Elaine Darr Brings Transformation and Value to DHL’s Business
Elaine Darr, executive legal counsel at DHL Supply Chain, embodies the intersection of legal acumen and business leadership that defines excellence in a deputy general counsel.
Eye On Business — Riverview/Apollo Beach, January 2025
Moffitt Cancer Center At SouthShore
Moffitt Cancer Center at SouthShore, located at 2709 E. College Ave. in Ruskin, is welcoming its first patients. Discover the future of cancer care at the state-of-the-art, 75,000-square foot facility. This advanced center is designed to enhance patient experiences and improve clinical outcomes with leading-edge technology at every turn. The Moffitt at SouthShore facility offers access to groundbreaking clinical trials, advanced imaging and laboratories, medical oncology and radiation oncology. New and existing patients can now schedule their appointments at SouthShore.
To learn more, visit www.moffitt.org/closetohome or call 833-496-1420.
Take A Look At Shell Point Marina
Located at the mouth of the Little Manatee River in Ruskin, Shell Point Marina offers access to the Tampa Bay within minutes. Its location is just one of the many things that it has going for it. Shell Point Marina has been around for decades and prides itself on being an ‘old school Florida’ marina, but it has been completely transformed to incorporate the modern boating lifestyle. Modern services include app-based boat-launch reservation software, free Wi-Fi, a handicap-compliant parking lot and a new tiki-themed entertainment pavilion with a pool table, air hockey, foosball, board games and more.
To schedule a guided tour of the marina, please call 813-645-1313 or visit its website at www.shellpointmarina.com, where you can look at the full list of services it offers.
Ship Gulf Coast
Jimmy and Adrienne Lynch are the owners of Ship Gulf Coast and take pride in offering a comprehensive suite of services designed to meet the diverse needs of the community. It offers a wide range of shipping services for an easy rate comparison with FedEx, UPS and the U.S. Postal Service. Other services offered include mailbox rental, notary, finger printing, passport photos, U-Haul and professional packaging, as well as others. Its commitment to being a one-stop destination for packing, shipping, office services and more sets it apart.
Ship Gulf Coast is located at 11232 Boyette Rd. in Riverview, across the street from Riverview High School and next to Anytime Fitness. For more information on its services, call 813-741-9600 or visit its website at https://shipgulfcoast.com/.
Align Right Realty Supports ECHO
Align Right Realty of Riverview is proud to support ECHO (Emergency Care Help Organization), a local nonprofit providing food and clothing to those in need. Led by broker-owner Lisa Tackus, a dedicated ECHO board member, the office raised funds through agent donations, brokerage matches and contributions at every closing. This year, agents also came together for the ECHO Blessing Bag Drive, creating 25 emergency kits for neighbors in need.
To find out more about Align Right Realty, visit its website at https://alignrightriverview.com/http://www.alignrightriverview.com/.
Easterseals School For Limitless Learning Celebrates Official Opening With A Ribbon-cutting
The Easterseals School for Limitless Learning (ESLL) recently held a ribbon-cutting from the Valrico/Fishhawk Chamber of Commerce to celebrate the official opening of its new private school campus in Valrico for children who are neurodiverse or have related disabilities. Easterseals Florida recognized a growing need for specialized education in the Bloomingdale area, leading to the founding of this new school.
ESLL offers hope to local families with innovative programs designed for children with autism, ADHD, dyspraxia, dyslexia and other disabilities. The school’s curriculum is tailored to meet the unique needs of its students, using hands-on activities and a play-based approach.
ESLL’s new campus is located at 2460 Bloomingdale Ave., Ste. 170, in Valrico. For more information, call 813-236-5589 or visit its website at www.easterseals.com.
Kathy Bass is the owner of Helping Hands Assistant LLC, and you go-to gal for the things you do not have time to do.
Helping Hands Assistant LLC
Local resident Kathy Bass is the owner of Helping Hands Assistant LLC, your go-to gal for all things organized and efficient. With a career spanning from private individuals to businesses of various sizes, she has the experience to make your life easier, smoother and more productive. Are you running your own business and feel like you need a clone? Are you a homemaker with not enough time in your day? Or maybe you have aging parents who need a helping hand? If so, Bass is the lady to call.
