Latest news with #Center
Yahoo
12 hours ago
- General
- Yahoo
Russian propaganda made up personal meeting between heads of Ukrainian and Russian delegations in Istanbul – Center for Countering Disinformation
The Center for Countering Disinformation has denied reports by Russian propagandists on an alleged bilateral meeting between the head of the Russian delegation, Vladimir Medinsky, and the Defence Minister of Ukraine, Rustem Umierov, before the talks in Istanbul. Source: Center for Countering Disinformation on Telegram Quote: "Russian propaganda has launched a campaign to discredit the Ukrainian negotiating team. Putin's aide, Vladimir Medinsky, announced an alleged 'bilateral meeting' with Ukrainian Defence Minister Rustem Umierov before the talks in Istanbul. This information is not true". Details: It is reported that the meeting was actually held in the presence of Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan, who acted as a mediator. "The statements about the alleged 'secret agreements' reached at this meeting are a manipulation aimed at undermining the credibility of the Ukrainian negotiating team," the Center for Countering Disinformation said. The Center also warned that Russian propaganda is preparing a two-pronged information attack against Ukrainian representatives at the talks in Istanbul. In particular, disinformation about the delegation's alleged personal ties with Russians will be spread within Ukraine. Western audiences will be told that Ukraine is "delaying the peace talks". However, it is Russia that systematically avoids ceasefire agreements. "Russia's goal is to replace reality and impose a narrative in which the aggressor poses as a peacemaker," the Center for Countering Disinformation stressed. Earlier, the Russian propaganda media outlet TASS reported that Vladimir Medinsky, the head of the Russian delegation, and Ukrainian Defence Minister Rustem Umerov had held a bilateral meeting before the talks. Background: The meeting between the Ukrainian and Russian delegations lasted just over an hour and was the second after the negotiations on 16 May. Prior to the talks with the Russian delegation, Ukraine's First Deputy Foreign Minister Serhii Kyslytsia and Oleksandr Bevz, a member of the Ukrainian delegation, met with representatives of three of Ukraine's European partners – Germany, Italy and the United Kingdom. Following the talks in Istanbul, the Ukrainian and Russian delegations agreed on an all-for-all prisoner exchange of seriously wounded and young servicemen. On the evening of 2 June, Russian state news agencies published the text of the Russian "memorandum of settlement", containing proposals for a ceasefire, including Ukraine's neutrality, elections and withdrawal from four oblasts. Support Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon!
India.com
2 days ago
- Business
- India.com
No DA Hike, Pay Commission Benefits For Retired Govt Employees? Claims Vs Facts DECODED
photoDetails english 2909870 Updated:Jun 02, 2025, 12:51 PM IST Decoding Rules Of New Finance Act 2025 On DA, Pay Commission Benefits: Claims Vs Facts 1 / 9 Has the Center has decided to eliminate important post-retirement perks for retired government employees? Reports circulating in several media assert that under the new rules, pensioners will no longer get dearness allowance hikes or benefits from future pay commissions, including the 8th Pay Commission. According to the reports, the regulation changes are being brought due to the Finance Act 2025. What is amendment to Rule 37 of the CCS (Pension) Rules, 2021? 2 / 9 There is an amendment to Rule 37 of the CCS (Pension) Rules, 2021. The Department of Pension and Pensioners' Welfare has introduced an amendment to Rule 37(29)(c). The amended Rule 37(29)(c) states, "… the dismissal or removal from service of the public sector undertaking of any employee after his absorption in such undertaking for any subsequent misconduct shall lead to forfeiture of the retirement benefits for the service rendered under the Government also and in the event of his dismissal or removal or retrenchment the decision of the undertaking shall be subject to review by the Ministry administratively concerned with the undertaking.' Decoding the Rule 37 of the CCS (Pension) Rules, 2021 3 / 9 According to the amended Rule 37(29)(c) if a PSU employee who previously worked for the government is fired for wrongdoing, all of his retirement benefits may be forfeited. A pension from his prior government service is one of these benefits. This represents a significant change from the previous regulation, rule stated that pension payments from past government employment should not be impacted by termination from a PSU. Will Govt employees cease to get DA hikes and Pay Commission benefits? 4 / 9 Examining the allegations of the reports that the new rules in the Finance Act 2025 are depriving retirees of their pension and other retirement benefits, it becomes clear that the modification of Rule 37 has nothing to do with pay commission benefits or dearness allowance. Will Govt employees be deprived of DA, Pay Commission Hikes? 5 / 9 Therefore, the claims that say that dearness allowance hikes and Pay Commission benefits have been removed for retired government employees and linking this amendment to the Finance Act are NOT TRUE. The only pertinent rule change concerns PSU employees who were dismissed for misconduct and absorbed from the government service. Finance Bill 2025: What has the govt said? 6 / 9 It is important to note that the government has not issued any official notification or confirmation about any such changes. Finance Bill 2025: FM Clarification 7 / 9 When the Finance Bill 2025 was passed in Parliament a controversy was sparked regarding a clause about pensions. The clause, according to employees' unions, was detrimental to retirees and led to a gap between old and new pensioners. To resolve the issue, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman then provided clarification in Parliament. According to her, the clause did not change civil or defense pensions. It only restated rules that have been in place since June 1, 1972. The Department of Pension & Pensioners' Welfare also stated that the pension parity introduced by the 7th Central Pay Commission would continue to exist. Govt announced a 2 percent increase in DA 8 / 9 The central government had in March announced a 2 percent increase in Dearness Allowance and Dearness Relief for central employees and pensioners. Central government employees were given the hiked salary for March along with arrears for January and February. DA For July-December 2025 Due 9 / 9 The central government employees and pensioners are waiting for the next DA hike update for the July to December 2025 period. The revision is expected to be announced around October or November.
