations in England run by train companies with DfT contracts have a full time staffed ticket office. 708 are staffed part time. Under the proposals, most would close.
The industry argues staff would instead be present on platforms and concourses to sell tickets, offer travel advice and help people with accessibility.
However, the UK's largest rail union the RMT and the TSSA union both warned the plans could ultimately lead to job cuts.
Some rail experts have also said the complicated ticketing system should be reformed before ticket office changes are introduced.
Penny Melville-Brown, a blind Royal Navy veteran who regularly uses the railway said the proposals discriminated against people living with sight loss.
She told the BBC that she relied heavily on ticket office staff at a train station as she has "no idea where to go as I don't see anything".
She added: "I don't have huge problems with making things modern and work better for everyone, but when you design new systems, you need to start designing with the people who are going to have most problems, the most vulnerable."
The disability rights campaigner has written an open letter explaining how difficult commuting would be and criticising the consultation process.
There have been threats of legal challenges to both from some disability campaigners, and from five Labour metro mayors.
But the train operating companies' body, the Rail Delivery Group, has consistently defended the proposals and the consultation.
Last week its chief executive Jacqueline Starr told the BBC the industry was listening to accessibility groups' concerns, and had taken part in a 'round table' with the rail minister.
Asked if she could promise that every ticket would still be available from machines or online, including the cheapest, Ms Starr responded: "I'm not going to make promises that that that I can't keep".
She added that the industry would work hard to make sure vending machines did offer every ticket where possible. | Not_Explicit |
PARIS -- The torch that will be used to carry the Olympic flame around France and on its final leg at the opening ceremony of the 2024 Paris Games next July is a sleek silver-colored cylinder of recycled steel that is gracefully tapered at both ends and is being made in limited numbers to save resources.
Paris organizers unveiled French designer Mathieu Lehanneur's torch design Tuesday — part of a week of activities that mark the year-to-go countdown to the July 26 opening.
Organizers said 2,000 torches — five times fewer than for some previous editions of the Olympics — are being produced from recycled steel.
Each one weighs 1.5 kilograms (3.3 pounds) and is 70 centimeters (27.5 inches) tall.
Paris is using the same torch design for both the Olympics and Paralympic Games.
Once lit in Ancient Olympia, Greece, the flame will be transported by boat to the southern French city of Marseille.
The torch relay will start from there on May 8, with 10,000 torchbearers taking turns to carry it — the last of them lighting the cauldron at the opening ceremony.
___
AP coverage of the Paris Olympics: https://apnews.com/hub/2024-paris-olympic-games and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports | Not_Explicit |
Lord Frost’s call to roll back devolution handed SNP ammunition
One of Boris Johnson’s former ministers handed the SNP ammunition by calling for devolution to be “rolled back”, a former senior Tory adviser has said after a poll showed that people in Scotland want Holyrood to have more powers.
It found that 51 per cent of people want an enhanced Scottish parliament either through the transfer of more responsibilities from Westminster or through independence.
In April, Lord Frost, who was Johnson’s chief Brexit negotiator, called on Conservative ministers to make clear that they would “review and roll back some currently devolved powers” if they were returned to government at the next general election.
This provoked a reaction among Tories at Holyrood and prompted Adam Morris, director of Shorthand PR and former head of media | Not_Explicit |
The mayor of Erie, Pennsylvania, is asking Donald Trump's campaign to reimburse the city tens of thousands of dollars in relation to a 2018 rally that the former president held.
Trump is set to return to Erie, a western Pennsylvania city that helped propel him to the White House in 2016, on Saturday for another rally as he aims to strike up support amongst voters ahead of the 2024 Republican presidential primary. The former president is expected to take the stage to deliver remarks at the Erie Insurance Arena at 6 p.m. ET.
As the former president's campaign prepares for the rally, Erie Mayor Joe Schember is again requesting for Trump to pay the city $35,129 for a rally that he held in 2018, the Erie Times-News reported on Monday. City officials first attempted to bill Trump's campaign for the rally, which attracted 12,000 people to downtown Erie in October 2018, nearly five years prior, but never heard back from Trump's team, the newspaper reported.
The requested funds were related to overtime pay for city employees who were needed to work the event, including police officers, according to the Erie Times-News.
"I think we have to try, and I feel like my team feels the same way," Schember told the newspaper. "We're going to see whether we can get some payment from them in advance this time. It's important to do this because we're talking about taxpayer money being used to help make his visit more safe."
Schember also pointed to the income generated from Trump's rallies, which typically attracts thousands of his supporters, as to why he should be paying cities where he holds rallies. While Trump's campaign, which had more than $35 million on hand at the time, did not pay the city for the 2018 rally, it did pay $17,500 to the arena, the Times-News reported based on Federal Election Commission (FEC) filings.
"Trump has been able to bring in millions of dollars for his campaign," the mayor said. "He should be able to easily pay these costs to cities."
Newsweek reached out to Trump's campaign for comment via email.
Several cities where Trump has visited have complained about his campaign not paying for increased costs required to ensure his rallies would be held in a safe manner. Local news station KTSM, which is based in El Paso, Texas, reported in November 2022 that the former president's campaign did not submit any payments for a February 2019 rally it held at the El Paso County Coliseum.
Trump's campaign owed the city more than $560,000, which includes a 21 percent late fee, by 2022, KTSM reported.
Newsweek reached out to the El Paso mayor's office via email for comment.
In 2020, Trump's campaign owed nearly $2 million to 14 cities across the country to cover police and public safety costs, Newsweek previously reported. The largest amounts owed at the time were to El Paso and Minneapolis, Minnesota, to which he owed $542,733.
Michael Glassner, who served as Trump's 2020 campaign's chief operating officer (COO), previously deferred to Secret Service when asked about these funds, Politico reported. Secret Service officials, however, said they do not have a mechanism to pay for police overtime due to these rallies. | Not_Explicit |
The R&A hasn’t received any credible threat or “direct intelligence” about a protest or demonstration at the British Open this week, but CEO Martin Slumbers said Wednesday that they are fully prepared should one break out.
After what apparently happened last year at St. Andrews, they have to be.
Slumbers revealed on Wednesday ahead of this year’s event at Royal Liverpool in Hoylake, England, that there was a direct threat to “one of the most senior players in the field” last year in Scotland. Though he didn’t get into specifics, and nothing ended up happening, it was enough to take extra precautions this time around.
“I think you’re aware that there was direct intelligence last year, and most people in this room don’t know that The Open was targeted last year,” Slumbers said. “We have significant security procedures in place. We work clearly with the law enforcement agencies, and we’ll wait and see what happens. You will have seen that we advised the players, please don’t get involved, and I stand by that. We have enough things in place to be able to deal with it.”
Demonstrators under the name “Just Stop Oil” have been staging protests at various sporting and entertainment events throughout the United Kingdom in recent weeks and months in an effort to get “the UK Government [to] stop licensing all new oil, gas and coal projects.”
The group interrupted Wimbledon earlier this month and dumped confetti and puzzle pieces onto the court during play. The group has staged similar protests at cricket and rugby matches, horse races and more. They were out in Parliament Square in London protesting again on Wednesday, too.
🎾 BREAKING: Just Stop Oil Disrupt @Wimbledon
🎉 “Once more, orange clouds hang over a British sporting event this summer—this time it’s ticker tape rather than paint dust, but it is an intrusion and will need sorting out.”
🚷 Sign up to take action at https://t.co/7BzUVS02dZ pic.twitter.com/2iaoo6GNdO
— Just Stop Oil (@JustStop_Oil) July 5, 2023
It’s unclear if the threat Slumbers mentioned at last year’s British Open was connected to “Just Stop Oil.”
Slumbers said they haven’t received any direct threats about a protest or demonstration this week, and it’s unclear if anything will break out. A perimeter has been set up around Hoylake as a precaution, however, and there is a large security presence in and around the course for the expected 200,000 or more spectators that will attend the tournament this week.
Players and caddies have been warned too, and have been told not to engage should something occur on the course. The last thing anyone wants, reigning Masters champion Jon Rahm said Tuesday, is to get hit by a golf ball.
“I do have a reputation, so I hope they don’t catch me on a bad hole,” he said jokingly about potential demonstrators. “I really don't know. I’ve seen a couple of those things. I know they’re going for an impact. I saw a couple of them intervening in Wimbledon, and obviously this looks like it could be a perfect spot. But obviously we have nothing to do with it.” | Not_Explicit |
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Sen. Jacky Rosen says ‘our adversaries are watching’ Sen. Tuberville’s military promotions blockade03:43
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‘A frozen conflict’: U.S. ‘rushes’ arms into Ukraine to break ‘stalemate’06:01
‘Russia is not being helpful’ to U.S. efforts to release wrongfully detained US citizens07:39
- Now Playing
Jack Smith will try to prove Trump knew stolen election ‘theory’ was ‘false’ and would ‘not hold up’05:41
- UP NEXT
Rep. Zoe Lofgren: If reelected, Trump ‘intends to destroy three branches of government’08:30
U.S. soldier detained in North Korea was ‘supposed to be heading home’ before crossing DMZ04:50
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Play All | Not_Explicit |
Scott Olson/Getty Images
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Former President Donald Trump speaks to supporters during a Farmers for Trump campaign event in Council Bluffs, Iowa on July 7.
Scott Olson/Getty Images
Former President Donald Trump speaks to supporters during a Farmers for Trump campaign event in Council Bluffs, Iowa on July 7.
Scott Olson/Getty Images
Former President Donald Trump announced this week he's received word that he's a target of the grand jury investigation into efforts to overturn the results of the 2020 election.
Trump took to social media to say he could be federally charged related to the Jan. 6, 2021 siege on the U.S. Capitol.
If charges in the Jan. 6 case come to fruition, Trump, the first former president in United States history to be criminally indicted, will be facing numerous charges in three separate criminal cases in three states.
So far this year, Trump has been criminally indicted twice for crimes he allegedly committed before and after his presidency — all announced as he's running for president again.
Trump has also been embroiled in civil lawsuits out of New York — one of which is tied to allegations he and close advisers to the Trump Organization (including his children) committed fraud.
Trump has pleaded not guilty in each of the criminal cases he's been charged and says he is not liable in the other cases.
Criminal cases
The Mar-a-Lago classified documents case
U.S. Department of Justice via Getty Images
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In this photo provided by the U.S. Department of Justice, stacks of boxes can be observed in a bathroom and shower in Mar-a-Lago's Lake Room in Palm Beach, Fla.
U.S. Department of Justice via Getty Images
In this photo provided by the U.S. Department of Justice, stacks of boxes can be observed in a bathroom and shower in Mar-a-Lago's Lake Room in Palm Beach, Fla.
U.S. Department of Justice via Getty Images
Number of charges: 37
Expected trial date: Waiting for U.S. District Judge Aileen Cannon to decide timing for a trial in Florida
Trump pleaded not guilty to 37 federal charges for allegedly storing dozens of classified documents at his Florida resort and then refusing to hand them over to the FBI and the National Archives.
Special counsel Jack Smith, who is also leading the investigation into the Jan. 6 charges against Trump, oversaw the probe into the documents case.
Federal prosecutors allege Trump had a direct hand in packing classified documents when he left the White House in 2021, that he then bragged about having these secret materials and pushed his own attorney to mislead federal law enforcement about what kind of documents he had in his resort.
Prosecutors have told Judge Cannon they want Trump's trial to begin on December 11. It's expected that legal filings by Trump's team will delay the schedule and potentially push back any trial into 2024. His legal team is working to get the trial pushed back until after the 2024 presidential election. At a pretrial hearing on July 18 Cannon said she would issue an order soon outlining an appropriate schedule.
Trump aide Walt Nauta has also been indicted in this case. He pleaded not guilty in early July to charges that he conspired with the former president to withhold classified documents.
The Stormy Daniels hush money case
Eduardo Munoz Alvarez/AFP via Getty Images
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Adult-film actress Stephanie Clifford, also known as Stormy Daniels, on April 16, 2018, in New York. Trump is facing criminal charges for alleged hush money payments paid to Daniels in 2016.
Eduardo Munoz Alvarez/AFP via Getty Images
Adult-film actress Stephanie Clifford, also known as Stormy Daniels, on April 16, 2018, in New York. Trump is facing criminal charges for alleged hush money payments paid to Daniels in 2016.
Eduardo Munoz Alvarez/AFP via Getty Images
Number of charges: 34
Expected trial date: March 25, 2024 in New York
With this case, Trump became the first former president in United States history to be criminally indicted. The grand jury voted to indict Trump in March on 34 felony counts of business record falsification.
Allegations in this case go back to before Trump was elected president. They are tied to hush money payments made before the 2016 elections to the adult film star Stormy Daniels to cover up an alleged affair.
Daniels, whose legal name is Stephanie Clifford, has said that she and Trump had an affair in 2006. Following the launch of Trump's campaign in 2016, Daniels offered to sell her story to gossip magazines. In October, National Enquirer executives friendly to Trump flagged this to Trump's personal attorney, Michael Cohen.
Cohen agreed to pay $130,000 to Daniels to keep her silent. Her attorney received this money less than two weeks before the election. Cohen was later reimbursed $420,000 after Trump was elected president — which Trump has admitted to doing to pay off Daniels. Trump has long maintained he never had an affair with Daniels.
Elizabeth Williams/AP
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This artist sketch depicts former President Donald Trump, far left, pleading not guilty as the Clerk of the Court reads the charges and asks him "How do you plea?" on April 4, 2023, in a Manhattan courtroom in New York, as his attorney Joseph Tacopina, center, watches.
Elizabeth Williams/AP
This artist sketch depicts former President Donald Trump, far left, pleading not guilty as the Clerk of the Court reads the charges and asks him "How do you plea?" on April 4, 2023, in a Manhattan courtroom in New York, as his attorney Joseph Tacopina, center, watches.
Elizabeth Williams/AP
According to court records, executives with the Trump Organization categorized the reimbursements as a "retainer" for "legal services."
One of Trump's attorneys called the decision to prosecute the former president as "political persecution." Trump himself has called District Attorney Alvin Bragg a racist for pursuing this case.
Ongoing criminal investigations
The Jan. 6 case
Samuel Corum/Getty Images
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Pro-Trump supporters storm the U.S. Capitol following a rally with President Donald Trump on Jan. 6, 2021 in Washington, D.C.
Samuel Corum/Getty Images
Pro-Trump supporters storm the U.S. Capitol following a rally with President Donald Trump on Jan. 6, 2021 in Washington, D.C.
Samuel Corum/Getty Images
It's unclear what any charges against Trump could entail.
Last December, the congressional Jan. 6 committee investigating the deadly riot at the U.S. Capitol referred Trump to the Justice Department for four criminal charges. That included obstruction of an official proceeding; conspiracy to defraud the United States; conspiracy to make a false statement; and conspiracy to defraud the U.S. by assisting, aiding or comforting those involved in an insurrection.
The committee, however, had no power over what the DOJ chose to do.
But a possible indictment from federal prosecutors could touch on attempts by Trump and his allies to pressure officials not to certify the 2020 election results or urging his supporters to "fight like hell" to stop Congress from certifying the result.
Trump spoke with his supporters during a rally in the hours leading up to the mob taking over the U.S. Capitol. In his speech, he told the thousands present "we must stop the steal."
So far, investigators have reached deep into Trump's inner circle, contacting former Vice President Mike Pence and the former president's son-in-law to testify before the grand juries in Washington, D.C.
Secretaries of State in several states were also reportedly interviewed as part of the investigation into efforts to overturn the 2020 election. CNN reported recently that officials in seven key battleground states during the 2020 election, Georgia, New Mexico, Nevada, Michigan, Arizona, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin, that were targeted by Trump and his allies "to subvert the Electoral College" were subpoenaed.