She will manage daily tasks like scheduling appointments, running errands, handling household chores and organizing and generally offers a helping hand wherever needed. She also offers compassionate and reliable support to help seniors maintain their independence and continue to live comfortably at home, with services tailored to the unique needs of each individual.
Call Bass at 863-409-9890.
Bell Creek Students Seek Sponsorship For Educational First Travel Trip
Two Bell Creek Academy students enrolled in the AICE/Cambridge program are working towards a 13-day Education First Travel (EF) trip.
By Avery Ranieri
Some local high school upperclassmen attending Bell Creek Academy have a dream. These students, who are enrolled in the AICE/Cambridge program, take on advanced course loads and recognize that a dream without a plan is just a wish. The students in this program are eligible for a 13-day European trip through Education First Travel (EF) with their school to broaden their horizons, unite with new cultures and experience life abroad.
Only a select number of students are permitted to enroll based on their academic rigor and having completed AICE level courses throughout high school. At a young age, this really is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. Being part of the Cambridge program, the classmates will first visit Cambridge University in England, spend a couple more days in the area and soon later will take the Eurostar to Paris for an extended amount of time before flying to Barcelona.
“I am hopeful that this opportunity will deepen the way I see the world and my role in it,” stated one of the students.
Although the trip is heavily tourism-based, there are multiple educational aspects as well. The travelers have the opportunity to complete a 16-week course regarding how they will use the experience for their future perspectives. This course will then grant college credit, which is important to these excelling students who are applying to or shortly starting their future academic careers. They will also focus on international history by attending multiple walking tours of supplemental locations, such as the House of Parliament and the Notre-Dame Cathedral.
With optimistic mindsets, these young learners have a goal of raising money through fundraising, community outreach and generous donations. If you are a business looking to become a sponsor or are an individual who is willing to make a contribution or simply learn more about this opportunity, please contact [email protected]. Any amount of support to this group means the world. Let’s help their dream come true!
Captain America: Brave New World Actor Confirms They’ve Been Cut From The Marvel Movie, And What A Bummer
The Marvel Cinematic Universe is constantly bringing new content to fans, both in theaters and streaming with a Disney+ subscription. There are a number of highly anticipated upcoming Marvel movies coming down the line, the next one being Captain America: Brave New World. Although one actor from the movie confirmed they’ve been cut and what a bummer for their fans.What we know about Captain America: Brave New World is fairly limited, due to Marvel’s tight security. The cast list for Captain America 4 originally included WWE’s Seth Rollins as a member of the Serpent Society. But during a recent appearance on Insight with Chris Van Vliet, he revealed his planned role was left on the cutting room floor. In his words:Well, does my NDA still apply if I’m not in the film anymore? Truth be told, any answer I gave would only be my opinion on it. The script went through a lot of rewrites and reshoots so what I was there to do, essentially my role got either repurposed or completely erased.I’m not a lawyer, but I personally wouldn’t be messing with those Marvel NDAs. Although I guess he technically didn’t reveal anything about the movie; Rollins just shared why he won’t be appearing any more. And it definitely sounds like he’s understandably bummed.Fans who have sent years watching the Marvel movies in order have heard about the way certain projects change and develop as they’re filming. The pressure is on for Captain America: Brave New World to deliver without Chris Evans’ Steve Rogers, so it stands to reason that rewrites might occur. Later in the same podcast appearance, Seth Rollins spoke more about his journey with the blockbuster, offering:So I did do a bit of an audition to possibly pop into another role, I believe, or the repurposing of my role, I’m not exactly sure on what it was. But they ended up going in a different direction with it. And yeah my understanding was there were just a lot of rewrites and a lot of reshoots, and they know they’ve got a finished product that hopefully they’re happy with, and hopefully it’s successful, but it will be sans Seth Rollins.Talk about a bummer. Landing a role in the Marvel Cinematic Universe is a dream for many actors out there Seth Rollins no doubt would have been awesome in his scrapped role. Hopefully he’ll get the chance to join in on the fun in a future project, since he’ll no longer be in the new Captain America flick.While the WWE icon will be missing, fans are hyped about some other names in the next MCU movie, including Harrison Ford, Liv Tyler, and Giancarlo Esposito. We’ll just have to wait and see how it all shakes out later this Winter.Captain America: Brave New World will hit theaters on February 14th. For now, check the 2025 movie release dates.Your Daily Blend of Entertainment News
