Ukraine says it uncovers major drone procurement corruption scheme

Ukraine says it uncovers major drone procurement corruption scheme

By Max Hunder KYIV (Reuters) -Ukraine's anti-corruption bodies said on Saturday they had uncovered a major graft scheme that procured military drones and signal jamming systems at inflated prices, two days after the agencies' independence was restored following major protests. The independence of Ukraine's anti-graft investigators and prosecutors, NABU and SAPO, was reinstated by parliament on Thursday after a move to take it away resulted in the country's biggest demonstrations since Russia's invasion in 2022. In a statement published by both agencies on social media, NABU and SAPO said they had caught a sitting lawmaker, two local officials and an unspecified number of national guard personnel taking bribes. None of them were identified in the statement. "The essence of the scheme was to conclude state contracts with supplier companies at deliberately inflated prices," it said, adding that the offenders had received kickbacks of up to 30% of a contract's cost. Four people had been arrested. "There can only be zero tolerance for corruption, clear teamwork to expose corruption and, as a result, a just sentence," President Volodymyr Zelenskiy wrote on Telegram. Zelenskiy, who has far-reaching wartime presidential powers and still enjoys broad approval among Ukrainians, was forced into a rare political about-face when his attempt to bring NABU and SAPO under the control of his prosecutor-general sparked the first nationwide protests of the war. Zelenskiy subsequently said that he had heard the people's anger, and submitted a bill restoring the agencies' former independence, which was voted through by parliament on Thursday. Ukraine's European allies praised the move, having voiced concerns about the original stripping of the agencies' status. Top European officials had told Zelenskiy that Ukraine was jeopardising its bid for European Union membership by curbing the powers of its anti-graft authorities. "It is important that anti-corruption institutions operate independently, and the law adopted on Thursday guarantees them every opportunity for a real fight against corruption," Zelenskiy wrote on Saturday after meeting the heads of the agencies, who briefed him on the latest investigation. (Reporting by Max Hunder; editing by Mark Heinrich)

byAlpha World

in

August 02, 2025

Ukraine says it uncovers major drone procurement corruption scheme

Ukraine says it uncovers major drone procurement corruption scheme By Max Hunder KYIV (Reuters) -Ukraine's anti-corruption bodies said ...

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Chile's Codelco reports death of one of five trapped El Teniente miners

Chile's Codelco reports death of one of five trapped El Teniente miners

By Daina Beth Solomon SANTIAGO (Reuters) -Chilean copper miner Codelco has discovered the remains of one of five trapped miners at its flagship El Teniente mine, it said on Saturday, bringing the death toll from a collapse caused by a strong tremor on Thursday to two people. It said that the identity of the second victim must still be confirmed by authorities. One other person was reported dead on Thursday at the time of the accident, which occurred in the Andesita section of the mine. "This discovery fills us with sadness, but it also tells us that we are in the right place, that the strategy we followed led us to them," Andres Music, general manager of El Teniente, said in a statement. He said Codelco would continue its efforts with "strength and hope," but with increased caution which could slow its progress. Music did not provide more details about how Codelco recovered the worker's remains, or update the progress in reaching the area where others are believed to be trapped. Earlier in the day, Music said Codelco had cleared just over a fifth of the blocked underground tunnels needed to reach the trapped workers, but had not yet made contact with them. Rescue teams were using heavy machinery, and hoped to proceed at a rate of about 15 to 20 meters (49 to 65.6 feet) every 24 hours, he said, but the exact timing would be unpredictable. The accident, which took place around 5:30 p.m. local time on Thursday, was caused by one of the largest tremors ever recorded at El Teniente, with the impact of a 4.2 magnitude quake. Codelco is investigating whether the cause was mining activity or natural tectonic shifts in the earthquake-prone country. (Reporting by Daina Beth SolomonEditing by Bill Berkrot)

byAlpha World

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August 02, 2025

Chile's Codelco reports death of one of five trapped El Teniente miners

Chile's Codelco reports death of one of five trapped El Teniente miners By Daina Beth Solomon SANTIAGO (Reuters) -Chilean copper miner C...