Also, investigators have spoken with dozens of witnesses with knowledge of the final days of the Trump presidency and what he and his team might've done to prevent Biden from taking the White House.
Trump insiders embroiled in the federal investigation have also included attorneys John Eastman and Jeffrey Clark, who both had their phones taken by agents last year during the probe.
Georgia 2020 election interference
Megan Varner/Getty Images
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An exterior view of the Superior Court building of Fulton County on Aug. 31, 2022 in Atlanta, Ga.
Megan Varner/Getty Images
An exterior view of the Superior Court building of Fulton County on Aug. 31, 2022 in Atlanta, Ga.
Megan Varner/Getty Images
In Fulton County, Ga., which is home to Atlanta, District Attorney Fani Willis has impaneled a grand jury to investigate efforts by Trump and his allies to overturn 2020 election results in the state.
The criminal investigation was started by Willis after the publication of a phone call in January 2021 of Trump pressuring Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger to "find" ballots in support of Trump. This was after the former president narrowly lost the state to Joe Biden.
Trump has denied wrongdoing and still baselessly maintains there was large-scale voter fraud in Georgia during the 2020 presidential election.
Willis has suggested she'll ask the grand jury for indictments later this summer, potentially as soon as August, and has told law enforcement to prep for a major public response.
Trump is also still fighting civil lawsuits
New York AG Letitia James' suit against Trump for alleged fraud
Michael M. Santiago/Getty Images
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New York Attorney General Letitia James speaks during a press conference on July 13, 2022 in New York City.
Michael M. Santiago/Getty Images
New York Attorney General Letitia James speaks during a press conference on July 13, 2022 in New York City.
Michael M. Santiago/Getty Images
Expected trial date: Oct. 2, 2023 in New York
After a three-year investigation, New York Attorney General Letitia James filed a civil lawsuit against Trump, the Trump Organization's executive team and three of his eldest children, last September.
The lawsuit claims that Trump committed fraud by inflating his net worth by billions of dollars in order to get richer.
The case against Trump's oldest daughter, Ivanka Trump, has since been dropped.
James is seeking around $250 million in penalties and a ban on Trump, his kids and members of his executive team from operating businesses in the state of New York.
E. Jean Carroll case
Ed Jones/AFP via Getty Images
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U.S. magazine columnist E. Jean Carroll departs the Manhattan Federal Court in New York City on May 9, 2023 after a jury found former President Donald Trump liable for the sexual abuse of the writer in the 1990s.
Ed Jones/AFP via Getty Images
U.S. magazine columnist E. Jean Carroll departs the Manhattan Federal Court in New York City on May 9, 2023 after a jury found former President Donald Trump liable for the sexual abuse of the writer in the 1990s.
Ed Jones/AFP via Getty Images
Expected trial date: Jan. 15, 2024 in New York
In 2019, writer E. Jean Carroll first publicly came forward saying Trump had raped her in a department store dressing room in the 1990s when Trump was known as just a businessman. Trump responded then (and since), denying the accusation and saying that the writer had ulterior motives.
Carroll sued Trump — twice (in 2019 and later in 2022) — in large part for his alleged defamation.
The columnist filed the second lawsuit against Trump (this time for both defamation and rape) after the state of New York lifted the statute of limitations for survivors of sexual assault to file civil claims.
In May, a federal jury found Trump liable for battery and defamation in this second lawsuit. The jury in this case said he did sexually abuse the writer and defamed her when he denied her allegation.
Carroll was awarded $5 million in damages.
This week, a federal judge in New York rejected Trump's motion for a new trial.
Trump's legal team filed a counterclaim against Carroll in late June for defamation. In that suit, he claims Carroll defamed him during her appearance on CNN after the jury verdict. In that interview, she was asked about the verdict finding Trump sexually abused her, but that he didn't rape her. Carroll responded, "Oh, yes he did."
Carroll's first lawsuit filed in 2019, referred to as Carroll I in the court, was filed for Trump's early alleged defamatory statements. Following her victory in May, Carroll and her lawyers asked a court to expand the scope of the Carroll I case against Trump, seeking at least an additional $10 million in damages. That trial date is expected next year. | Not_Explicit |
TCS Enters 10-Year Partnership With AIB Life, To Support AIB's Ireland Operations
New Delhi, Jul 24 (PTI) Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) on Monday said it has assisted AIB Life in launching its Ireland operations.
Tata Consultancy Services on Monday said it has assisted AIB Life in launching its Ireland operations.
AIB Life is a joint venture between Allied Irish Banks plc and Great-West Lifeco.
The IT services behemoth has leveraged its insurance platform TCS BaNCS which integrates AIB's network of 120 financial advisors and 32 lakh customers to access financial services ranging from life insurance, pensions via mobile banking, a statement said.
"The Joint Venture between AIB and Great-West Lifeco, which will provide AIB customers with exclusive access to AIB life protection, pensions, and investment products, has entered into a 10-year partnership with TCS to build and operate a future-ready digital infrastructure that enables customers to more effectively plan their finances and investments," Jacquie Doyle, COO, AIB life, said.
TCS will provide end-to-end administration, information technology and customer as well as claims handling services through its global delivery centre in Letterkenny, Donegal, the company said.
"TCS BaNCS' digital capabilities and configurability will help AIB life differentiate itself in the Irish market with innovative offerings that seamlessly support its customers in their personal financial journeys," Vivekanand Ramgopal, President of BFSI Products and Platforms at TCS said.
TCS operates in about 19 countries of Europe since the 1980s, driving almost 30% of its revenue from the region. | Not_Explicit |
- Robert F. Kennedy Jr. told Fox News that the media is treating him more harshly than it did Donald Trump.
- He said that he thinks he is being "slammed" by mainstream outlets in a way that is "unprecedented."
- Kennedy's own family has distanced themselves from him and his beliefs about COVID-19 and vaccines.
Longshot Democratic presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. said that the mainstream media has been giving him a tougher time than it gave former President Donald Trump.
During an appearance on Fox News' "Sunday Morning Futures" with Maria Bartiromo, the nephew of former President John F. Kennedy was asked if he was being heard by potential voters.
Kennedy, who has recently stirred controversy by baselessly claiming that COVID-19 was "ethnically targeted" to spare Jews and Chinese people, told Fox News that his message seems to be getting across despite what he perceives as media bias.
But he didn't hold back in expressing his frustration with how the press is covering him, stating, "I've been really slammed in a way that I think is unprecedented."
He added: "Even more than President Trump was slammed by the mainstream, corporate media."
Kennedy went on to refer to a July 19-20 Harvard/Harris poll of 2,068 registered voters, which showed that he has a favorability rating of 47%, before erroneously claiming that it showed he had a 20-point lead over any other candidate.
Several candidates, including Trump, have favorability rates within single digits of him.
Nonetheless, he pointed to the numbers as proof that his message is resonating.
"Listen, if I believe the stuff that's written about me in the papers and reported about me on the mainstream news sites, I would not have anything," Kennedy told Fox News. "I would definitely not vote for me, and I would think that I was a very despicable person."
Kennedy's own family members have publicly distanced themselves from him, saying they oppose his candidacy and what he stands for.
Kerry Kennedy, one of his sisters, told Insider in April that she loves her brother but doesn't endorse his opinions on various issues, including COVID-19 and vaccinations.
And after he made the comment about COVID-19 being ethnically targeted earlier this month, she strongly condemned his comments as "deplorable."
Kennedy built a reputation as a prominent anti-vaxxer long before the pandemic, previously proliferating a widely debunked claim that vaccines are linked to autism.
His niece, Kerry Meltzer, told Insider in April that she could not support his presidential bid as a practicing physician because his "vaccine skepticism is unfounded and potentially dangerous."
In 2019, two of his siblings and another niece penned an op-ed for Politico in which they denounced Kennedy's views on vaccines and their "heartbreaking consequences." | Not_Explicit |
Ramaswamy: Trump showed bad judgment on Jan. 6, but it’s ‘not the same thing as a crime’
Republican presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy said on Sunday that former President Trump showed bad judgment on Jan. 6, 2021, but that is “not the same thing as a crime.”
“I’ve been consistent all along that I would have made different judgments than Donald Trump made. That is why I am running in this race for the presidency, the same race that he’s in, because I would have made different – and I believe better – judgments for the country. But a bad judgment is not the same thing as a crime. And when we conflate the two, that sets a dangerous precedent for this country,” the tech entrepreneur and billionaire told Shannon Bream on “Fox News Sunday” when asked about Trump’s actions on Jan. 6.
“I don’t want to see us become some banana republic, where the party in power uses police force to arrest its political opponents,” he added, reiterating previous statements.
Ramaswamy has been critical of some of Trump’s actions, while also ardently defending the former president against steps taken by the Department of Justice.
Following news that Trump would be indicted in the classified documents probe, Ramaswamy was quick to pledge to pardon Trump, if Ramaswamy were elected president, and called on other Republican 2024 candidates to do the same.
Trump last week said he received a target letter signaling a possible indictment in the investigation into his attempts to hold onto power after losing the 2020 presidential election.
On Sunday, Ramaswamy, referring to the letter, called a potential indictment against Trump in the Jan. 6 case a “bad idea.”
Trump has remained atop national polling of the 2024 Republican presidential primary race. According to the most recent Morning Consult data, Trump has the support of 55 percent of GOP primary voters, compared to Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis’s 20 percent and Ramaswamy’s 8 percent.
Copyright 2023 Nexstar Media Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. | Not_Explicit |
England have named an unchanged starting XI for the fifth Ashes Test against Australia at The Oval.
Pace bowler James Anderson keeps his place despite having taken only four wickets in three Tests in the series.
Australia are 2-1 up and retained the Ashes after the fourth Test ended in a draw because of persistent rain.
England are looking to draw the series 2-2 and deny Australia a first men's Ashes series win away since 2001 when the final Test starts on Thursday.
Bowling all-rounder Chris Woakes has overcome a quad problem sustained in the fourth Test at Old Trafford to keep his spot.
Fast bowler Mark Wood will play three consecutive Tests in a series for the first time since the last Ashes down under in 2021-22.
Stuart Broad, the leading wicket-taker in the series, is set to play in all five Tests, the only England bowler to do so.
Pace bowler Ollie Robinson, who took 10 wickets in the first three Tests but struggled with a back spasm at Headingley, has again been left out.
England XI: Ben Stokes (captain), Moeen Ali, James Anderson, Jonathan Bairstow (wicketkeeper), Stuart Broad, Harry Brook, Zak Crawley, Ben Duckett, Joe Root, Chris Woakes, Mark Wood.
Anderson, 40, said he has "no thoughts about retirement" despite his relative lack of impact in this series.
In his Telegraph column on Tuesday, he said: "Ten or 15 years ago the debate would be about whether I should be dropped. Now it is about my future. I understand that.
"It is The Oval, the end of a series and a time for speculation.
"If I was bowling horrendously, with my pace down and hobbling around in the field, I might be thinking differently. But the hunger is still there. I feel like I'm bowling well, that I can still offer something to the team."
Anderson added that he still had the backing of captain Ben Stokes and coach Brendon McCullum.
"They want me around, so as long as I am still hungry, want to put in the work then I will keep trying to give my best for the team," he said.
This match is likely to be the final home Ashes Test for many England players, with the next series in the UK in 2027.
The next Ashes series down under is in the winter of 2025-26, meaning the likes of Anderson, Broad, 37, Wood, 33, and Woakes, 34, could be playing against Australia for the final time.
Spinner Moeen Ali, 36, is unlikely to play beyond this series after only coming out of Test retirement to cover for the injured Jack Leach. | Not_Explicit |
WASHINGTON -- Global growth will see a slight improvement compared to previous International Monetary Fund projections but “many challenges still cloud the horizon, and it is too early to celebrate,” the organization's chief economist said Tuesday.
IMF economist Pierre-Olivier Gourinchas gave his assessment as the organization projected that global economic growth will slow to an estimated 3% in 2023 and 2024, down from 3.5% in 2022.
The latest projection reflects a 0.2% increase from the organization's April projections, when IMF leadership said the world economy was expected to grow less than 3% this year, increasing the risk of hunger and poverty globally.
Despite the slight improvement, global growth “remains weak by historical standards,” the IMF report states. But Gourinchas said in a Tuesday blog post that “in the near term, the signs of progress are undeniable.”
The IMF also predicts that global inflation is expected to fall from 8.7% in 2022 to 6.8% in 2023 and 5.2% in 2024.
The organization's economists said that when the U.S. was able to fend off an unprecedented default by resolving the debt ceiling standoff earlier this summer, that in part “moderated adverse risks to the outlook.”
But it said the threat of higher inflation due to Russia's invasion of Ukraine and extreme weather could lead central banks to hike interest rates or cause world leaders to enact more restrictive economic policies.
In addition, China's slow recovery following the reopening of its economy after the pandemic “shows signs of losing steam” the IMF said.
The U.S. economy has proved surprisingly resilient in the face of sharply higher borrowing costs. Employers are adding a strong 278,000 jobs a month so far this year; and at 3.6% in June, the unemployment rate is not far off a half-century low.
Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell and other officials will gather this week for their latest decision on interest rates, hoping to achieve a “soft landing," which is the goal of curbing inflation without causing a deep recession.
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Associated Press reporter Paul Wiseman contributed to this report. | Not_Explicit |
Spain's conservative party PP [Partido Popular] is on track to lead negotiations to form a new government in Madrid, exit polls have shown, suggesting this could be the end of the socialist rule of Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez.
PP secured between 145 and 150 seats, followed by the incumbent socialist party PSOE with between 113 and 118 seats, according to initial exit polls published by RTVE. An absolute majority requires 176 seats.
In the absence of a clear majority for any of the two major parties, the focus is now heavily on who will be the third largest political force emerging from Sunday's election. It is so far unclear if the far right party Vox came in third or fourth, given that exit polls put it neck-to-neck with the left-leaning Sumar party.
One of the biggest questions from this election is whether PP will formally join forces with Vox — potentially marking the first time that the far right would return to power since the 1975 dictatorship of Francisco Franco. Exit polls suggest that the right wing bloc could potentially have a working majority.
PP and Vox have previously joined forces to govern in three of the country's regions, but might find it more complicated to work together at the national level.
Members of Alberto Feijóo's conservative party have raised concerns regarding Vox's anti-LGBT rights and anti-immigration policy. Vox has also been criticized by mainstream politicians for opposing abortion rights and denying climate change, among other measures.
The snap election was brought about by socialist PSOE's strong defeat in regional and municipal polls in May. General elections were originally due at the end of this year.
The Sunday vote was the first to ever take place during the summer time. The extreme heat felt in different parts of the country in recent weeks may have shed light on climate policy ahead of the vote.
Pedro Sanchez has served as Spain's prime minister since 2018. He has been criticized for pardoning politicians supporting regional independence. During his mandate, there have also been issues with the "only yes means yes" sexual consent law, which reduced the jail time of many convicted rapists through a loophole.
However, Sanchez' economic record proved strong ahead of the vote. Spain's economy experienced a growth rate above 5% in 2022 and is set to expand by about 1.5% this year, according to the International Monetary Fund.
Inflation in Europe's fourth-largest economy is also one of the lowest. In June, Spain became the first economy to report an inflation rate below 2% across the region, down since the historic highs recorded in 2022, according to the country's economy ministry. Political experts have nevertheless said the Sunday vote was more heavily focused on cultural and societal matters. | Not_Explicit |
Ministers are considering putting extra conditions on banking licences after a row over the closure of Brexiteer Nigel Farage's account at Coutts.
It follows reports that lenders could lose their permits if they cut ties with customers because they disagree with their political views.
Mr Farage has accused Coutts of lying about its decision, saying he was "cancelled" by the bank.
Coutts says decisions to close an account "are not taken lightly".
Government sources told the BBC that the possibility of putting conditions on banking permits was being explored, although no decision had been made.