UK scientists uncover startling new link between HRT and Alzheimer’s
OAP struggling with dementia (Image: Getty)Women using Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) to treat menopause-symptoms could be at greater risk of developing Alzheimer’s, UK scientists claim. Previous studies have suggested HRT poses a health risk factor but now Liverpool John Moores University claim to have uncovered a new link between it, Alzheimer’s and a rare gene. They claim an ‘apolipoprotein E’ gene variant – instructing our bodies to make a protein to transport cholesterol and other fats in the bloodstream – called APOE e4 is ‘firing’ the progression of Alzheimer’s in women undergoing HRT. And they warn it calls into question UK drugs appraiser the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence’s (NICE) support for HRT in managing menopausal symptoms. First author Dr Ainara Jauregi-Zinkunegi, post-doctoral researcher in neuroscience at LJMU, explained: “We decided to examine the effects of HRT on cerebrospinal fluid biomarkers linked to Alzheimer’s. “What we found is that the disease’s fluid pathology is high when HRT use is paired with presence of a gene variant APOE e4 – but not otherwise.”Dr Richard Oakley, Associate Director of Research and Innovation at Alzheimer’s Society, told the Daily Express: “We need further, longer term, larger studies with more diverse participants to confirm the results and fully understand this risk and to weigh this against the benefits offered by HRT for some women.” HRT replaces the hormones oestrogen or progestogen, or both, when women’s periods stop – normally between the ages of 45 and 55. It is administered using gels, creams, pessaries, tablets, patches or sprays and is sometimes prescribed during perimenopause, as the hormones start to fluctuate but before menstruation stops altogether. The APOE e4 gene variant is present in approximately 1 in 4 people – with only 2-3 per cent carrying two copies – and has previously been hinted at having a link in the development of dementia.Inheriting the APOE4 gene however does not necessarily mean a person will definitely develop the disease The APOE gene comes in several different forms, or alleles. APOE3 is the most common and not believed to affect Alzheimer’s risk – while the rare APOE2 may even protect people from Alzheimer’s.The reason APOE4 specifically increases Alzheimer’s risk is not well understood. Recent studies suggest problems with brain cells’ ability to process fats, or lipids, may play a key role in Alzheimer’s and related diseases.The LJMU team – publishing its findings in Alzheimer’s & Dementia: The Journal of the Alzheimer’s Association – studied fluid biomarkers data from 136 women.The woman have an average age of 66 and had no cognitive problems, and the team compared HRT users with non-users, including whether they carried the APOE e4 variant.Alzheimer’s Disease (AD) pathology is traditionally characterized by the accumulation of abnormal proteins in the brain. These proteins include beta-amyloid (Aβ) and tau.In the LJMU study, average levels of that biomarker – phosphorylated tau by amyloid beta-42 – were comparable across HRT users and non-users. But shockingly they found women using HRT who had at least one APOE e4 gene had levels of the same biomarker over 60 per cent higher. They concluded that elevated levels of these biomarkers are likely to indicate increased Alzheimer’s Disease-related pathology in these women and, thus, a higher risk of developing dementia. HRT was not associated to higher biomarkers levels in the absence of APOE e4. LJMU say if their findings are proven in further studies then it would suggest that women found to have the APOE e4 gene variant should be cautioned against using HRT.The university adds: “(The” discovery a gene could be ‘firing’ the progression of Alzheimer’s in women undergoing HRT further calls into question NICE’s support for HRT in managing menopausal symptoms.Dr Davide Bruno, a Reader in neuropsychology at LJMU, who led the study, said: “If our results are confirmed (in further studies), they would caution against HRT use in women at elevated risk for Alzheimer’s due to genetic susceptibility.”People who are already at elevated risk of AD, such as those with the e4 variant of APOE, even if currently asymptomatic, may be more susceptible to possible negative effects of hormone replacement.”There is still a lot we don’t know but it may be prudent to test women for presence of the APOE e4 variant before HRT administration, at least until more knowledge on this matter is acquired.” And he added: “We think this may be a scenario whereby exposure to