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Beyoncé's 'Cowboy Carter' tour is in the past: Relive the spectacle's top moments

Beyoncé's 'Cowboy Carter' tour is in the past: Relive the spectacle's top moments

Beyoncé Knowles-Carterrecently closed out herhistory-making"Cowboy Carter" tour — a spectacle defined bymusic, culture,fashionandpowerful messages. And across cross its nine-city run, the tour delivered some unforgettable pop culture moments. The Grammy-winning singer took her final bow on herCowboy Carter and the Rodeo Chitlin' Circuit TouratAllegiant Stadiumin Vegas on July 26. The 32-stop stadium tour was the highest grossing country tour in history, earning over $400 million with more than 1.5 million fans packing venues across the U.S. and Europe. But the impact went beyond ticket sales and attendance. The tour deliveredviral momentsthat had fans buzzing around the globe. Here's a look at some of the biggest moments. One of the biggest moments of the entire tour came on the final night in Las Vegas whenBeyoncébrought out her formerDestiny's Child group members for a surprise performance.Kelly Rowland and Michelle Williams stunned the crowd as they joined her onstage, delivering throwback hits like their 2001 anthem "Bootylicious" and 2005 hit "Lose My Breath." Destiny's Child reunite at the final COWBOY CARTER Tour show in Las Vegas tonight.#COWBOYCARTERTourpic.twitter.com/2K7qZP4Cea — COWBOY CARTER Tour (@CowboyCarterWT)July 27, 2025 The crowd erupted as soon as Beyoncé introduced the trio. As they hit the stage, each member delivered on her solo parts while dancing in perfect sync. Rowland and Williams even helpedBeyoncéwith her "Renaissance"-favorite "Mute Challenge," and the moment felt especially special when they sang the lyrics, "just me and my crew — big energy!" Beyoncé, Kelly Rowland and Michelle Williams reunite as Destiny's Child for the final COWBOY CARTER Tour show in Vegas, performing "Lose my Breath", "ENERGY", the mute challenge & "Bootylicious".#COWBOYCARTERTourpic.twitter.com/Me84W34HwC — COWBOY CARTER Tour (@CowboyCarterWT)July 27, 2025 Destiny's Child rose to fame in the '90s with original members Beyoncé, Rowland, LaTavia Roberson, and LeToya Luckett, later becoming the iconic trio with Williams. The group split in 2006 but remained close, with fans continuing to call for a reunion. Since thefirst "Cowboy Carter" concertin Los Angeles, Beyoncé and Jay Z's 13-year-old daughter Blue Ivy Carterblew fans awaywith herfierce performancesthroughout the show. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Matthew Serafin (@themegamega) Each night she floored the audience and fans online as she took the stage as a lead dancer. The show-stopping highlights from the young superstar are endless. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Eden🐘🌺 (@cozycarters) Even when Blue Ivy wasn't dancing she had the internet buzzing. Whether it was approving the title "manager Blue"in an adorable clip or thinking on her toes after getting her earring stuck in Beyoncé's hair onstage, Blue has shown the world she is the moment and she is already a star. Beyoncé's 8-year-old daughter Rumi Carter was also a highlight of the show each night. She appeared alongside her mom and sister Blue when Beyoncé performed her song "Protector." Our darling Rumi Carterhttps://t.co/tOEdFZrVCupic.twitter.com/UXFyoYVToP — NotBeyoncebutViolence (@ourhermitage)June 10, 2025 The song features sentimental lyrics like, "Even though I know someday you're gonna shine on your own / I will be your projector." On the tour, Blue, Rumi and Beyoncé ended the song standing together as they shared smiles with one another. Following the performance, a montage of Beyoncé and her children appeared on the screen, leaving fans in tears each night. Beyoncé wishing Happy Birthday to Rumi and Sir! 🥰pic.twitter.com/Zah5BCBpXr — Beyoncé Press. (@beyoncepress)June 12, 2025 Rumi lit up each stage with her smile and infectious energy. During one stop,Beyoncé sang "Happy Birthday" to Rumi and twin brother Sir Carter, prompting fans to join in during the onstage celebration. In her movie"Renaissance: A Film by Beyoncé,"Blue Ivy — who fans joke is Beyoncé's manager — convinced her mom to keep her 2008 hit "Diva" on the final set list. Well, the song was a fan-favorite this time around again. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Beyoncé Fan Account (@rumiyonce) During the Renaissance World Tour, and now again on the "Cowboy Carter" tour, Beyoncé has been playfully scanning the crowd during the song, declaring, "She ain't no diva!" when pointing to a fan. This time around, she made sure to also spotlight someone who fits the title — proudly singing, "She's such a diva!" And each night, fans looked forward to seeing who the next diva might be. During the final show in Paris, Beyoncé shocked fans when herhusband, hip-hop mogul Jay-Z, made a surprise appearance.The two performed some of their beloved throwback hits together, including "Crazy in Love" (2003) and "Drunk in Love" (2013) as the crowd roared. JAY Z JOINED BEYONCE ON STAGE??? OMFGGG😭pic.twitter.com/Ehsl0m3krb — everything hov 💎 (@holahovitaaa)July 14, 2025 Jay also performed his song "Ni**as in Paris," which made for an epic show in the French capital. Following his debut in Paris, Jay returned to the stage at a couple U.S. stops — each appearance met with the same electric energy. During Bey'sopening show in her hometown of Houstonon June 28, she was forced topause the showbecause a technical glitch caused the vehicle to tilt midair. She told everyone to "stop" repeatedly before being safely lowered and landing the car among the audience. There were no injuries. While she recovered, the moment quickly made headlines regarding the safety of the stunt. During her following shows shecut "16 Carriages" from the set listcompletely and avoided flying in the air in a car. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Eden🐘🌺 (@cozycarters) However, a new highlight of the tour came when Beyoncé soared over the crowd on a mechanical horse, replacing the golden car as the single made a return to the set list. Another standout moment wasLes Twins— Laurent and Larry Nicolas Bourgeois — who first joined Beyoncé for her "Cowboy Carter" tour in London, on the international leg of her tour. Beyoncé with les twinspic.twitter.com/1BXHonMb8c — Beyoncé Press. (@beyoncepress)June 5, 2025 Born in Sarcelles, France, the dynamic duo has become known asBeyoncé's other set of twins, along with her 8-year-old children Sir and Rumi Carter. Les Twins have collaborated with her on numerous occasions, dancing alongside her on major stages, tours and videos. Some of those include the Mrs. Carter Show World Tour in 2013, Beychella in 2018 and the Renaissance World Tour in 2023. Fans were surprised to see them return to the stage during theLondon opener.To fans delight, they continued to dance alongside the Bey as she returned to the U.S. Beyoncé's concerts were packed with high-tech production, leading to countless viral moments as fans watched every detail. During herfinal Los Angeles show,a robot arm missed her cup while pouring a glass ofSirDavis whiskeyand the Beyhive went buzzing. Beyoncé's reaction to the robot arm missing the glass and pouring whisky on the floor 😭pic.twitter.com/SBqtJLryJJ — . (@adelesremedyy)May 10, 2025 The moment instantly sparked playful reactions across the internet. Since then, fans jokingly watched each night to ensure the robot hits its mark.Even Beyoncé made light of the momentat concerts after the spill. In Chicago, Beyoncé smized at the robot arm and watched carefully as it poured her whiskey. View this post on Instagram A post shared by BEYLOVED (@44beystreet) Another viral moment came when the robot's hand was missing altogether during during a show in Las Vegas, and fans took note of Beyoncé's look. Beyoncé turned Paris into a special occasion when she brought out her first guest and "Cowboy Carter" collaborator — none other thanMiley Cyrus.Decked in gold ensembles, they held hands and kissed cheeks before singing their duet "II Most Wanted" as the crowd went wild. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Beyoncé (@beyonce) During Beyoncé's grand finale in Vegas, another standout moment came when she brought outanother "Cowboy Carter" collaborator — Shaboozey.The two wowed fans as they performed their song "Sweet Honey Buckin.'" Shaboozey joins Beyoncé on stage for SWEET HONEY BUCKIIN tonight. 🔥#COWBOYCARTERTOUR#LasVegaspic.twitter.com/1qIMYApwh9 — BEYONCÉ LEGION 𐚁 (@BeyLegion)July 27, 2025 Beyond record-breaking numbers and memes, the tour has been a unifyingcelebrationof joy, movement andintentional fashion, as an ode to to country music's roots. Simultaneously, Beyoncé seamlesslyheld the genre accountablefor its historical and ongoing exclusionary aspects. Of course, the Grammy-winning singer firstdebuted her "Cowboy Carter" tourat SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles on April 28 with39 songs on the set list. The tour may be over, but its legacy lives on. Follow Caché McClay, the USA TODAY Network's Beyoncé Knowles-Carter reporter, onInstagram,TikTokandXas @cachemcclay. This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean:Beyonce wraps 'Cowboy Carter' tour: Highlights from the stage