Hypebeast
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Hypebeast
Team Rocket Returns in 'Pokémon TCG: Destined Rivals'
Summary When it comes to thePokémon TCG, there is no shortage of excitement surrounding its new product launches. All of its recent expansions have been embraced by fans, with record-high demand overwhelmingThe Pokémon Company'ssignificant supply. Now, one of its most anticipated sets has just released, introducingPokémon TCG: Destined Rivals. First teased at the Pokémon World Championships last August,Destined Rivalssees the return of fan favorite villain faction, Team Rocket. The group of troublemakers joins other beloved characters with a whopping 42 new special illustration cards featured in the expansion. Partner cards serve as the highlight of this set, with notables pairing Ethan with Ho-Oh and Cynthia with Garchomp. As for Team Rocket, familiar faces in Archer and Ariana are accompanied by Giovanni, who is joined by Meowth in one instance and Mewtwo for the card that is most sought-after by collectors. Pokémon TCG: Destined Rivalshas just arrived via thePokémon Center, select retailers, and local card shops with packs available via individual packs, thematic boxes, and bundles. For a complete breakdown of every card included in the new set, be sure to check out the collection'sofficial card gallery.
5 days ago
- Science
6 gray whales have died in San Francisco in the past week as authorities scramble for answers
Six gray whales have died in the San Francisco Bay area in just the past week alone, bringing the total number of stranded whales to 15 so far this year as authorities rush to figure out what could be causing the sudden deaths. The California Academy of Sciences and their partners at the Marine Mammal Center confirmed that six gray whales died between May 21 and May 28 and that their necropsy response efforts to figure out what is going on has been 'challenging.' 'Necropsy response efforts and data collection have been challenging for a number of cases due to inaccessible locations that hinder full post-mortem investigations, as well as poor tissue quality from advanced decomposition, and the lack of available locations to tow for further investigation,' officials said. 'As of today, May 28, 2025, a necropsy (animal autopsy) was conducted at Kirby Cove in the Marin Headlands. It is suspected that this subadult male is one of the two whales that was sighted on May 26, 2025. The cause of death is still under investigation. The other individual has not made landfall.' So far in 2025, 15 whales in total have died -- 14 gray whales and one minke whale -- in the greater San Francisco Bay area, with the causes of at least three of the gray whale deaths being suspected to have been caused by vessel strikes, officials said. 'The Academy and partners at the Center have not responded to this many dead gray whales since the height of the Unusual Mortality Event in 2019 (14 individuals) and 2021 (15 individuals),' scientists confirmed. In 2025, scientists have reported 'an unusually high number of sightings in the San Francisco Bay this year, with 33 individual gray whales confirmed. In 2024, only six gray whales were sighted over the entire year. 'Roughly one-third of [the whales this year] have stayed in the bay for at least 20 days, and their overall body condition has ranged from normal to emaciated,' scientists said. 'The reason or potential reasons behind the massive spike in sightings this year are still being investigated by researchers. It is expected that gray whales will be in the bay for another one to two weeks before continuing their annual northern migration to arctic feeding grounds.' The long-term outlook for gray whales in the aftermath of the 2019 to 2023 unusual mortality event saw a population loss of roughly 45% and observation scientists in southern California reported record-low calf counts earlier this year -- a cause for concern, according to scientists. 'With San Francisco Bay serving as a shared space for commerce and increased gray whale activity, experts at the Academy and the Center note it's vital that all boaters -- from large commercial vessels to sailboats -- be 'whale aware' and continue to slow down,' officials warned. 'Gray whales often have a very low profile in the water that can make them difficult to sight, unlike other coastal whales like humpback whales,' scientists continued. 'The Center is working with the San Francisco Harbor Safety Committee to find solutions to reduce the risk of vessel strike (including altering ferry lanes based on sighting data this year) and increase mariner communication announcements of heightened whale activity via the U.S. Coast Guard.'
Yahoo
5 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
3 hospitalized in Preston County wreck on US 50
ROWLESBURG, (WBOY) — Three people were taken to the hospital Thursday night following a two-vehicle wreck on U.S. Route 50 near Rowlesburg. According to an official with the Preston County 911 Center, at about 7 p.m., crews were alerted to a collision on U.S. 50 near Cool Springs Park. When crews arrived on the scene, they found that a Jeep and a pickup truck had collided and that three people needed to be taken to the hospital for further treatment. Fairmont man sentenced for selling para-fluorofentanyl in West Virginia. What is it? As of 7:57 p.m., U.S. 50 is still closed in the area in both directions. There is no word on the conditions and extent of injuries of the people involved. Crews with the West Virginia State Police, KAMP Ambulance, Terra Alta Community Ambulance, Fellowsville Volunteer Fire Department and the Rowlesburg Volunteer Fire Department all responded to the call. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