oestrogen might be beneficial for healthy neurons, but in contrast oestrogen might worsen damage in ‘sick’ neurons.” In 2021 a study of nearly 400,000 women, found both new and old HRT drugs reduced the risk of diseases that cause dementia. The study found that the effects differed based on many things: dose, type of medication, length of treatment, age, and time from menopause. Another study in Denmark, following dementia rates of over 55,000 women showed the opposite, that HRT increases dementia risk. Part of the reason of the uncertainty is that many studies only show a connection between dementia and HRT, but they can’t tell us if HRT leads to dementia.OAP struggling with dementia (Image: Getty)On Friday, NHS England told the Daily Express the licensing and prescribing advice for HRT drugs was a matter for NICE.NICE, funded by the Department of Health and Social Care, recently updated their guidance to GPs last November on HRT for menopause management, including possible links to dementia.After a detailed analysis of data on links between HRT and conditions such as heart disease, stroke, some cancers and dementia, NICE concluded HRT does not affect life expectancy.NICE concluded the risk of dementia was slightly higher if women started taking HRT after the age of 65 but said in younger patients there was no elevated risk of developing dementia.Dr Marie Anne Ledingham, consultant clinical adviser to NICE, said last November: “The risks are very low in the population, and HRT can provide huge benefits at a very difficult point in many women’s lives.”The Daily Express contacted NICE on Friday for a response to the new LJMU study’s findings.A NICE spokesperson told us: “Our recently published guideline on the identification and management of the menopause provides reliable evidenced-based information on the benefits and risks of HRT to aid shared decision making between women and their healthcare professionals when discussing management options.“Our independent committee advised that although HRT is effective for symptoms, it should not be used for the prevention of dementia.“When new high-quality evidence is published which could affect our recommendations, NICE will review it and consider whether our guideline needs to be updated.“Women need to feel confident that when they talk to a GP about their symptoms, they will be offered advice and options that meet their needs and supported to make choices that are right for them.“In order to help women NICE has published a discussion aid on HRT and the likelihood of some medical conditions, to support GPs in their discussions with patients.”* The LJMU paper ‘Menopausal hormone therapy is associated with worse levels of Alzheimer’s disease biomarkers in APOE4-carrying women’ has now been published in Alzheimer & Dementia. EXCLUSIVE COMMENT – Dr Richard Oakley, Associate Director of Research and Innovation at Alzheimer’s Society Dr Richard Oakley, Associate Director of Research and Innovation at Alzheimer’s Society (Image: handout)”One in three people born today will develop dementia in their lifetime, making it the biggest health and social care issue of our time. “Women are more likely to develop dementia than men, however, there is still so much we don’t know about this topic. Studies like this are so important to unpick the factors which contribute to dementia risk in women. “Previous studies have shown that people who carry the APOE4 gene are more likely to develop Alzheimer’s disease. We welcome this study which explores the potential links between women who carry the APOE4 gene, taking HRT, and Alzheimer’s disease. “According to this early stage study, for women who do not carry the APOE4 gene, there is no link between taking HRT and some changes in the brain associated with Alzheimer’s. “However, for women who do carry the gene, HRT treatment may be linked to the development of these associated changes in the brain. “We mustn’t forget that this study does not follow women long enough to know if they went on to develop Alzheimer’s disease later in life. “We know that the studies we have so far into taking HRT and the risk of dementia in women are conflicting, with some suggesting that the therapy is beneficial, whilst others suggest an increased risk of dementia. “We need further, longer term, larger studies with more diverse participants to confirm the results and fully understand this risk and to weigh this against the benefits offered by HRT for some women. “Alzheimer’s Society part-funded a study which showed that there are different risk factors of developing dementia, including lifestyle. “While some risk factors cannot be reduced or avoided, many others can by keeping active, living a healthy lifestyle and staying social. “We encourage anyone worried about dementia symptoms in themselves or a loved one to speak to their GP. “You can also use our dementia symptoms checklist at alzheimers.org.uk/checklist. Alzheimer’s Society is here for everyone affected by dementia. Please call our Dementia Support Line on 0333 150 3456, or visit alzheimers.org.uk.”