byAlpha World

in

August 02, 2025

Beyoncé's 'Cowboy Carter' tour is in the past: Relive the spectacle's top moments

Beyoncé's 'Cowboy Carter' tour is in the past: Relive the spectacle's top moments Beyoncé Knowles-Carterrecently closed out ...

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“High School Musical ”director Kenny Ortega debunks rumor that Zac Efron didn't sing in the first movie

"High School Musical "director Kenny Ortega debunks rumor that Zac Efron didn't sing in the first movie

Longtime fans ofHigh School Musicalknow thatZac Efronisn't the only vocalist behind his character Troy Bolton's songs in the first movie. However, directorKenny Ortegashut down claims that the actor's voice isn't featured in the film. Speaking withEntertainment Tonight,the legendary choreographer explained that Efron did, in fact, sing all of the songs inHigh School Musical. His vocals were mixed with actor Drew Seeley's. "The songs were written before Zac got the role," Ortega said. "So although he could sing, and he had a lovely voice, it wasn't the voice that the songs were written for. So he sang everything and we dubbed parts of it, so that it had greater vocal strength." Tim Mosenfelder/Getty It's no secret that Seeley's powerhouse voice is prominently featured inHigh School Musical. He even stood in for Efron during thelive concert tourfor the film while the actor was makingHairspray. Seeleyaddressed recordingTroy Bolton's vocals on theMagical Rewindpodcast last year. "I was never told why they did it the way that they did it," Seeley told hosts Will Friedle and Sabrina Bryan. "But I think that they were within about three, four weeks of shooting the actual film, and they had me and not Zac. Me and the rest of the movie cast all go into the studio for, like, four days straight and record all the songs together. So, yeah, I knew that I was doing that." Want more movie news? Sign up forEntertainment Weekly's free newsletterto get the latest trailers, celebrity interviews, film reviews, and more. Clayton Chase/WireImage It's unclear when Efron recorded his parts, but Ortega said it's a misconception that Efron didn't sing at all in his breakout role. "That's important that people know that Zac Efron did sing," Ortega said. TheIron Clawactor sings all of the tracks himself in the subsequent sequels. Seeley went on to star in a different teen musical movie,Another Cinderella Story,alongside Disney Channel alumSelena Gomez. Read the original article onEntertainment Weekly

byAlpha World

in

August 02, 2025

“High School Musical ”director Kenny Ortega debunks rumor that Zac Efron didn't sing in the first movie

"High School Musical "director Kenny Ortega debunks rumor that Zac Efron didn't sing in the first movie Longtime fans ofHigh S...