Banks would also be required to explain why an account is being shut, and give a longer notice period, under tougher rules to be brought in.
According to the Times newspaper, licences could be stripped in order to protect customers' right to free speech.
The BBC understands that the Treasury is also seeking clarity on the handling of Mr Farage's accounts from Alison Rose, the boss of NatWest, which owns Coutts.
It comes after Mr Farage obtained documents, which have been shared with the Mail newspaper, from minutes of a Coutts meeting where both "commercial" reasons and "reputational risk" associated with his political views are cited as reasons behind terminating his account with them.
The 40-page report, obtained under a Freedom of Information request, mentioned Brexit and his alleged links to Russia.
Banks do have the right to what's known as "commercial independence" to make decisions about their company, and who their clients are.
For example, Coutts very openly advertises that it excludes anyone who is not a millionaire.
'Uncomfortable'
Angela Knight, former chief executive of the British Bankers' Association, told the BBC's Today programme that banks were not allowed to have certain people as customers, but that there was a grey area around so called "political exposed persons" such as Mr Farage.
She added: "I do find it somewhat uncomfortable to see a situation arise where because of somebody's legitimate views, even though you don't agree with them, it somehow has resulted in a service being withdrawn and they are not being told about it."
She added: "In this instance what seems to have happened is nothing was really said to the individual concerned and then when they put in an application under the Freedom of Information Act, they suddenly find that there's a whole series of reasons which seems to centre around what they have said."
On Thursday the former UK Independence Party leader welcomed reports of a government crackdown, saying closing bank accounts for political reasons could stop people from going into public life.
"Refusal to open [accounts] and closures have happened to several members of my family... Which is perhaps, above all, what has made me angry, really angry and motivated me to [speak out]."
'Shocked'
It came after Prime Minister Rishi Sunak tweeted that shutting someone's account over their views was "wrong", calling free speech the "cornerstone of our democracy".
Meanwhile, Home Secretary Suella Braverman said elsewhere that the Coutts row "exposes the sinister nature of much of the diversity, equity and inclusion industry".
The BBC had previously reported Mr Farage had fallen below the financial threshold needed for an account at Coutts, citing a source familiar with the move.
The former politician accused the broadcaster of falling for "spin" and restated that he had been targeted for his political views.
He cited the report by the bank's reputational risk committee which states that the Brexiteer's views did not "align with our values".
"Apparently, I'm a risk to them. I have virtually no links of any kind to Russia whatsoever. This is political. There is no other way of looking at it," he said.
He later told BBC Newsnight he was "literally shocked" when he saw the report, which he described as a "personal hit job". "This bank is behaving now like a political campaigning organisation," he said.
But economist Frances Coppola told the same programme that "having read the report, I actually don't think that's the reason why they closed his account. The report makes it clear that the reason they closed the account was that Nigel paid off his mortgage and the house was released as a security and that brought him below the criteria for an account at that bank."
Coutts has said it has offered Mr Farage an alternative account at its sister bank, NatWest and the offer still stands.
Anyone concerned that they have not been treated fairly by their bank can appeal to the Financial Ombudsman Service.
City regulator the Financial Conduct Authority is also talking to NatWest about the handling of Mr Farage's accounts, its boss told MPs on Wednesday.
Nikhil Rathi said that current rules made clear banks should not discriminate on the basis of political views.
Sign up for our morning newsletter and get BBC News in your inbox. | Not_Explicit |
NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- Pausing at the microphone, 5-year-old Noah took a breath and softly stated, “I don't want any guns today or any day in my school.”
His mom, Sarah Shoop Neumann, wiped away tears as she held the young boy. It had been more than four months since a shooter indiscriminately opened fire while Noah was at a private elementary school in Nashville, killing three of his schoolmates and three adults. And Neumann wanted action.
Joining a group of families from The Covenant School, Neumann and others on Thursday announced that they had created two nonprofits to not only promote school safety and mental health resources, but also form an action fund to push legislative policy changes that would place certain limits on firearms inside the politically ruby red state of Tennessee.
“We can create brighter tomorrows for our state so no other community has to endure the suffering," Neumann told reporters at a news conference. “And our children can go to school without fear.”
The group's announcement is the latest development in the ongoing tension over whether Republican-dominant Tennessee will pass meaningful legislation in response to The Covenant School shooting. While gun control advocates have pushed for stricter regulations on firearms for years, these families are hoping to make greater strides with conservative lawmakers by using commonalities in their faith and, for some, their political backgrounds, while stressing the need to prevent future tragedies.
Over the next few weeks, parents will meet at the state Capitol building every day to pray and meet with lawmakers.
“As a native Tennessean and a gun owner, I think it’s important to emphasize we are proponents of responsible gun ownership,” said Melissa Alexander, a Covenant parent. “However, I think it’s important to intervene when there are clear signs that something is wrong.”
The creation of the political advocacy fund helps clear the way for families to lobby lawmakers on their policy positions and collect donations. Yet the parents maintain that they have no plans to meddle with state elections or endorse any particular candidates. The group says they are in favor of removing guns from people who are danger to themselves or others, as well as strengthening firearm storage regulations and tightening background checks.
So far, GOP lawmakers have overwhelmingly resisted calls made by Republican Gov. Bill Lee to pass legislation that would keep firearms away from people who could harm themselves or others. The Legislature initially rebuffed Lee's attempt to pass the legislation in the spring, forcing the governor to since declare that he'll call a special legislative session to take place in August for members to once again consider his proposal and others.
Instead, the Republican supermajority has largely argued for the need to add more security to school buildings, and many have vowed to spike any proposals that would mimic so-called “red flag” laws that other states have passed in the wake of school shootings.
Lee has maintained that his proposal is not a red flag law, which he describes as a “toxic political label.”
To date, 19 states have red flag laws on the books — with many lawmakers enacting them after tragedies. Notably, Florida did so after the 2018 mass shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland that killed 17 students. Law enforcement officials had received numerous complaints about the 19-year-old gunman’s threatening statements.
Under Lee’s proposal, law enforcement would first determine if a person is a threat, then a hearing with the person in question would be held, generally within three to five days. A judge would rule whether they should indeed have their weapons taken away temporarily. If so, the person would have to surrender their guns and ammunition to a third party within two days and any handgun carry license would be suspended within three business days. The actions would last up to 180 days at a time.
The special session is scheduled to start Aug. 21.
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Associated Press religion coverage receives support through the AP’s collaboration with The Conversation US, with funding from Lilly Endowment Inc. The AP is solely responsible for this content. | Not_Explicit |
CINCINNATI — Some Ohio counties are reporting high turnout for the August 2023 special election. In fact, the Butler County Board of Elections reports there have already been more people who voted early in one week during this election cycle than the entire early voting cycle of the 2022 special election.
WCPO found out Butler County isn't the only county seeing higher voter turnout. In fact, as of July 17, the Hamilton County Board of Elections data shows 15,932 people cast an early ballot this cycle — including both early in-person voting and mail-in absentee — compared to 10,146 for the entire early voting cycle last year.
"We're actually seeing a bigger number than we saw last August. We were at about a little over 2,000 voters throughout the whole early voting period. For the first week, we've seen over 3,000 voters," said Nicole Unzicker, director of the Butler County Board of Elections.
Unzicker said the 3,000 is just for people who cast an early in-person ballot, with more than 2,000 people requesting a mail-in absentee ballot. In Cuyahoga County, the board of election is reporting that 3,550 people cast an early in-person ballot in one week compared to August 2022, where 3,094 voters made up the entire early voting period.
"I'm sure there are some passionate voters out there either side that are viewing that on but we're just happy to be here to give them that opportunity," said Unzicker, who compared this turnout to a midterm election.
This August, Ohio voters are deciding Issue 1, which would change the threshold to amend the state's constitution from 50% plus one vote, to a 60% majority.
"Obviously the special election came across because of the ballot initiative you know the required number of petition signatures to get on the ballot in November," said Russell Mock, chairman of the Hamilton County GOP.
Mock was referring to abortion rights advocates collecting signatures so voters can decide whether or not abortion should be a constitutional right in Ohio this upcoming November.
"It shouldn't be so easy to amend it and it should be something that really has the vast majority support of Ohioans," said Mock.
On Tuesday, Ohio native and Grammy Award-winning artist John Legend canvassed Hamilton County, advocating against Issue 1.
"You know about the election on Aug. 8, so now once you already vote, all you have to do is tell your friends and family," said Legend, while speaking to a woman Tuesday. "Making it much harder for voters to have a say in our democracy, so we're voting no."
READ MORE
Ohioans vote on Issue 1 in Aug., what does it say?
'Hypocritical' — Sec. of State LaRose apparently changes law to help Issue 1 supporters
Music superstar John Legend campaigns in Cincinnati for Democrats, Ohio Issue 1 | Not_Explicit |
The country’s annual defense spending measure was narrowly approved by the Republican-led House of Representatives on Friday, and although the bill is several steps from becoming law, the White House has announced its opposition to a range of national security provisions, including inaction on the special immigrant visas (SIV) for Afghans.
The House version of the National Defense Authorization Act does not increase the SIV cap by 20,000 in fiscal 2024 or extend the SIV program beyond December 31, 2024, despite the administration’s request to do so.
In 2009, the Afghan Allies Protection Act was approved by Congress, leading to the implementation of the Afghan SIV program — an immigrant visa program that helps military interpreters and others who worked for the U.S. government to come to the U.S. with a direct pathway to permanent residency.
Through this program, the U.S. government has successfully resettled more than 100,000 Afghans and their families in the United States. However, if the annual defense policy bill does not include an extension of the program, it would end a legal immigration path to the United States for Afghans who worked for the U.S. government during the war in Afghanistan at the end of 2024.
“Giving our Afghan allies a chance to apply for legal status is the right and necessary thing to do,” U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar, a Democrat from Minnesota, said in a statement.
Another strategy
On the same day the House passed its version of the NDAA, a bipartisan group of lawmakers reintroduced the Afghan Adjustment Act (AAA) in the House and the Senate.
It would also expand SIV eligibility to include more Afghans. Women, who served in special counterterrorism teams, and others who worked with U.S. forces as commandos and air force personnel, could be eligible for the SIV program. It would also establish a path to U.S. citizenship for Afghans with humanitarian parole status living in the United States. SIV presently covers translators, interpreters, or other professionals employed by or on behalf of the U.S. government in Afghanistan.
Dara Lind, a senior fellow with the American Immigration Council, wrote Tuesday that the NDAA has become a vehicle “for many other legislative proposals to pass into law.”
“Because the need for the AAA is a direct consequence of the U.S. occupation of (and withdrawal from) Afghanistan, and the Department of Defense has long supported ways for Afghans who assisted the government to become U.S. citizens, including the AAA in the current defense authorization bill is thematically appropriate, to say the least. It’s also, given Congress’ aversion to voting on standalone immigration bills, the most likely way the AAA will pass,” Lind wrote.
In 2022, the AAA also was supported by a group of lawmakers from both parties and expected to be included in the omnibus spending package. But it failed to win congressional approval.
Senator Chuck Grassley, then-ranking Republican on the Senate Judiciary Committee, and others objected to the legislation on security grounds, VOA reported.
Following the U.S. military withdrawal from Afghanistan in August 2021, more than 70,000 Afghans were brought to the United States and granted a temporary humanitarian parole status that lasts for two years.
Humanitarian parole is given to those hoping to enter the U.S. under emergency circumstances. While it does not automatically lead to permanent residency, parolees can apply for legal status through the asylum process or other forms of sponsorship, if available, once they're in the U.S.
But the humanitarian status is only temporary.
U.S. Senator Jerry Moran, a Republican from Kansas, said Afghans who escaped to the U.S., face uncertainty because their original parole statuses are temporary.
“[The AAA] legislation establishes a pathway for our Afghan partners to begin a new life while also establishing a critical vetting process to reduce threats to our national security,” Moran wrote in a statement.
In January, VOA reported that more than 40,000 Afghans living outside the U.S. had submitted humanitarian parole applications since the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan. Others were allowed to continue their SIV process inside the United States, which leads to a direct pathway to permanent residency.
“Two decades of allyship merits much more than an unnecessary and unsustainable legal limbo. The Afghan Adjustment Act is precisely how we provide the stability our new Afghan neighbors deserve while demonstrating that the United States honors its promises of protection to its allies,” Krish O’Mara Vignarajah, president and CEO of Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Service, told reporters.
The Senate has drafted and needs to pass its own version of the NDAA. Once both bills are approved, they will need to be reconciled, and a compromised version will have to be approved once again by the Senate and House. | Not_Explicit |
World Cup NOW: Why Spain's dominant win disappointed
Spain's first goal came in the 21st minute when a cross bounced off a Costa Rica defender's boot and into the net for an own goal. Moments later, La Roja pushed its lead to 2-0 on a left-footed blast from midfielder Aitana Bonmati. Esther Gonzalez made it 3-0, collecting a loose ball and shoving it into the net in the 27th minute.
Just like that, the Spanish scored three times in six minutes to take a commanding lead that it never relinquished. However, there were still some aspects of Spain's game that raised some eyebrows — like the 46 total shots taken.
The "World Cup NOW" crew — Jimmy Conrad, Leslie Osborne and Melissa Ortiz — was joined by Ariane Hingst, a two-time World Cup champion with Germany, and together they discussed Spain's win and whether there's any cause for concern.
Conrad: "I predicted 4-0 in this one. … When I look at Group C, though, Japan and Zambia are the other two teams who I think are threats to challenge Spain in a different way. … I don't see them getting troubled too much, but they definitely didn't suffer at any point throughout this game."
Osborne: "This is what we expected from Spain. We all know they play a beautiful style of soccer; they were gonna move the ball around beautifully. … I talked about being ruthless, being clinical in front of [the] goal. It doesn't matter how beautiful it is — if they want to go far in this tournament, [they're] gonna have to finish. … It's gotta be better than that. As this tournament progresses, the competition is going to get more difficult. You have to finish your chances."
Ortiz: "[Daniela Solera] saved two opportune moments for Costa Rica. It could have easily been 5-0, 6-0, even 7-0, and the goalkeeper for Costa Rica did a fantastic job. Yes, Spain definitely has to finish their chances. One interesting stat: Spain had 26 shots in the first half against Costa Rica today, which is the most in a single half in FIFA Women's World Cups. That is incredible how many chances they had. You can look at it on a negative side, but on the positive side — at least they're creating goal-scoring opportunities."
Hingst: "She (Solera) is one of the reasons why Spain didn't score more, and I totally agree [that] you have to finish better. At the end of the day, what really matters is that you can get better from game to game. It's a good star. Spain has been the best in this tournament this far — really showing their abilities — so it doesn't worry me too much that they left out too many chances. They have to get better, there's no doubt about it, but it's a fair start for them."
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Women's World Cup power rankings: New Zealand moves up with statement win
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2023 Women's World Cup schedule: How to watch, TV channel, dates, results
How Lionel Messi's Miami arrival mirrors the Beckham Experiment
Meet the 'badass' OG soccer moms who blazed a trail for USWNT
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World Cup Daily: Australia, New Zealand hoping for inspiring starts
New Zealand-Norway, Australia-Ireland predictions, picks by Chris 'The Bear' Fallica
Women's World Cup roundtable: Who is the USWNT's most important player?
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Women’s World Cup opener to proceed as scheduled after shooting in New Zealand
Women's World Cup power rankings: New Zealand moves up with statement win
USWNT embracing pressure of chase for historic three-peat | Not_Explicit |
Spain’s opposition conservative party is poised for the narrowest of victories over the ruling socialists but looks unlikely to secure a rightwing majority following a snap general election that had raised fears of the far right entering government for the first time since the country returned to democracy after General Franco’s death five decades ago.
Although the polls had consistently predicted that the opposition conservative People’s party (PP) would cruise past the Spanish Socialist Workers party (PSOE) to secure an emphatic victory in Sunday’s election, early results suggested the race was going to be much tighter.