Alishan ranked 19th among NYT’s “2025 Travel Destinations”
By Sam Garcia / Staff writer, with CNA
Taiwan’s Alishan was included in the New York Times’ “2025 Travel Destinations: 52 Places to Go This Year,” a collection of 52 idyllic places to visit around the world.As the only Taiwan destination that made the list, Alishan ranked 19th.This inclusion on the Times’ list is an important international recognition of Alishan’s rich natural beauty and cultural heritage, Chiayi County Commissioner Weng Chang-liang (翁章梁) said.
Photo: Thomas Bird, Taipei Times
In recent years, the Alishan National Scenic Area Headquarters, Forestry and Nature Conservation Agency, Alishan Forest Railway and Cultural Heritage Office and Chiayi County Government have worked together to improve Alishan, enhance its environment and create an international tourist destination, the county government said in a press release today.With 112 years of history, the 71.4km-long Alishan Forest Railway was finally reopened in July last year after 15 years of repair work.
The Business Cost Of Fake News: Lessons For Leadership In An Era Of Misinformation
Earlier this month, Meta announced a controversial shift in its approach to misinformation, replacing independent fact-checkers on Facebook and Instagram with a Community Notes-style system. As the company framed it, this move is designed to support “more speech and fewer mistakes” by leveraging user contributions to contextualize misleading posts. However, this decision has sparked a wave of criticism. Last week, the International Fact-Checking Network (IFCN) released an open letter to Mark Zuckerberg, warning of the increased risks of misinformation and its consequences for businesses and society. The letter underscored that this approach undermines accountability and could exacerbate the rapid spread of fake news, leaving businesses particularly vulnerable.
The Financial And Reputational Fallout Of Fake News
Indeed, we’ve seen how quickly fake news can upend financial markets and corporate reputations. In 2023, for example, a fabricated tweet showing a fake explosion near the Pentagon rattled the U.S. stock market, causing a brief but impactful downturn. Then there was the notorious case of Eli Lilly’s fake tweet promising free insulin in November 2022. That cost the pharmaceutical multinational $22 billion in the stock market. This isn’t a new phenomenon – as far back as 2013, a fake report of explosions at the White House caused the S&P 500 to lose $130 billion in market capitalization within minutes.
Research Insights: X’s Community Notes And Their Limits
These examples demonstrate that fake news is more than an annoyance – it’s a significant economic and reputational threat. For managers and CEOs, the lesson is clear: their businesses need to act swiftly and decisively in the face of misinformation.
This was one of the conclusions from our years of research built on a database of around 240,000 notes from X’s (formerly Twitter) Community Notes program. This is a system where users collaboratively provide context to potentially misleading posts. We sought to analyze the causal influence of appending contextual information to potentially misleading posts on their dissemination. While the program offered valuable insights into combating misinformation, our findings reveal critical limitations.
In this study, we found that Community Notes double the probability of a tweet being deleted by its creator. However, as we point out, the note often arrives too late, as around 50% of retweets happen within the first six hours of a tweet’s life. While Community Notes reduce on average retweets by more than 60%, the median note takes over 18 hours to be published – too slow to combat the initial, viral spread of misinformation. This confirms an MIT study in 2018 which showed that falsehoods can go “10 to 20 times faster than facts”.
It also highlights a critical challenge: while community-driven fact-checking is a valuable tool, its current design and speed are insufficient to mitigate the rapid dissemination of fake news. And the latter is only getting faster.