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Dangerous wildfire smoke hurting air quality as extreme heat and fire concerns grow

Dangerous wildfire smoke hurting air quality as extreme heat and fire concerns grow

Heavy storms in the Carolinas brought between 1 to 4 inches of rain and prompted several flash flood warnings on Friday. Near Nebo, North Carolina, three people were rescued and at least 25 others were evacuated from a campground due to rising floodwaters as some of the storms in the area were strong enough to produce scattered wind damage consisting of downed trees on roads and homes. A neighborhood in Craven, South Carolina, also had several trees knocked down on homes, but there were no reports of injuries even though numerous homes suffered damage with some reported to be total losses. The risk for flash flooding has now shifted Saturday to parts of the Southeast from Alabama to the Carolinas and into parts of northern Florida. Heavy showers and thunderstorms are expected on Saturday and should continue into the evening with rainfall rates of 2 inches per hour possible with the heaviest downpours. A small risk for flash flooding is also present for parts of the southern Appalachians, including Knoxville, Tennessee, and Dalton, Georgia, and some of these storms in the Southeast could be strong enough to produce isolated damaging winds and lightning. There's also a flash flooding risk for the Texas and Oklahoma panhandles, with heavy showers and thunderstorms later Saturday continuing into the evening as severe storms will also be possible for these areas, as well as stretching north to the Nebraska panhandle. Damaging winds, large hail and a few tornadoes will also be possible with these storms. Elsewhere, wildfire smoke from Canada continues to blanket the Midwest, prompting alerts for millions for dangerous breathing conditions. Air quality alerts are in effect for the entire states of Minnesota, Wisconsin, Michigan, Iowa and Illinois, as Chicago, Fort Wayne, Kansas City and Omaha are also under air quality alerts. More than 700 wildfires are burning in Canada, with 216 labeled as "out of control" and 277 labeled as "monitored but out of control," according to the Canadian Interagency Forest Fire Centre. Minneapolis and Chicago are once again seeing some of the worst air quality conditions in the world, with the air quality dipping down to "unhealthy" levels. The worst of the smoke will be over Michigan, Minnesota and Wisconsin later on Saturday. However, hazy skies will be seen across much of the Midwest and some parts of the interior Northeast throughout the weekend. Active wildfires north of the Grand Canyon and in Utah are also creating hazy skies and, in some spots, poor air quality, though no air quality alerts are currently in effect for these areas. The Dragon Bravo Fire along the north rim of the Grand Canyon National Park has burned over 112,000 acres and is only 9% contained as of Saturday morning. Meanwhile, hot and dry conditions are persisting for parts of the West with several areas in the Southwest to watch for, either with extreme heat or fire weather concerns as an extreme heat warning is in effect for Phoenix and Tucson for high temperatures reaching between 110 and 115 this weekend through Tuesday. An extreme heat watch is also in effect for these same areas for high temperatures possibly reaching up to 115 towards the end of next week. Fire weather alerts are also up for parts of Utah and Colorado for relative humidity less than 10% and wind gusts between 25 and 35 mph. The Monroe Canyon Fire, an active wildfire in Utah, has burned more than 55,000 acres and is only 5% contained as of Saturday as evacuation orders have been issued for the surrounding areas. Notably, there are also fire weather concerns for parts of Hawaii, specifically the leeward portions of all Hawaiian Islands and interior sections of the Big Island as dry weather, as well as wind gusts between 35 and 50 mph, will persist through the weekend with conditions improving by late Sunday for the Hawaiian Islands.

byAlpha World

in

August 02, 2025

Dangerous wildfire smoke hurting air quality as extreme heat and fire concerns grow

Dangerous wildfire smoke hurting air quality as extreme heat and fire concerns grow Heavy storms in the Carolinas brought between 1 to 4 inc...

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