By 10pm local time, with 92% of the vote counted, the PP had won 136 seats to the PSOE’s 122. The conservatives’ potential coalition partners in the far-right Vox party had taken 33 seats – well down on the 52 they picked up in the last election – and PSOE’s allies in the new, far-left Sumar alliance were in fourth place with 31 seats.
Most polls and early projections had predicted that, despite its victory, the PP would fall short of the absolute majority of 176 seats needed in Spain’s 350-seat congress, and would seek to form a coalition government with the far-right party. Such an alliance would make Spain, which has just assumed the rotating EU presidency, the newest addition to the growing club of European countries where the far right has moved from the fringes into the mainstream – and often into power.
But the early results suggested the political hue of the next government is far from a foregone conclusion, with the left and right blocs running almost neck and neck in their race to get as close to 176 seats as possible. Weeks of negotiations and horse-trading are likely to follow Sunday’s vote.
Sánchez, who gambled on the snap election after the PSOE suffered a drubbing in May’s regional and municipal elections, had billed the poll as a stark choice between the forces of progress and the forces of reactionary conservatism.
Speaking as he cast his vote on Sunday, the PSOE leader, who has governed Spain in a minority coalition government with the far-left Unidas Podemos alliance since 2019, said the election was “important not just for us, but also for the world and for Europe”.
Sánchez had argued that only the PSOE and the Sumar alliance – which includes Podemos and is led by Spain’s deputy prime minister and labour minister, Yolanda Díaz – could defend and deliver the progressive agenda he has pursued over the past four years.
But PP and Vox have repeatedly attacked Sánchez and his partners for being weak, opportunistic and over-reliant on the Catalan and Basque separatist parties on which it depends for support in parliament.
They also say Sánchez and his partners have failed Spaniards through their badly botched reform of sexual offences legislation, which has led to more than 100 convicted sex offenders being granted early release.
Although the PP had consistently led the polls and waged an aggressive campaign, it suffered a poor final week as the focus shifted to its leader, Alberto Núñez Feijóo. He had already been left looking awkward after his claims about the PP’s track record on pensions turned out to be untrue, but was then criticised for the sexist tone of an apparent reference to Díaz’s makeup.
By Friday, Feijóo found himself having to respond to renewed questions about his relationship in the 1990s with Marcial Dorado, a friend who was later convicted of drug trafficking, bribery and money laundering.
The PP leader, who was a senior politician in Galicia before serving as regional president between 2009 and last year, has always insisted he had no reason to suspect Dorado was involved in anything illegal and has said he broke off contact with him as soon as he was charged with criminal offences.
“It’s easier to find out about these things now because you’ve got the internet and Google,” Feijóo said on Wednesday. Two days later, he accused his opponents of trying to smear him, adding that when he knew Dorado, he “had been a smuggler [but] never a drug trafficker”.
Sánchez, who was unexpectedly beaten by Feijóo in the only head-to-head debate between the leaders of Spain’s two biggest parties, had seized on the controversy and claimed that the left was staging a late comeback.
“I see a right and a far right that are absolutely bankrupt,” he said at his party’s final campaign rally near Madrid on Friday night. “The socialist advance is unstoppable. All I ask is that we all bet on red on Sunday to win the election and guarantee four more years of progress.”
Díaz, meanwhile, had exhorted people to get out and vote so that Spanish society “doesn’t go back 50 years”.
Feijóo had urged Spaniards to vote “to bring our country together again” and said that, unlike Sánchez, he was beholden to no one.
“I’ve got no debts or deals with anyone,” he told supporters in the Galician city of A Coruña on Friday. “I don’t need to answer to anyone except the Spanish people.”
Vox, which has made culture wars a central part of its campaign, called on Spaniards to come out and speak up. Addressing a rally in Madrid on Friday, the party’s leader, Santiago Abascal, laid into the government over its ideology and bungled sexual offences legislation.
“There are millions of Spaniards who want to say yes to freedom of expression and no to cancel culture,” he said. “[And millions] who want to say yes to safe streets and no to the government of rapists.”
An Ipsos poll for La Vanguardia this month found that the economy was the single biggest issue for voters, with 31% of those surveyed putting it at the top of their list. Next was unemployment (10%) and healthcare (9%). Immigration, one of Vox’s favourite talking points, was the most important issue for just 2% of those polled. | Not_Explicit |
Corfu has become the latest Greek island to issue an evacuation order, as the country grapples with wildfires.
Photos uploaded to social media show flames engulfing Corfu. A fire broke out on the northern part of the island which is popular with British tourists.
It comes after some 19,000 people were evacuated on the island of Rhodes, which has also been hit by fires.
Many were forced to flee their hotels as the flames continued to spread from the centre of the Greek island.
Greece has been grappling with searing heat, with temperatures exceeding 40C across the country, and fires have blazed for nearly a week in some areas.
A national holiday that had been planned for Monday has been cancelled "in view of the extraordinary conditions prevailing in the country due to the fires", the Greek presidency said.
Late on Sunday evening Greece's Emergency Communications Service published evacuation orders for a number of areas of Corfu.
People in the areas of Santa, Megoula, Porta, Palia, Perithia and Sinies on the island have been told to evacuate.
Boats in the area had been dispatched to evacuate residents by sea, a government official said.
Corfu - sits in the Ionian sea off the northwest of Greece - is a destination popular with tourists, with hundreds of thousands Brits visiting every year.
Rhodes - an island some 1,027km (670km) away - has been battling wildfires fanned by strong winds since Tuesday and after smoke started enveloping tourist areas.
Some 16,000 people were evacuated by land and 3,000 by sea on the island, according to local officials. Greece's Ministry of Climate Change and Civil Protection said it was "the largest evacuation from a wildfire in the country".
Thousands of holidaymakers were camped out at Rhodes airport on Sunday, waiting for a flight to get out. Konstantia Dimoglidou, a Greek police spokeswoman, told the AFP news agency that more than 30,000 people have been evacuated across the country so far.
Some tourists said they walked for miles in scorching heat to reach safety. Dead animals have been seen in the road near burnt-out cars.
Holiday company Jet2 has now cancelled five flights to Rhodes, while Tui cancelled all flights there until Wednesday.
At least three hotels have been destroyed in the dense forest area of Kiotari on the east of the island.
The deputy mayor of Rhodes, Athanasios Vyrinis said some people had slept in cardboard boxes overnight and warned that there were not enough essentials.
Greece's fire service has warned the situation could worsen as further villages require evacuation and that the battle to contain the flames could take several days. 260 firefighters, backed by 18 aircraft, were battling the fire on Sunday.
Six people were briefly taken to hospital with respiratory problems and were later released.
Emergency services have also been dealing with fires on the island of Evia, east of Athens and Aigio, southwest of Athens. Homes have already been lost to the wildfires on Rhodes and other areas.
Climate change increases the risk of the hot, dry weather that is likely to fuel wildfires. The world has already warmed by about 1.1C since the industrial era began and temperatures will keep rising unless governments around the world make steep cuts to carbon emissions.
Spain and Italy are among the Mediterranean countries which have also experienced intense heat this week, while parts of the US are also seeing records broken. | Not_Explicit |
ANTIOCH, Ill. -- Northern Illinois police have seized a carnival ride as they continue investigating a Sunday incident in which a 10-year-old boy was seriously injured when he was thrown from his seat.
After the Illinois Department of Labor finished inspecting the ride Wednesday, police in the village of Antioch and the Lake County State's Attorney's office sought and obtained a search warrant from a judge to seize the ride as part of an “ongoing criminal investigation into the incident,” village officials said.
“The outcome of this week’s inspections of the ride necessitated us to immediately secure it as evidence," Antioch Police Chief Geoffrey Guttschow said in a news release.
Police towed the Moby Dick ride on Wednesday from the village of Shorewood in Chicago’s south suburbs, where the ride's owner had towed it on Monday, about 65 miles (105 kilometers) back to Antioch, near the Wisconsin border, village spokesman Jim Moran said Thursday.
Guttschow said the investigation by village police and the state's labor department aims “to determine if any criminally reckless or negligent acts may have contributed to the accident.”
Antioch police said Monday that the Moby Dick ride was inspected this year and given a state permit.
In Sunday's incident, the boy was riding the Moby Dick, which locks people in at the shoulders and then goes up and down as speed increases, when he was thrown from the ride during Antioch’s Taste of Summer festival.
He was taken to a Chicago hospital with injuries that include multiple facial fractures and a significant leg injury, Antioch police said Monday.
Police said they will not provide additional updates on the boy's condition to respect his privacy. But they said in Wednesday's news release that the boy's “road to recovery will take a significant amount of time, and we wish for the family to focus on his well-being."
The ride is owned and has been operated by All Around Amusement of Lockport, Illinois, officials said.
A telephone listing for the company called Thursday by The Associated Press went to a recording that said its mailbox was full. | Not_Explicit |
FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. -- Lionel Messi’s debut gameday with Inter Miami has arrived.
Messi is expected to play Friday night when Inter Miami takes on Cruz Azul in a Leagues Cup match at his new home stadium. Team officials say all tickets — about 21,000, in a newly expanded stadium — have been sold, though thousands were available for resale on secondary markets Friday morning.
It’s unclear how much Messi, a World Cup champion for Argentina and someone who Inter Miami co-owner David Beckham calls the best player ever, will be on the field in his debut. He signed a 2-1/2 year contract with Inter Miami this past weekend, and the deal will pay him between $50 million and $60 million annually. That will almost certainly work out to more than $1 million per match.
He was introduced to his new home fans on Sunday and officially trained for the first time as a member of the club Tuesday.
Messi made the decision in June to join Inter Miami and come to Major League Soccer. He considered a return to Barcelona, the club with whom he spent almost the entirety of his career, after spending the last two seasons with Paris Saint-Germain.
But Inter Miami and MLS found a way to land the seven-time Ballon d’Or winner in Messi, setting the stage for an unprecedented era for the club that has largely sputtered during its first four seasons.
Leagues Cup is a tournament between clubs from MLS and Liga MX, the top Mexican league. Cruz Azul won the inaugural version of this event in 2019.
Neither club has enjoyed much success this season. Inter Miami has the fewest points in the MLS standings; Cruz Azul is the only team in the Mexican league yet to record a standings point through the season’s first three matches.
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AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports | Not_Explicit |
• A preview of the Wimbledon men’s final said that Novak Djokovic had won a “record 13 consecutive tie-breaks”. In fact, his record before the final stood at 15 consecutive grand slam tie-breaks (“Alcaraz faces date with destiny against Djokovic”, 16 July, Sport, p5).
• Nadeem Sarwar is no longer “a senior leader at [the] pharmaceutical company Eisai”, as an article said (“New dementia drugs: pay privately or face postcode lottery, warns top scientist”, 16 July, p6).
• We misnamed the constituency of Somerton and Frome, which is in Somerset, as “Somerset and Frome” (“Starmer tells party: ‘We can’t spend our way back to power’”, 16 July, p2 from p1).
• The Bellingham Show in Northumberland takes place in the village of Bellingham, not nearby Hexham as we said (“Have you herd? Farm shows boom as record crowds flock to the fields”, 16 July, p7).
• The clue for 25 across in Everyman crossword No 4,004 (16 July, New Review, p46) asked for: “A small duck at ship’s rear (6)”. This should have referred to a seabird, not a duck.
• It was steel cladding, not “beams” as we said, that Tata made in blue and red respectively for the Everton and Liverpool football stadiums (“Welsh steelworks at breaking point over the cost of cleaning up its act”, 16 July, p52).
Other recently amended articles include:
• Write to the Readers’ Editor, the Observer, York Way, London N1 9GU, email [email protected], tel 020 3353 4736 | Not_Explicit |
Cancer survivor Linda Caicedo scores in Colombia's 2-0 win over South Korea
The Real Madrid forward, who was diagnosed with ovarian cancer at the age of 15, fired in her country's second goal of the match at Sydney Football Stadium before racing toward Colombia's fans in celebration.
The 18-year-old Caicedo, who is an inspirational figure on and off the field, further enhanced her reputation as one of soccer's rising stars with her goal and performance as Colombia made a winning start to the tournament.
In a moment for the history books for talented teens, 16-year-old Casey Phair became the youngest-ever player in the Women's World Cup when she went on as a second-half substitute for South Korea.
By then, it was too late.
The Colombians took the lead from a penalty in the 30th minute after Shim Seo-yeon handled a goal-bound effort from Manuela Vanegas in the area. Catalina Usme converted from the spot, sending South Korean goalkeeper Yoon Young-geul the wrong way when placing her shot to the left of the net.
Caicedo's goal came at the end of a darting run from midfield, which saw her cut in from the left before curling a shot from the edge of the box. Her effort appeared too central to trouble Yoon, but the keeper got her positioning wrong and instead fumbled it into the net.
Lee Geum-min was close to pulling a goal back for the Koreans at the end of the half, but was denied by the flying save of Catalina Perez.
Colombia had a late chance to score a third, which would have seen it record its biggest ever win at the tournament, but a miscommunication between Usme and Vanegas meant a promising break came to nothing.
These were the last two teams to begin their campaigns in Australia and New Zealand, and it was the 300th game in Women's World Cup history.
Reporting by The Associated Press.
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Netherlands' tight win sets up showdown with USWNT
Women's World Cup Daily: Netherlands draws level with USA in Group E standings
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What's with so many PKs, and so many misses, in this Women's World Cup?
Italy-Argentina, Germany-Morocco predictions, picks by Chris 'The Bear' Fallica
Women's World Cup power rankings: USA stays on top; Germany holds onto top-3 spot
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2023 Women's World Cup odds: USA remains favorite to three-peat
Brazilian players at Women's World Cup urge fans to skip work to watch their matches
World Cup NOW: How Netherlands might give U.S. problems | Not_Explicit |
YOKOTA AIR BASE, Japan -- The ongoing race against adversaries and competitors who possess advanced space capabilities and questionable intentions further emphasizes the need to reinforce norms of behavior in space.
U.S. Space Force Deputy Chief of Space Operations, Strategy, Plans, Programs, and Requirements, Lt. Gen. Philip A. Garrant, recently made history by leading the first-ever Space Engagement Talks with Japan, aiming to enhance combined space operations and establish a bilateral roadmap for future collaboration.
“The US-Japan Space Engagement Talks represent a further expansion of our strong alliance into the space domain,” emphasized the Commander of United States Space Forces Indo-Pacific, Brig. Gen. Anthony J. Mastalir, who hosted the event. “Through these talks and Space Working Groups to follow, we can build a roadmap for cooperation to ensure safety and security in space for our nations and all responsible actors.”
The USSF-JASDF Space Engagement Talks serve as a model of the US-Japan Alliance's commitment to space collaboration and reinforces the significance of partnerships in achieving shared objectives.
“It’s an exciting time to participate in the Space Engagement Talks with Japan,” exclaimed Mastalir. “This forum is an excellent mechanism to drive new collaborative efforts with allies and partners, and to ensure we preserve security, stability, and long-term sustainability of space for the INDOPACOM region."
The US Space Force's "Partner to Win" line of effort drives this collaboration, recognizing the strategic advantage that the global network of alliances and partnerships offers.
The potential benefits of such collaborations include greater situational awareness, improved operational effectiveness, and increased resiliency in the face of emerging threats. For example, countries with advanced space capabilities can provide technical assistance and training to those with developing space programs, while those with access to strategic locations and infrastructure can provide valuable support in areas like satellite tracking and communication.
As space continues to remain an increasingly essential domain for military operations, communication, and intelligence gathering, strong partnerships and collaborations with international allies are considered imperative for ensuring the security and safety of space-based assets.
“These talks are another example of how our two countries are working together to defend the space domain and support our bilateral joint forces,” Mastalir explained. “I’m grateful for our strong alliance with Japan and proud to be part of this important effort to advance our space operations cooperation.”
Furthermore, establishing widely accepted norms of behavior for space operations is crucial. These norms enhance the ability to attribute actions, mitigate threats, protect interests in space, and reduce the risk of strategic miscalculations. By advocating for norms of behavior in space, nations with space-based assets show a vested interest in the importance of resilience and leadership against nefarious activities.
“Through these engagements we have an opportunity to align efforts with our ally to enhance our bilateral capability in space,” highlighted Mastalir. “With representatives from U.S. Space Force Field Commands stateside and within the Indo-Pacific theater, we are able to build stronger relationships across all parts of the Space Force and normalize our presence with an important strategic ally.” | Not_Explicit |
AUCKLAND, New Zealand -- Brazil starts the Women's World Cup trying to remain undefeated in opening matches, and then take superstar Marta deep into her sixth and final tournament.
It shouldn't be difficult to move to 9-0 in opening matches for the Selecao, who start Group F play on Monday against tournament newcomer Panama in Adelaide, Australia. Brazil is one of seven teams to qualify for all nine Women's World Cups, while Panama is one of eight teams playing in the tournament for the first time.
Marta's sixth World Cup will be her last, but she has a chance to make history as the first player — male or female — to score in six tournaments. She's already the all-time leading scorer in the Women’s World Cup with 17 goals.
But more important to Marta is winning the World Cup, something the women's national team has never done. Brazil lost in the 2007 final to Germany, made it to the quarterfinals in 2011, but was eliminated in the round of 16 in the next two tournaments.
Marta was in tears after the 2019 loss to France and pleaded with the next generation of Brazilian football players to take their country to the next level.
“It’s about wanting more,” Marta said four years ago after Brazil's elimination. “It’s training more. It’s taking care of yourself more. It’s about being ready to play 90 plus 30 minutes. This is what I ask of the girls.”
The national team has seemingly answered her call under coach Pia Sundhage, who as a player retired as Sweden's top scorer and as a coach led the United States to two Olympic gold medals. Sundhage has made Brazil more balanced, which was shown at the Women's Finalissma in April, when the South American champions lost in a penalty shootout to European champion England.
Brazil rallied just five days later to beat Germany in a friendly, and notched a 4-0 win over Chile earlier this month to head into the tournament on a roll.
Marta has experience around her in Debinha and Rafaelle, but it is 23-year-old Kerolin who is poised to become Brazil's breakout star. The midfielder has scored eight goals this season for the North Carolina Courage in the NWSL.
“We have taken big steps in these four years,” Sundhage said. “We’ve brought in new players and I think we are in a good place. We have got a chance.”
Panama, meanwhile, most recently faced a South American team in June in a 1-1 draw with Colombia. But Panama has been routed twice since, giving up 13 goals in a 7-0 loss to Spain at the end of June and a 5-0 loss to Japan earlier this month.
ITALY-ARGENTINA
Argentina holds the men's World Cup trophy following the Lionel Messi-led run last December in Qatar, but the women’s team has never won a match in the global tournament.
The women are hoping that changes Monday night when Argentina meets Italy in a Group G match in Auckland.
La Albiceleste are making their fourth World Cup appearance, and they had a tough go four years ago in France with a draw and two losses before elimination. Argentina's group included England, Japan and Scotland in 2019. Its group this time contains Italy, Sweden and South Africa.
Argentina came into the tournament winners of five of six matches this year.
“We will always try to achieve, and to see our dreams come true,” Argentina coach German Portanova said. “Once you win one match, why not achieve more? We have for years tried to improve our operation and our game. It’s because women’s football is nurtured by results. So a good result here would be another step forward for women’s football.”
Aldana Cometti, a defender who plays for Madrid, said she’s grateful the Argentine federation has been devoting more resources to developing the women’s game.
“There have been many, many changes. For example, the medical team told us that when we went to France in the past World Cup, we had only two people in our medical team. Today there are six. This is an enormous achievement for all of us, to have all this support,” Cometti said through a translator.
Italy has had more success at the World Cup, advancing to the quarterfinals in 2019 after a 2-0 round of 16 victory over China. The Italians were stopped by the Netherlands, which went on to lose to the U.S. team in the final. That result gave the U.S. women's team back-to-back titles.
Portanova had a message for fans back in Argentina, where the game is set to start at 3 a.m. local time on Monday.
“Please trust us, put your confidence in us. We are going to do our best, our very best on the field. We’ll sacrifice and make an effort for every ball, every kick,” he said. “Our heart will be in it.”
GERMANY-MOROCCO
Morocco enters its first Women's World Cup hoping to put together the kind of fairy tale run the men's team did last year in Qatar, when the national team made it to the semifinals in Qatar before losing to France and then Croatia in the third-place game.
Morocco is the first Arab nation to play in the Women’s World Cup, qualifying as runners-up in the Africa Cup of Nations. The Atlas Lionesses open their Group H match in Melbourne against Germany, winners of back-to-back tournaments in 2003 and 2007.
“We are really proud in Morocco for the achievements we have made so far. We feel a sense of pride and honor to represent our country on the world stage," captain Ghizlane Chebbak said through a translator. “We have great motivation and are eager to make our mark in this tournament.”
Women’s soccer is still in its infancy in the northern Africa country, where religious conservatives object to women playing sports. Morocco has a large Muslim population.
FIFA allowed Muslim players to wear a hijab during competitions in 2014, and at this World Cup, Nouhaila Benzina will be the first player to wear a hijab at the senior women’s tournament.
“This is a great milestone for us and we hope that our match with Germany tomorrow will pave the way for other matches,” Chebbak said about the team’s debut.
There was a tense moment at Sunday's pre-match news conference when a reporter pointedly asked if there were any LGBTQ players on the team because same-sex relationships are against the law in Morocco. FIFA moderators shut down the line of questioning.
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AP Soccer Writer Anne M. Peterson in Auckland contributed to this report.
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AP World Cup coverage: https://apnews.com/hub/world-cup and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports | Not_Explicit |
Any hope of a speedy return of the American soldier who illegally crossed into North Korea earlier this week appears all but dashed by the silence from the hermit state on the whereabouts of Pvt. Travis King.
“We have channels of communication. We’ve used them,” Secretary of State Antony Blinken said Friday at the Aspen Security Forum, explaining that Washington has been trying to establish dialogue with North Korea since the early days of the administration.
“Here’s the response we got: One missile launch after another,” he said.
As Washington awaits response to outreach through United Nations channels and its intermediary, Sweden, investigations are underway at the U.S. Army and United Nations Command, or UNC, levels to determine how a soldier who was supposed to be on a flight to the United States to face disciplinary measures instead emerged at the border of the two Koreas.
Counterintelligence personnel are leading the army probe in coordination with the U.S. military in South Korea, the Pentagon said Thursday, noting that King’s status is AWOL (absent without leave), or away without permission, for now.
The UNC, the U.S.-led multinational force managing the Joint Security Area, or JSA, through which King bolted, is studying the events of July 18 to “determine what policies or procedures are required to minimize risk to visitors in the JSA,” UNC Public Affairs Director Colonel Isaac Taylor told VOA.
July 18
On a day that a U.S. nuclear ballistic missile submarine made a rare port call to South Korea to coincide with the launch of the U.S.-South Korea Nuclear Consultative Group, Pvt. King, 23, was in civilian garb taking in a DMZ tour that included a stop at the JSA.
The Joint Security Area is iconified by bright blue buildings that stand on the Military Demarcation Line, the official border that divides North and South Korea, in place for 70 years since an armistice put a pause to the Korean War.
The compound is a popular tourist destination, with bookings often sold out for months, offering the novelty of standing “inside North Korea” within one of the meeting buildings. A tour of the JSA requires submission of additional documents days in advance, including a passport.
King, who was expected at his base in Fort Bliss, Texas, where he faced pending administrative separation from the Army for misdemeanors committed during his South Korea deployment, instead bolted into the North Korean side of the border complex about 3:30 p.m. local time.
He was laughing as he ran, eyewitnesses who were part of the same tour group said. The army private was last seen moving to the back of a North Korean building, then being driven away inside a van by North Korean soldiers, according to a report that cited a Defense Department report on the illegal crossing.
His motive for such a puzzling and dangerous decision remains unknown, as are his whereabouts between checking in for his Dallas-bound flight at Incheon International Airport on Monday and his JSA tour that left from Seoul the following day.
King had served time in a civilian jail in South Korea on assault charges up until a week before his scheduled flight to Texas, and he was facing potential additional repercussions at his base in Fort Bliss.
In interviews with news outlets, his family expressed surprise, his mother recalling she’d heard from him a few days prior and couldn’t see him doing anything like that.
“I just want my son back. I just want my son back,” Claudine Gates told reporters outside her home. “Get my son home and pray, pray that he comes back."
Rare bolt
King’s dash through the JSA is highly unusual, with few precedents.
While over the decades there have been U.S. soldiers who defected through the Demilitarized Zone, or DMZ — the 160-mile-long, 2.5-mile-wide buffer running across the Korean peninsula of which the Joint Security Area is a part — this is the first time any person successfully disappeared into North Korea from the South while on a JSA tour.
There was one such attempt in 2001 by a German doctor-turned-activist, Norbert Vollertsen, according to the assistant secretary of the Military Armistice Commission at the time, Stephen M. Tharp.
Vollertsen was caught by armed guards before skipping over the low concrete blocks that mark the border, the retired lieutenant colonel said. His stated purpose was to start an incident to bring North Korea’s human rights plight to the world’s attention.
King’s run also comes as firearms and guard posts were removed at the compound in 2018 amid a detente mood between the two Koreas during the previous administration of South Korean President Moon Jae-in.
North Korean troops have not been seen outdoors at the JSA since before the COVID-19 pandemic, observers note. The lack of armed guards on both sides likely contributed to King’s run looking very different from the last infraction at the JSA.
In November 2017, a North Korean soldier dodged a shower of live fire rounds by his compatriots, running for his life through the JSA in a bold defection attempt. By the time he got to the south side, he was wounded but alive.
Now, with COVID-19 restrictions and other fears at play, King could be looking at a more complicated processing reality, analysts say, such as weeks of quarantine before questioning by North Korean guards even begins.
Amid escalating tensions
While North Korea has yet to speak on King’s status, it did issue a warning this week against the presence of the USS Kentucky nuclear submarine parked in Busan, South Korea, presumably holding 20 intercontinental ballistic missiles.
“The U.S. military side should realize that its nuclear assets have entered extremely dangerous waters,” North Korea’s defense minister, Kang Sun Nam, said late Thursday via state media KCNA, hours before the submarine would depart.
Kang said the deployment of such strategic assets could trigger North Korea’s use of nuclear weapons, as codified in its nuclear force policy, if “it is judged that the use of nuclear weapons against it is imminent.”
The nuclear weapon trigger warning is mostly being taken in stride in Seoul, with some analysts saying it shows a North Korea under duress. Pyongyang knows full well a first-use case will almost certainly mean a mutual wipe-out, they say.
Still, a war on the Korean peninsula is a scenario the U.S., Japan and South Korea must be ready for together, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General Mark Milley said in an interview published Saturday.
“I think that the Korean situation is an area that the United States could — I’m not saying it will, but could — find itself in a state of war, you know, within a few days, with very little notice,” Milley said, according to the Nikkei news organization based in Japan.
For now, North Korea will have its hands full this week, in part, as it gears up for a second massive military parade of the year to mark the 70th anniversary of the Korean War armistice signing on July 27, which Pyongyang claims as its Victory Day.
Remembrances planned at the JSA on the South Korea side, however, have been canceled as the UNC conducts its investigation. | Not_Explicit |
Jacquelyn Gwinn-Villaroel has been officially selected as the Louisville Metro Police Department's new chief, marking the first time a Black woman has served permanently in the role.
Louisville Mayor Craig Greenberg said Gwinn-Villaroel — who had been serving as the department's interim chief since January — was named the permanent chief following an extensive nationwide search.
The mayor said Gwinn-Villaroel was one of 20 candidates from across the U.S. who were interviewed by an advisory committee made up of elected officials, nonprofit leaders, and affected residents.
"Over the past six months, Chief Gwinn-Villaroel has shown our city that she has exactly what I'm looking for in a chief and exactly what our community is looking for in a leader," Greenberg said in a statement.
Before joining Louisville police, Gwinn-Villaroel spent 24 years with the Atlanta Police Department. During her time as the interim chief, she launched a nonfatal shooting unit and expanded a "Crisis Call Diversion Program."
"Louisville has welcomed me with open arms, and I am honored to be the leader of our police department," Gwinn-Villaroel said in a statement. "My team and I are dedicated to building trust between LMPD and the people of this city through community policing, transparency and accountability."
The selection comes after Attorney General Merrick Garlandin March that the Justice Department found there was "reasonable cause to believe" Louisville police and the city's government had engaged in a pattern of conduct that violated citizens' constitutional and civil rights, following an investigation prompted by the of 26-year-old Breonna Taylor.
— Kathryn Watson contributed to this report.
for more features. | Not_Explicit |
Enhanced Version Of Russia’s Ka-52 Attack Helicopter Appears
The new version of the primary attack helicopter Russia is using in Ukraine is notably different from the prototype Ka-52Ms seen before.
The first photos of a new version of the modernized Ka-52M combat helicopter have appeared in Russian service, with the strong possibility that it’s already participating in the full-scale invasion of Ukraine. While the basic Ka-52 Hokum has become a signature weapon of the Russian campaign, sustaining both heavy losses and inflicting a steady toll on Ukrainian armor, this iteration of the improved Ka-52M version had not been seen anywhere until last week.
The Ka-52M in question appeared in three photos posted on the usually well-informed Fighterbomber channel on Telegram. Among others, this channel conducts fundraising and gives Russian airmen involved in the Ukrainian war flight suits, shoes, radios, navigation devices, first aid kits, etc. In pictures posted on July 14, airmen present some of the gadgets they received against the backdrop of the new version of the Ka-52.
The helicopter seen in the Fighterbomber photos has fresh paintwork, indicating that it was recently delivered. Photos of this kind, on this channel, have previously generally been taken at deployed locations in Ukraine, or at airbases in Russia that are used to support the campaign there. While we can’t be sure that these photos originate in Ukraine, or at a Russian airbase used in the conflict, the connection with the Fighterbomber effort to source equipment for aircrews suggests that it’s at least likely.
Media reports of the use of the Ka-52M in Ukraine had already appeared, but they were not supported by any imagery. For example, in September 2022, Russia’s state-owned TASS news agency described “successful tests of this modernized helicopter during the special operation in Ukraine.” In Russia, the invasion of Ukraine is still known as a “special military operation.”
What is the Ka-52M?
On April 5, 2019, the Kamov company received a contract from the Russian Ministry of Defense for the Avangard-4 research and development work, the aim of which was to develop a modernized Ka-52M (the Mi-28NM helicopter being developed at the same time is codenamed Avangard-3). Actual work had started much earlier than the contract and the new equipment and armament used in the Ka-52M were almost ready by this time.
In June 2020, the Progress plant at Arsenyev in Russia’s Far East, which produces Ka-52s, received an order to convert two helicopters into Ka-52M versions for trials. The first Ka-52M made its first post-conversion flight on August 10, 2020. According to the contract, the Ka-52M was to have completed all its tests and be ready for series production by the end of September 2022.
The first Ka-52M was shown to the public during Russia’s International Aviation and Space Show (MAKS) in July 2021, and then at the Army-2021 exhibition the following August. The helicopter received a modernized GOES-451M electro-optical targeting turret, the updated BKS-50M (Bortovoi Kompleks Svyazi) communication suite, as well as the SUO-806PM (Sistema Upravleniya Oruzhiyem) stores management system, capable of employing new weapons. The most significant addition to the helicopter’s armament is the introduction of the LMUR guided missile with a range of up to nine miles. You can read a full description of this important weapon in this previous article.
Other upgrades were introduced to the helicopter itself. The Ka-52M’s rotor blades have a more powerful heating element, which allows the helicopter to operate in a wider temperature range, including in the Arctic, a particular focus of recent Russian military strategy. The landing gear features wheels with increased load capacity and wear resistance and the helicopter also has external LED lighting. The crew cockpit has improved ergonomics and is also better adapted to flying with night vision goggles (NVGs).
In terms of specifications, the Ka-52M (known within the factory as the izdeliye 800.50) has a maximum takeoff weight of around 27,000 pounds, a maximum speed of 186 miles per hour, a ceiling of 18,045 feet, and a range of 286 miles.
Production steps up
The contract for the first batch of 30 Ka-52Ms for the Russian Aerospace Forces was signed on August 24, 2021, during the Army-2021 forum; 15 helicopters were to be delivered in 2022 and 15 in 2023. It’s likely this contract has already been fulfilled. During the next Army-2022 forum, the Russian Ministry of Defense placed another order for an unknown number of Ka-52Ms. In July 2023, the Russian Minister of Defense Sergei Shoigu said that deliveries of the Ka-52 in 2023 “have doubled” compared to 2022, i.e. amounting to approximately 30 helicopters, if true.
After around 18 months of fighting, Russia has lost almost 40 Ka-52 combat helicopters in Ukraine out of approximately 140 it had at the beginning of the war (in terms of all types of attack helicopters, Russia has lost around 70 out of over 400 at the beginning of the war). In addition to the Ka-52, there are two other types of combat helicopters in production in Russia, the Mi-28N/NM and the Mi-35M, both produced at the Rostvertol plant in Rostov-on-Don. Together with the information about the doubling of the production of the Ka-52, Shoigu said that the production of the Mi-28 had been increased by a factor of three in 2023 compared to 2022 (i.e. to approximately 50 per year).
New GOES-451M targeting payload
Returning to the new photos of the Ka-52M, arrow number one points to the GOES-451M electro-optical payload installed under the front of the fuselage; the standard version of the helicopter has a GOES-451 turret in this position. The turret houses a thermal imaging camera, TV camera, laser rangefinder/designator, laser beam riding output for anti-tank missiles, as well as laser spot tracker.
The GOES-451M payload’s sensors offer an increased detection and recognition range to match the ranges of new types of weapons, including the LMUR missile. The payload’s manufacturer, UOMZ of Yekaterinburg, declares a tank detection range of 9.3 miles using the TV channel and 7.5 miles with the thermal imaging channel; target recognition ranges are 7.5 miles and 5 miles, respectively.
New L418 Monobloc self-defense suite
Arrow number two points to the L418-2 ultraviolet missile approach warning sensor (MAWS) produced by the GIPO company in Kazan, part of the L418 Monobloc self-defense suite. Regular Ka-52s, as well as previously seen Ka-52M prototypes, have the L370P2 Vitebsk suite with the L370-2 MAWS in this position. Four such sensors are positioned on the sides of the forward fuselage and the tail boom, covering a full 360 degrees around the helicopter.
The L418 Monobloc is made by NII Ekran in Samara. This is a modernization of the L370 Vitebsk system, which works across a broader band of frequencies and at longer ranges.
While the new photos don’t show it, the Ka-52M helicopter most likely also has other new components of the L418 suite, primarily two L418-5 directional infrared countermeasures (DIRCM) fairings made by SKB Zenith in Zelenograd, installed on the sides of the lower part of the fuselage, just ahead of the main landing gear. The new L418-5 jammer is angular in shape, while the previous L370-5 was a rotating sphere (nicknamed ‘eggs of life’); inside, there is a new SP3-1500 (previously, SP2-1500) lamp that generates modulated infrared and ultraviolet radiation to jam the infrared seekers of air-to-air and surface-to-air missiles.
Interestingly, the L418 Monobloc sensors were installed on Ka-52E helicopters sold to Egypt well before they appeared on Russian helicopters. This was a result of the Russian Ministry of Defense’s more stringent formal requirements for the equipment, and perhaps also due to additional functions required by the Russian military. The introduction of new equipment of this kind in Russia requires multi-stage tests that are not necessarily needed by a foreign customer. In a similar way, Mi-28NE helicopters delivered to Iraq received radars in February 2015, while deliveries of helicopters with radars to the Russian Aerospace Forces started only at the end of 2017.
Now, in wartime conditions, Russia has significantly reduced such requirements and are throwing into the fight equipment that is apparently still far from mature. Perhaps the best example of this is the UMPK wing kit/guidance module installed on general-purpose bombs, something that The War Zone has also explored in detail.
New radar
Most interesting is an apparently new radar on the Ka-52M seen in the recent photos. Arrow number three points to a small air intake on the underside of the radome in the front of the fuselage; on the other side, symmetrically, is another similar air intake. There are no such inlets in any of the previously seen Ka-52 helicopters.
A single inlet of larger size, but otherwise similar, is seen in the prototype Ka-52K naval combat helicopter numbered ‘103’. And this leads us to a likely conclusion about the purpose of these inlets. In Ka-52K ‘103,’ this inlet is used to cool the antenna of the Rezets active electronically scanned array (AESA) radar, which is undergoing tests on this helicopter.
The Ka-52M prototypes have the same radar as the regular Ka-52, the FH01 Arbalet-52 produced by Phazotron-NIIR of Moscow. It is a Ka-band (8-millimeter wavelength) radar with a wide 31.5-inch mechanical antenna in the nose of the helicopter. The detection range for a large ground target (e.g. a railway bridge) is 15.5 miles, or 7.5 miles for a tank. The weakness of the FH01 radar is the inability to directly target guided missiles. For weapons guidance, target information must be transmitted by the radar to the GOES-451 electro-optical payload, which is the main targeting sensor of the Ka-52.
As to the radar on the new version of the Ka-52M helicopter, this is most likely the V006 Rezets radar from the Zaslon company in Saint Petersburg (the same company that makes the V004 radar used by the Su-34 Fullback fighter-bomber). The V006 or RZ-001 Rezets (cutter) radar has a fixed AESA antenna with 640 transceiver modules. The radar works in the X-band and, according to the manufacturer, can detect a group of tanks from 25 miles and a fighter aircraft from up to 31 miles. The Rezets radar is air-cooled, which is why it needs additional air intakes on the radome.
While the Rezets radar is the most likely option for the Ka-52M, it’s not the only one. Phazotron-NIIR, the manufacturer of the current FH01 radar, also has an offering. The modernized FH02 has two separate antennas: a mechanical slotted array for the Ka- and an AESA for the X-band. This solution allows simultaneous scanning for surface and airspace targets, implementation of advanced target detection and tracking algorithms, and greater reliability. The X-band gives a much greater range, although at the expense of lower resolution. According to the company, a tank can be detected at a distance of 12.4 miles in the Ka range or 21.8 miles in the X range.
We need to wait for more imagery of the Ka-52M in its new variant to get more clarity about the precise configuration of this new version, and whether it’s already in Ukraine or involved in the war there. At this point, it certainly seems likely. Either way, it’s clear that the helicopter, in general, including in its original Ka-52 variant, will remain a key weapon system for the Russian Aerospace Forces as the Ukrainian campaign grinds on.
Contact the editor: [email protected] | Not_Explicit |
Trevor Reed, the former U.S. Marine who was wrongfully detained in Russia before being released in a prisoner swap, has been injured while fighting in Ukraine, according to a Biden administration official.
Reed "was not engaged in any activities on behalf of the U.S. government," State Department Deputy Spokesperson Vedant Patel said during a press briefing.
With the help of a nongovernmental organization, Reed "has been transported to Germany and he is receiving medical care," Patel said. His condition was not immediately clear.
Patel declined to say when or where Reed was hurt in Ukraine.
A spokesperson for Reed's family declined to comment.
Reed was arrested in 2019 when he was visiting his Russian girlfriend, a recent law graduate, in Moscow. He was wrongfully detained for nearly three years.
In April 2022, he was freed as part of a prisoner swap between the Biden administration and the Kremlin.
This is a developing story. Please check back for updates. | Not_Explicit |
The Canadian government used an opaque U.S. military sales program to provide Saudi Arabia with billions of dollars worth of armoured vehicles, some of which were shipped out urgently after the Kingdom joined the war in Yemen, according to government documents and an arms sales database consulted by The Breach.
It’s the second-largest weapons export deal in Canadian history. But the Saudi clients have never been disclosed by the Canadian government. Nor has the fact been reported that the deal was struck at the behest of a U.S. plan to beef up the Saudi military.
In 2009, under former prime minister Stephen Harper, a Canadian crown corporation signed a deal on behalf of weapons manufacturer General Dynamics Land Systems-Canada to provide 724 light armoured vehicles (LAVs) to Saudi Arabia. Government documents show that, as late as 2018, deliveries of the $2.9-billion worth of LAVs were still being fulfilled.
The vehicles manufactured in Canada were of the same make later seen being used in Saudi Arabia’s operations in Yemen for years.
The documents provide more evidence that the Canadian government may have knowingly supplied armoured vehicles for use in Yemen.
The government documents, obtained through an access-to-information request, indicate that Canada was shipping new vehicles to the Saudi National Guard for at least three years during the war. The Saudi National Guard is considered to be the Kingdom’s best-equipped ground force and was directly engaged in the one-sided conflict that killed hundreds of thousands of Yemenis.
The Breach can also reveal that Canadian companies signed subsequent contracts to maintain the vehicles until at least 2025, according to U.S. Department of Defense procurement records. These contracts involve repairing vehicles that appear to have been damaged during Saudi military operations in Yemen.
The 2009 deal’s details have been shrouded in mystery because of Canada’s lack of transparency about its arms dealings, including those that go through the U.S. Foreign Military Sales (FMS) program, the program that supplied Saudi forces with the weapons.
For decades, the program has integrated Canadian weapons production into American sales abroad, ensuring that the industry caters to the strategic needs of U.S. foreign policy.
Massive weapons deal flies under the radar
The lack of attention paid to the massive 2009 deal contrasts with the spotlight on another weapons deal.
A $14-billion deal signed in 2014 for a newer model of armoured vehicles—the largest such deal in Canadian history—was the subject of considerable press coverage and criticism from human rights groups.
But Canada’s second-largest weapons deal, signed five years earlier, has flown under the radar.
Arranged by a crown corporation that markets Canadian weapons to foreign buyers, it was run through the FMS program, one of the main avenues the U.S. Department of Defense uses to supply weapons to allied and friendly regimes.
Saudi Arabia is one of the largest customers of the FMS program and one of the largest clients of weapons from the U.S.
Canada’s 2009 deal was tied to the U.S. government’s “modernization” of the Saudi Arabian National Guard.
In 2011, another contract for a further 82 LAVs was signed through the same program. A U.S. Department of Defense news release announcing that contract said the sale would “contribute to the foreign policy and national security of the United States” and bolster “political stability and economic progress in the Middle East.”
For decades, this office has attached several U.S. Army officials to the National Guard, funded by Saudi Arabia.
In internal memos dated Nov. 29, 2018, obtained by The Breach, Canadian officials lauded this arrangement’s benefit to Canada, calling it “one of the rare examples of [Canada-U.S.] partnership in foreign military sales involving the export of full systems from Canada via FMS…that date[s] back to the 1980s.”
A Breach investigation earlier this year revealed that the Canadian government believes its weapons sales to Saudi Arabia are crucial to maintaining the regime as an “integral and valued security partner,” listing access to oil, opportunities for Canadian companies and reduced need for Western military missions as its rationale.
Saudis deploy the same vehicles in Yemen war
During the eight-year war, Saudi forces deployed the same model of LAV that Canada provided in combat operations across the northern regions of Yemen.
The Canadian LAVs seen operating in Yemen, the LAV-25 and its derivatives, are the older model of vehicle shipped under multiple contracts, with the largest being the 2009 FMS deal.
The LAV-25 model has been identified in images and videos posted from Yemen by weapons monitors and open-source researchers analyzing the proliferation of arms in the Yemeni conflict. Following an August 2019 Houthi attack on Saudi forces in Yemen’s northern Kitaf region, numerous LAV-25s were identified by experts in images of torched Saudi LAV columns.
Under the larger 2014 contract, Canada supplied a newer make of armoured vehicles that have not been seen operating in Yemen—the LAV-700—to the Saudi Royal Guard, a different unit in the Saudi military forces.
The new documents obtained by The Breach raise questions as to whether or not Canada knowingly supplied LAV-25s for use against Yemen’s Houthi rebels.
In July 2015, just four months after the war in Yemen began, then-minister of foreign affairs Rob Nicholson approved “urgent” export permits for an undisclosed number of “[LAVs] and weapon systems to Saudi Arabia,” according to a memo that was included in the documents obtained by The Breach.
Further documents reveal that in September 2017, while the war was ongoing, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s government also received “urgent” export applications from General Dynamics Land Systems-Canada for LAV exports to Saudi Arabia. These applications specifically referenced LAVs being sent to the Saudi National Guard through FMS, one of the documents obtained by The Breach shows.
Global Affairs Canada has flip-flopped on whether or not Canadian weapons have been used in the Yemen conflict. Most recently, the department made the blanket claim that “there are no confirmed reports of Canadian-made military equipment being deployed by Saudi Arabia on Yemeni territory.”
Due to the Saudi-led Coalition’s record of violating international humanitarian law during the conflict, Canada’s provision of LAVs to the Kingdom constitutes a breach of its obligations under the Arms Trade Treaty.
According to the monitoring website Lost Armour, which tracks major military equipment destroyed during conflict, at least 61 LAV-25s and its variants were seized or destroyed by Yemeni rebels during the course of the war.
Canadian-made LAV-25s have also been diverted to the Saudi’s puppet Yemeni government, as detailed in an investigation by Arab Reporters for Investigative Journalism in 2019. Credible allegations of diversion legally require action by Canadian officials, but Global Affairs Canada would not tell the reporters how much evidence it would need to actually open an investigation.
Canadians continue to service the Saudis
General Dynamics Land Systems-Canada has continued to maintain, test and repair the fleet of LAVs provided by Canada through the 2009 deal.
According to U.S. Department of Defense federal procurement records accessed by The Breach via the Tech Inquiry database, Canadian technicians have already been carrying out maintenance work on Saudi Arabia’s fleet of LAVs provided through the FMS program.
This work is being performed by General Dynamics Land Systems-Canada technicians in Saudi Arabia.
Their servicing contracts, set to run until at least 2025, appear to have involved maintaining the Saudi National Guard’s LAV fleet after damages were incurred during operations within Yemen.
Large arms deals, and particularly those conducted through the FMS program, typically come with long-term servicing contracts.
Stefano Trevisan, a Geneva-based attorney at law and international expert on the regulation of post-sale services on arms contracts, said these crucial deals have “escaped scrutiny.”
“Maintenance is as fundamental as oil to [the running] of a tank. It is the same essential contribution,” he told The Breach. “Such services create long-term structural dependency between Western supplying states and multinational corporations and some of the world’s most repressive regimes.”
Trevisan suggests that the nebulous and sometimes intangible nature of post-sale servicing leads to a lower profile of these arms deals.
“These deals can go on for ten years” with little visibility, said Trevisan, who likens the relationship between original manufacturer and recipient to an “invisible link.”
The Canadian manufacturer enjoys a monopoly on this service work because it has been described by the U.S. Army as the only outfit possessing “the knowledge and expertise necessary” to fulfill the requirements of these awards.
Canadian officials have only acknowledged these sustainment contracts internally.
In March 2021, according to the documents obtained by The Breach, Global Affairs Canada staffers requested export authorizations for “4 active contracts with the U.S. FMS for the supply of LAVs and related products and services to Saudi Arabia.”
The documents noted the contracts “date back to 2009,” and were for “ancillary products/services (e.g. spare parts)” connected to the Saudi LAV program.
Canada’s ‘dependency’ on the U.S. weapons export pipeline
With the exception of the 2014 contract to supply the Saudi Royal Guard with Canadian LAVs, all other Canadian LAV contracts to the government of Saudi Arabia have been undertaken through the FMS program, dating back to the first deliveries in 1991.
At any given time, there are hundreds of billions of dollars worth of active U.S. FMS contracts to more than 180 countries.
Jack Poulson, executive director of Tech Inquiry and a former senior data scientist at Google, told The Breach that Saudi Arabia is one of the most interesting examples of how the U.S. government aims to satisfy its foreign policy objectives by arming foreign states.
“As part of the U.S. government’s alignment with countries such as Israel and Saudi Arabia against Iran, U.S. defense contractors sell Saudi Arabia about $10 billion per year of missile defense, Black Hawk helicopters, M1 Abrams tanks, etc.” Poulson told The Breach by email.
The FMS program also operates as both diplomatic carrot and stick: those who stay in the good graces of the U.S. foreign policy machine continue to benefit from the program, while those who deviate run the risk of losing access to advanced Western-produced weaponry.
The program is viewed by the Canadian government as a conduit to get Canadian military goods to the international market, openly extolled as providing new potential business lines for Canadian arms manufacturers.
The Canadian Commercial Corporation, the federal body which brokered the LAV deals, has said in its corporate plans that “Canadian exporters are able to leverage the U.S. Foreign Military Sales (FMS) program [as a means to] sell into the U.S. DoD inventory where their goods can then be re-sold to third party countries.”
Ernie Regehr, co-founder of Project Ploughshares and author of Arms Canada: The Deadly Business of Military Exports, explained to The Breach via email that Canada’s defence industry is “heavily dependent” on the U.S.
Regehr explained that Canada’s defence dependency dates back to the 1950s Defence Production Sharing Agreement. That agreement stipulated that Canada’s Department of National Defence would look to procure major weapons systems from American suppliers and, in turn, Canadian manufacturers would be granted preferential access in selling military goods to the American government.
“Allowing Canada access to the U.S. defence market was a small price for the U.S. to pay…to reinforce Canadian policy dependence on the U.S.,” Regehr said.
“Ever since, the dominant narrative has been that Canada can’t manage its own security, with substantial elements of the defence policy community relentlessly proposing further security integration with the U.S.”
Domestic arms production is frequently justified on the grounds that local producers can easily supply a nation’s armed forces in the event of armed conflict. However, most arms-exporting states stake a claim on one corner of the market by developing a production niche that soon needs foreign clients to stay profitable.
Canada is no exception, Regehr said.
“Aircraft engines, armoured vehicles and rifles are all examples of Canadian military production [that became] dependent on international sales in order to sustain the Canadian production facility,” he said, pointing out that all of these facilities are also Canadian-based subsidiaries of larger American-owned multinationals.
“[A]rmoured vehicles and automatic rifles were initially built for the Canadian Forces, but the Canadian market was too small to sustain the plants, and hence they developed a reliance on exports to foreign military forces.”
General Dynamics Land Systems-Canada was forced to look for foreign, non-American clients following the end of export contracts to the U.S. in the 1980s.
The client that ultimately saved the supplier was Saudi Arabia, with contract negotiations for its first major LAV procurement contract being finalized in 1990, and later delivered through the FMS program.
According to archival documents made available by the Canadian government, officials from the U.S. Army’s Office of the Program Manager first visited factories in London in 1981, spurring initial Saudi interest in vehicles from Canada.
Deliveries of LAVs to the Saudi Royal Guard under the $14-billion contract are likely moving into the final stages.
This contract will then, too, move into long-term maintenance, about which little information is available.
The terms of the contract have never been released to the public, despite the fact that the federal government signed the deal on behalf of the vehicle manufacturer.
This article is dedicated to Mohamed Abo-Elgheit, the award-winning reporter who conducted many important investigations for ARIJ, but who was taken far too soon after losing his battle with cancer late in 2022. | Not_Explicit |
JERUSALEM -- Thousands of Israeli doctors walked off their jobs, labor leaders threatened a general strike and senior justices rushed home from a trip abroad on Tuesday, a day after the government's approval of a law that weakens the country's Supreme Court. Critics say the legislation will erode the system of checks and balances.
Four leading Israeli newspapers covered their front pages in black ink — an ominous image paid for by an alliance of high-tech companies. The only words on the pages were in a line at the bottom: “A black day for Israeli democracy.”
Monday's vote — on the first of a series of measures that make up Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s divisive judicial overhaul — reverberated across the country. It came despite seven months of fierce popular resistance, Netanyahu’s promises of an eventual compromise and a rare warning against the overhaul from Israel’s closest ally, the United States.
The bill was unanimously passed by the governing coalition, which includes ultra-nationalist and ultra-religious parties, after the opposition stormed out of the house shouting “Shame!”
Opponents say they are not done fighting and civil rights groups submitted petitions to the Supreme Court, calling for the new law to be overturned. Protests again roiled the country's streets.
“These protests are not going anywhere, especially because the government has clearly stated that this is just phase one,” said Yohanan Plesner, president of the Israel Democracy Institute, a Jerusalem think tank. “This is the most widespread and significant democratic awakening in the history of the country. Clearly, it won't end.”
Hundreds of thousands of people fanned out in Tel Aviv overnight, burning tires, setting off fireworks and waving Israeli flags. In Jerusalem, mounted police and water cannons spraying foul-smelling liquid cleared protesters from a main highway. At least 40 people were arrested by police in protests around the country.
Videos showed police officers dragging protesters by the hair and neck, beating people until they bled and violently pushing them back with batons. At least 10 officers were assaulted and injured, police said.
Israel is now hurtling into uncharted territory against the specter of further social and political unrest. Thousands of officers in the military reserves have announced they will no longer turn up for voluntary service — a blow that could undermine the country’s operational readiness. High-tech business leaders are considering relocation.
On Tuesday, Moody's issued a report warning of “significant risk” if divisions within the country continue as Netanyahu's government presses ahead with the overhaul, “with negative consequences for Israel’s economy and security situation.”
Netanyahu said the credit rating company's assessment was “a momentary response, when the dust clears, it will be clear that the Israeli economy is very strong.”
The overhaul also threatens to strain ties with the Biden administration, jeopardize Israel’s new alliances with Arab states and deepen the conflict with the Palestinians, analysts say.
“I think this country is going to either split into two countries or be finished altogether,” said Yossi Nissimov, a protester in a tent city set up by demonstrators outside of the Knesset, or parliament, in Jerusalem.
The vote on the law came just hours after Netanyahu was released from the hospital, where he had a pacemaker implanted, adding another dizzying twist to an already dramatic series of events.
The Israeli Medical Association, which represents nearly all of the country's doctors, said they would strike en masse Tuesday across the country, with only emergencies and critical care in operation.
“The vast majority of physicians know they will not be able to fulfill their oath to patients under a regime that does not accept the role of reason,” said Hagai Levine, chairman of the Israeli Association of Public Health. He was referring to the law passed Monday, which prevents the Supreme Court from using the standard of “reasonableness” to strike down government decisions.
“This overhaul will damage the public health and the health care system in Israel,” Levine said, adding that already over 1,000 physician members have asked to be transferred abroad since the law passed.
Israel’s largest labor union, the Histadrut, which represents some 800,000 workers, said Tuesday that it would convene in the coming days to plan a nationwide general strike.
The chief justice of the Supreme Court, Esther Hayut, along with five other senior justices, cut short a trip to Germany in order to deal with the crisis, the court said. The justices were expected to land home on Tuesday night, a day earlier than expected, to discuss petitions against the overhaul.
But any move by the court to strike down Netanyahu’s new law could lead to a constitutional crisis and put the justices on an unprecedented collision course with the government.
Supporters of the judicial overhaul say the powers of unelected judges should be curbed to boost the powers of elected officials.
Opponents say it will undermine Israeli democracy and erode the country’s only check on majority rule in a system where the prime minister governs through a coalition in parliament — in effect giving him control over the executive and legislative branches of government.
As a result, the Supreme Court plays a critical oversight role. On Tuesday, for instance, Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara appealed to the top court to scrap a law passed earlier this year that strips her of the power to remove the prime minister from office.
Netanyahu responded to the court, saying it shouldn't intervene in the matter.
Protesters also fear that the overhaul is fueled by the personal grievances of Netanyahu, who is currently on trial on charges of bribery, fraud and breach of trust.
While protesters represent a wide cross section of society, they come largely from the country’s secular middle class. Netanyahu’s supporters tend to be poorer, more religious and live in West Bank settlements or outlying rural areas.
The judicial overhaul has laid bare Israel’s social and religious divisions, said Israeli historian Tom Segev.
“This is the beginning of a whole plan to change the basic values of society,” he said. | Not_Explicit |
WASHINGTON — The International Monetary Fund on Tuesday raised its 2023 global growth estimates slightly given resilient economic activity in the first quarter, but warned that persistent challenges were dampening the medium-term outlook.
The IMF in its latest World Economic Outlook said inflation was coming down and acute stress in the banking sector had receded, but the balance of risks facing the global economy remained tilted to the downside and credit was tight.
The global lender said it now projected global real GDP growth of 3.0% in 2023, up 0.2 percentage point from its April forecast, but it left its outlook for 2024 unchanged, also at 3.0%.
The 2023-2024 growth forecast remains weak by historical standards, well below the annual average of 3.8% seen in 2000-2019, largely due to weaker manufacturing in advanced economies, and it could stay at that level for years.
"We're on track, but we're not out of the woods," IMF chief economist Pierre-Olivier Gourinchas told Reuters in an interview, noting that the upgrade was driven largely by first-quarter results. "What we are seeing when we look five years out is actually close to 3.0%, maybe a little bit above 3.0%. This is a significant slowdown compared to what we had pre-COVID."
This was also related to the aging of the global population, especially in countries such as China, Germany and Japan, he said. New technologies could boost productivity in coming years, but that in turn could be disruptive to labor markets.
Debt distress could spread
The outlook is "broadly stable" in emerging market and developing economies for 2023-2024, with growth of 4.0% expected in 2023 and 4.1% in 2024, the IMF said. But it noted that credit availability is tight and that there was a risk that debt distress could spread to a wider group of economies.
The world is in a better place now, the IMF said, noting the World Health Organization's decision to end the global health emergency surrounding COVID-19, and with shipping costs and delivery times now back to pre-pandemic levels.
"But forces that hindered growth in 2022 persist," the IMF said, citing still-high inflation that was eroding household buying power, higher interest rates that have raised the cost of borrowing and tighter access to credit as a result of the banking strains that emerged in March.
"International trade and indicators of demand and production in manufacturing all point to further weakness," the IMF said, noting that excess savings built up during the pandemic are declining in advanced economies, especially in the United States, implying "a slimmer buffer to protect against shocks."
While immediate concerns about the health of the banking sector — which were more acute in April — had subsided, financial sector turbulence could resume as markets adjust to further tightening by central banks, it said.
The impact of higher interest rates was especially evident in poorer countries, driving debt costs higher and limiting room for priority investments. As a result, output losses compared with pre-pandemic forecasts remain large, especially for the world’s poorest nations, the IMF said.
The IMF forecast that global headline inflation would fall to 6.8% in 2023 from 8.7% in 2022, dropping to 5.2% in 2024, but core inflation would decline more gradually, reaching 6.0% in 2023 from 6.5% in 2022 and easing to 4.7% in 2024.
Gourinchas told Reuters it could take until the end of 2024 or early 2025 until inflation came down to central bankers' targets and the current cycle of monetary tightening would end.
The IMF warned that inflation could rise if the war in Ukraine intensified, citing concern about Russia's withdrawal from the Black Sea grain initiative, or if more extreme temperature increases caused by the El Nino weather pattern pushed up commodity prices. That in turn could trigger further rate hikes.
The IMF said world trade growth is declining and will reach just 2.0% in 2023 before rising to 3.7% in 2024, but both growth rates are well below the 5.2% clocked in 2022.
The IMF raised its outlook for the United States, the world's largest economy, forecasting growth of 1.8% in 2023 versus 1.6% in April as labor markets remained strong.
It left its forecast for growth in China, the world's second-largest economy, unchanged at 5.2% in 2023 and 4.5% in 2024. But it warned that China's recovery was underperforming, and a deeper contraction in the real estate sector remained a risk.
The fund cut its outlook for Germany, now forecast to contract 0.3% in 2023 versus a 0.1% contraction in April, but sharply upgraded its forecast for the U.K., now expected to grow 0.4% versus a 0.3% contraction forecast in April.
Euro zone countries are expected to grow 0.9% in 2023 and 1.5% in 2024, both up 0.1 percentage point from April.
Japan's growth was also revised upward by 0.1 percentage point to 1.4% in 2023, but the IMF left its outlook for 2024 unchanged at 1.0%.
Inflation remains a focus
The rise in central bank policy rates to fight inflation continues to weigh on economic activity, the IMF said, adding that the U.S. Federal Reserve and the Bank of England were expected to raise rates by more than assumed in April, before cutting rates next year.
It said central banks should remain focused on fighting inflation, strengthening financial supervision and risk monitoring. If further strains appeared, countries should provide liquidity quickly, it said.
The fund also advised countries to build fiscal buffers to gird for further shocks and ensure support for the most vulnerable.
"We have to be very vigilant on the health of the financial sector ... because we could have something that basically seizes up very quickly," Gourinchas said. "There is always a risk that if financial conditions tighten, that can have a disproportionate effect on emerging market and developing economies."
The IMF said unfavorable inflation data could trigger a sudden rise in market expectations regarding interest rates, which could further tighten financial conditions, putting stress on banks and nonbank institutions — especially those exposed to commercial real estate.
"Contagion effects are possible, and a flight to safety, with an attendant appreciation of reserve currencies, would trigger negative ripple effects for global trade and growth," the IMF said.
Fragmentation of the global economy given the war in Ukraine and other geopolitical tensions remained another key risk, especially for developing economies, Gourinchas said. This could lead to more restrictions on trade, especially in strategic goods such as critical minerals, cross-border movements of capital, technology and workers, and international payments. | Not_Explicit |
Rishi Sunak Warned Watering Down Net Zero "Will Not Help" Tory Party Prospects
Prime Minister Rishi Sunak (Alamy)
A co-author of the Conservative party's 2019 manifesto has urged Rishi Sunak to stick with the government's net zero pledge, warning that watering it down and indulging sceptics will not be a vote winner at the general election.
Rachel Wolf, who wrote the party's general election-winning manifesto four years ago, and is now a founding partner at consultancy Public First, said there was a "massive risk" of ministers "overinterpreting and misinterpreting" the Tory party by-election win Uxbridge and South Ruislip, where debates about environmental policy dominated the campaign.
The Conservatives' surprise win in the west London seat last week, where the Tories held onto Boris Johnson's former Uxbridge constituency with a majority of just 495, subsequently prompted a debate among Conservative MPs about whether the result was evidence that the public wants the government to dilute its plans for achieving net zero by the year 2050. Conservative campaigners had framed the vote for Tory candidate Steve Tuckwell to appeal to significant local opposition to London mayor Sadiq Khan expanding the Ultra Low Emissions Zone (ULEZ).
Since that result, Conserative MPs on the right of the parliamentary party have called on the PM to rethink his strategy for tackling climate change. Jacob Rees Mogg, the former business secretary, said the Uxbridge result demonstrated the need for the Tory party to do away with "unpopular, expensive green policies”.
On Monday morning, Sunak said government would pursue the 2050 net zero target in a "proportionate and pragmatic way" which "doesn’t unnecessarily give people more hassle and more costs", casting doubt on his watertight commitment to the pledge. Sunak's spokesperson later added that mechanisms for hitting the net zero target, like the plan to outlaw the sale of petrol and diesel cars from the year 2030, were "under review".
Levelling up secretary Michael Gove this morning later clarified that the 2030 ban was "immovable", but hinted that the phasing out of gas boilers could be slowed down.
Wolf told PoliticsHome ministers would be wrong to interpret the Conservative victory in Uxbridge and South Ruislip last week as a vote against the net zero agenda, and urged the government to not get caught up in "a big overreaction".
“There is a massive risk of overinterpreting and misinterpreting the Uxbridge result," she said.
“There’s a big difference between a policy lke ULEZ, which people can see comes with very tangible costs and feel is unfair, which you can argue is true, and the general net zero policies, many of which don’t have those.
"More importantly, people remain very supportive of net zero and climate policy, and there have been lots of policies over the last twenty years that have come with costs but haven’t caused big electoral issues."
She added that Public First polling has consistently found majority support for net zero across every voter group, "whether it be red wall, older, younger or metropolitan voters".
"It might not be their top priority, but they care about it," she said.
“The government needs to be focused on what really matters to people and that is the economy, the cost of living, the National Health Service, crime, and the core areas where people want to see rapid progress on climate policy. They should not be filling the airwaves as net zero sceptics, which some people want them to do, as that is not going to help them.”
There are Conservatives on the moderate wing of the parliamentary party who are privately exasperated with calls from some Tory back benchers for the Prime Minister to rethink net zero. One former secretary of state said the statements were "lunacy".
Wolf was echoed by Adam Hawksbee, deputy director at cente-right think tank Onward, who said the government would be "mad" to water down its stance on achieving net zero.
"The public want action on the environment and energy, and they are unforgiving of politicians who break their promises," said Hawskbee, who warned that ditching net zero could cost the Conservative party a quarter of its current support and deter a significant number of potential voters at the next general election, which is set to take place in 2024.
"The important thing is that policies don't exacerbate the cost of living crisis – which is why we [Onward] called for the hydrogen levy on households to be scrapped, but also why we want increased investments in lower cost renewables," he told PoliticsHome.
They were echoed by Craig Oliver, former 10 Downing Street director of communications for ex-prime minister David Cameron, who said "history will take a dim view of politicians on all sides" who back away from net zero "because of a single by-election result".
Writing in The House, Oliver said: "Trying to get our economy to net zero is an epic task. It will require creativity and bravery from politicians, educating us all and taking us through several pain barriers. It also requires both parties to form a consensus that the other will not overturn at the slightest whiff of electoral advantage."
The Uxbridge result also triggered a row within Labour, with leader Keir Starmer urging mayor Khan to consider how ULEZ can be tweaked in light of the shock defeat. Danny Beales, the unsuccessful Labour candidate, described it as a "bad policy" which "cut us off at the knees”.
Oliver wrote: "Would Clement Atlee and Margaret Thatcher have been so successful if they did not see part of their job as being educators and turned back at the first difficulty?"
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PoliticsHome provides the most comprehensive coverage of UK politics anywhere on the web, offering high quality original reporting and analysis: Subscribe | Not_Explicit |
Harris slammed the Florida Board of Education's unanimous decision on Wednesday to revise the state's black history curriculum, which critics argue whitewashes U.S. history, during a speech Thursday at the national convention for Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Inc. in Indianapolis. Chief among the criticisms is that standards require middle schools to teach students that slaves benefited from skills they learned.
“Extremists pass book bans to prevent [children] from learning our true history — book bans in this year of our Lord 2023. And while they do this, check it out, they push forward revisionist history,” Harris said. "Just yesterday in the state of Florida, they decided middle school students will be taught that enslaved people benefited from slavery. They insult us in an attempt to gaslight us, and we will not stand for it.”
DeSantis took to Twitter on Friday, the same day Harris is visiting the Sunshine State, to push back against her comments. "Democrats like Kamala Harris have to lie about Florida's educational standards to cover for their agenda of indoctrinating students and pushing sexual topics onto children," he wrote. "Florida stands in their way and we will continue to expose their agenda and their lies."
As a 2024 presidential candidate, DeSantis has campaigned on ending "wokeness" in public schools, arguing that it encourages "state-sanctioned racism" and encourages children to hate the U.S. It's also a key part of his strategy to become the pro-parent candidate as he attempts to defeat former President Donald Trump for the 2024 GOP nomination. Last year DeSantis signed the Stop WOKE Act into law which prohibited critical race theory from being taught in public schools and determines how businesses and schools address race and gender.
DeSantis's campaign has faced a hurdle of problems in recent weeks, yet the campaign maintains they are the only team that is able to defeat President Joe Biden next year.
"The Harris-Biden administration is obsessed with Florida ... yet they ignore the chaos at the border, crime-infested cities, economic malaise, and the military recruitment crisis. Maybe if Biden’s granddaughter moved to Florida he’d actually visit her," DeSantis also tweeted.
Democrats like Kamala Harris have to lie about Florida's educational standards to cover for their agenda of indoctrinating students and pushing sexual topics onto children.— Ron DeSantis (@RonDeSantis) July 21, 2023
Florida stands in their way and we will continue to expose their agenda and their lies.
In January, DeSantis's administration rejected a College Board Advanced Placement course on African American history because “we want education, not indoctrination," the governor said. | Not_Explicit |
Texas Gov. Greg Abbott on Monday defended the legality of floating barriers that state officials recently set up along the U.S.-Mexico border to repel migrant crossings, defying a Biden administration threat to sue the state over the river buoys.
Last week, top Justice Department lawyersAbbott and other Texas officials that the administration would file a lawsuit against the state unless it removed the barriers it deployed in the middle of the Rio Grande. The Biden administration argued the river barriers violate a federal navigable waters law, pose humanitarian challenges and impede federal law enforcement from apprehending migrants.
But in a letter to President Biden and other top administration officials on Monday, Abbott, a Republican, appeared to welcome a legal battle, arguing that Texas was using its "constitutional authority" to combat unauthorized border crossings.
"Texas will see you in court, Mr. President," Abbott wrote.
Representatives for the Justice Department and White House did not immediately respond to requests to comment on Abbott's response.
The river buoys assembled earlier this month by Texas have ignited renewed criticism of the state's broader border initiative, known as Operation Lone Star. As part of the operation, Abbott has bused thousands of migrants to large Democratic-led cities, directed state troopers to arrest migrants on state trespassing charges and deployed members of the Texas National Guard to repel migrants through razor wire and other means.
A Texas trooper recently madeabout the state operation, detailing reports of migrants, including children and a pregnant woman, being cut by the razor wire and directives to withhold water from migrants and to push them into the Rio Grande. Texas officials are investigating the allegations, but have denied the existence of orders to deny migrants water or to push them into the river.
The state trooper also urged superior officers to remove the floating barriers, saying the structures force migrants to cross into the U.S. through parts of the Rio Grande where they are more likely to drown.
In his letter Monday, Abbott denied the Justice Department's argument that the river buoys violate the Rivers and Harbors Act. But he called that "a side issue."
"The fact is, if you would just enforce the immigration laws Congress already has on the books, America would not be suffering from your record-breaking level of illegal immigration," Abbott wrote.
The White House has called Abbott's actions "cruel" and counterproductive, saying the river barriers have increased the risk of migrants drowning and obstructed Border Patrol agents from patrolling the river. The Justice Department has also been reviewing the reports about Texas officials mistreating migrants.
"While I share the humanitarian concerns noted in your lawyers' letter, Mr. President, your finger points in the wrong direction," Abbott said in his response. "Neither of us wants to see another death in the Rio Grande River. Yet your open-border policies encourage migrants to risk their lives by crossing illegally through the water, instead of safely and legally at a port of entry. Nobody drowns on a bridge."
Biden administration officials have sought to blunt Abbott's criticism by pointing to the dramatic decrease in unlawful entries along the southern border in recent weeks. Border Patrol apprehensions of migrants who entered the U.S. illegally fell below 100,000 in June, the lowest level in two years.
The administration has said the drop in illegal crossings stems from its revamped border strategy, which pairs programs that allow tens of thousands of migrants to enter the U.S. legally each month with stiffer penalties and stricter asylum rules for those who cross into the country unlawfully.
for more features. | Not_Explicit |
Marta enters her sixth Women's World Cup seeking scoring record, Brazil's first championship
It shouldn't be difficult to move to 9-0 in opening matches for the Selecao, who start Group F play on Monday against tournament newcomer Panama in Adelaide, Australia (7 a.m. ET on FS1). Brazil is one of seven teams to qualify for all nine Women's World Cups, while Panama is one of eight teams playing in the tournament for the first time.
Marta's sixth World Cup will be her last, but she has a chance to make history as the first player — male or female — to score in six tournaments. She's already the all-time leading scorer in the Women’s World Cup with 17 goals.
But more important to Marta is winning the World Cup, something the women's national team has never done. Brazil lost in the 2007 final to Germany, made it to the quarterfinals in 2011, but was eliminated in the round of 16 in the next two tournaments.
Marta was in tears after the 2019 loss to France and pleaded with the next generation of Brazilian football players to take their country to the next level.
"It’s about wanting more," Marta said four years ago after Brazil's elimination. "It’s training more. It’s taking care of yourself more. It’s about being ready to play 90 plus 30 minutes. This is what I ask of the girls."
The national team has seemingly answered her call under coach Pia Sundhage, who as a player retired as Sweden's top scorer and as a coach led the United States to two Olympic gold medals. Sundhage has made Brazil more balanced, which was shown at the Women's Finalissma in April, when the South American champions lost in a penalty shootout to European champion England.
Marta has experience around her in Debinha and Rafaelle, but it is 23-year-old Kerolin who is poised to become Brazil's breakout star. The midfielder has scored eight goals this season for the North Carolina Courage in the NWSL.
"We have taken big steps in these four years," Sundhage said. "We've brought in new players and I think we are in a good place. We have got a chance."
Panama, meanwhile, most recently faced a South American team in June in a 1-1 draw with Colombia. But Panama has been routed twice since, giving up 13 goals in a 7-0 loss to Spain at the end of June and a 5-0 loss to Japan earlier this month.atch in Melbourne against Germany, winners of back-to-back tournaments in 2003 and 2007.
Reporting by The Associated Press.
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2023 Women's World Cup schedule: How to watch, TV channel, dates, results
United States vs. Vietnam: Everything to know, how to watch USWNT's opener
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Women's World Cup 2023 highlights: USWNT tops Vietnam, 3-0
2023 Women's World Cup schedule: How to watch, TV channel, dates, results
United States vs. Vietnam: Everything to know, how to watch USWNT's opener
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USWNT puts Julie Ertz, Savannah DeMelo in starting lineup for World Cup opener
United States dispatches Vietnam 3-0: Takeaways from World Cup-opening win
United States-Vietnam, England-Haiti predictions, picks by Chris 'The Bear' Fallica
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World Cup 2023 social media tracker: Reactions to USWNT's solid 3-0 win
Don't fret if USWNT doesn't blow out Vietnam in World Cup opener
World Cup Daily: Spain makes a loud statement, Canada can't capitalize | Not_Explicit |
MG Appeals To British Roots With Two-Seater Electric Roadster
With a starting price of £50,000 ($63,300), the car is a key part of MG’s mission to capitalize on the brand’s British heritage.
(Bloomberg) -- MG Motor has unveiled an electric roadster in its first break from the family-oriented models it has sold since being bought by Chinese investors 16 years ago.
The two-seater Cyberster, which taps into the marque’s 1960s design classics like the MG Midget and MGB, will hit showrooms in China in 2023 before arriving in the UK and Europe in the middle of next year, according to Guy Pigounakis, commercial director for MG Motor UK Ltd. With a starting price of £50,000 ($63,300), the car is a key part of MG’s mission to capitalize on the brand’s British heritage.
“This is about the brand going back to its roots,” said Carl Gotham, MG’s design director. The two-seater sportscar, featuring scissor doors, will be a “brand builder,” rather than a driver of mass sales.
MG has jumped on the transition to EVs, becoming one of the earliest Chinese-owned manufacturers to break into the European market. So far this year, sales in the UK are 55% higher than last at 25,000 cars, and that rate is being “eclipsed” in mainland Europe, according to Pigounakis.
The growth in part reflects MG’s success in keeping prices down, something that has evaded many of the European EV manufacturers, enabling it to compete with rivals such as Tesla Inc. Its all-electric SUV, the MG ZS EV, starts at about £30,495.
The Cyberster release marks a significant moment for MG in appealing to its British origins after being bought by the Shanghai Automotive Industry Corporation in 2007. While MG retains design facilities in the UK, it hasn’t produced cars there since shutting its Longbridge plant near Birmingham in 2016.
More stories like this are available on bloomberg.com
©2023 Bloomberg L.P. | Not_Explicit |
Why Senate Dems want to force a doomed vote on Supreme Court ethics
A dozen Democrats said they’re itching to force Republicans to reject the ethics measure — and pay the political price of that vote.
Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) has yet to say how he’ll approach his party’s Supreme Court ethics legislation — a historic bid to check the high court after reports of ethically questionable behavior among its justices. But lawmakers in his Senate Democratic caucus are eager to put their Republican colleagues on the record with a floor vote.
Washington is betting that the proposal won’t go further than the Judiciary Committee, which cleared it along party lines Thursday. Any action beyond that would be a waste of time, the thinking goes, since it’s all but guaranteed to be filibustered and would be dead on arrival in the GOP-controlled House. But in interviews with your Huddle host, a dozen of Schumer’s Democrats challenged that conventional wisdom. They said they’re itching to force Republicans to reject the ethics measure — and pay the political price of that vote. Schumer sounds interested in pressing the matter, too.
“The American people deserve to have all members of the judiciary … accountable to some kind of ethical standards,” Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) said in an interview. “And anybody who disagrees with that proposition should be held accountable” themselves.
POLITICO reported earlier this week that Democrats are betting that a Senate focus on Supreme Court ethics will help them remind voters of its recent flurry of conservative rulings, even after the justices’ term is over for the year. It doesn’t hurt that the highest-profile reports about potential ethical liabilities at the court touch on two conservative justices — Samuel Alito and Clarence Thomas.
Democrats also think the added national visibility that accompanies a floor vote might pressure the Supreme Court into setting its own stricter rules as confidence in the institution hits historic lows.
“I would hope that we would bring it to the floor, because I think it [makes] it more likely that the Supreme Court might act,” Sen. Ben Cardin (D-Md.) said.
If this Dem strategy sounds familiar, it should. Schumer pushed doomed floor votes last year on issues like voting rights and abortion access despite near-unanimous GOP opposition. The leader vowed again on Thursday to work with bill sponsors to “make progress on this legislation.”
But any hope of getting 60 votes in the Senate would have to start with moderate Republicans like Sen. Lisa Murkowski, and she’s unimpressed with the committee-passed SCOTUS ethics push. That measure would require the court to adopt and publish a code of conduct within 180 days, establish a process for investigating alleged violations and beef up disclosure rules for gifts and travel.
Murkowski (R-Alaska), a perennial swing vote in her chamber, said she had “real concerns” that the ethics legislation is “way too prescriptive and violates” the Constitution’s separation of powers. She and Sen. Angus King (I-Maine) have their own, less stringent bipartisan bill requiring the court to establish an ethics code.
But Murkowski’s still frustrated with the court’s handling of the swirl of ethics concerns, which “does not make them look good,” she told Huddle. “They could have responded differently and this matter would have been put to bed a long time ago. So, that’s their failure.”
Republicans other than Murkowski have been even more skeptical, bashing the legislation as unnecessary, a separation-of-powers violation and an act of retaliation against the 6-3 conservative-led court following a series of decisions that outraged Democrats. | Not_Explicit |
Subsets and Splits