The Leadership Imperative: Proactive Strategies Against Fake News
As researchers and observers of the misinformation landscape, we believe that businesses must adopt proactive measures to safeguard their reputations and operations. Here are key strategies media and company experts recommend which can be easily implemented into business practices:
Speed Matters: The rapid spread of fake news demands equally rapid responses. Investing in real-time monitoring tools and developing robust crisis communication strategies are essential steps to mitigate misinformation before it takes root.
Leverage Collective Intelligence: Just as Community Notes taps into the wisdom of the crowd, businesses can collaborate with fact-checking organizations or third-party platforms to ensure accurate information reaches stakeholders in a timely manner.
Educate and Empower Employees: Internal vigilance can be a company’s first line of defense. By training employees to identify and respond to misinformation, organizations can create a culture of preparedness and resilience.
The Cost Of Underestimating Fake News
As we said earlier, we’ve seen firsthand how fake news can lead to financial and reputational damage. In 2018, a forged memo from the U.S. Department of Defense falsely claimed regulatory violations in the merger of a semiconductor company. This misinformation caused the companies involved to lose millions in valuation and temporarily stalled their merger discussions. Similarly, in 2019, Tesla faced scrutiny when a viral, fake video claimed one of its autonomous vehicles had crashed into a robot. Although debunked, the video fueled debates and tarnished Tesla’s reputation during a pivotal innovation phase.
In another notable example, JP Morgan faced a “misinformation shock” in 2017 following allegations it had transferred $875 million into the account of an oil minister in Nigeria. Despite an English court ruling in its favor, the fake allegations cost the company a “2.7 standard deviation” in its external reputation score. The cascading effects included lost revenue, increased regulatory scrutiny, and reputational damage. Such examples highlight that even when misinformation is corrected, the damage to trust and reputation can linger. For us, the takeaway is clear: vigilance is not just necessary – it’s critical.
The Way Forward: Leadership In The Age Of Misinformation
Meta’s decision to replace independent fact-checkers with a Community Notes-style system on Instagram and Facebook highlights the urgency of addressing misinformation at scale. As our research demonstrates, these systems need to evolve to match the speed of misinformation’s spread.
We believe that integrating AI-driven tools could significantly enhance human efforts, enabling faster detection and flagging of potentially harmful content. For example, machine learning models trained to identify patterns of misinformation can serve as an early warning system, while large language models (LLMs) can complement these efforts. LLMs analyze the linguistic and thematic patterns of viral posts to provide real-time contextualization. This dual approach allows platforms and companies to respond to misinformation more effectively and in near real-time. Moreover, fostering partnerships between social media platforms, governments, and private entities could lead to more unified standards for combating fake news.
There is also an opportunity for businesses to take the lead in advocating for robust content moderation and fact-checking frameworks – especially on social media. After all, according to Business Dasher, an average 94% of American businesses use social media and three-quarters of small businesses use it for essential functions like sales, customer and marketing services. In an economy where trust is as valuable as revenue, underestimating the impact of fake news is no longer an option. By learning from research and real-world examples, companies can turn the challenges of misinformation into opportunities for resilience and integrity – proving that today’s crises can be the foundation of tomorrow’s success.
Ultimately, combating misinformation requires a blend of technological innovation, collaborative intelligence, and proactive leadership. The stakes are too high for complacency. By staying ahead of the curve, businesses not only protect themselves but also contribute to a more informed and resilient society.
David Restrepo Amariles, HEC Associate Professor of Artificial Intelligence and Law, Hi! PARIS Fellow, and Worldline Chair Professor
Thomas Renault, Assistant Professor of Economics at the University Paris I.
Aurore Troussel Clément, lawyer and HEC PhD candidate in AI and law.
Daniel Brown is Head of HEC Research Communication.
GOP Senator Offers a Telling Point About Obama and Trump Interactions at Carter’s Funeral
The former presidents, as well as President Joe Biden, gathered on Thursday to pay their respects at former President Jimmy Carter’s funeral. The 39th president of the United States died on December 29 at the age of 100. There was plenty of chatter surrounding the events, especially regarding how all of the presidents gathered together,…
Melanoma-afflicted Bay of Plenty author Ron Murray dies three days after receiving final book
He carried on and completed About Those Shells: A Seashell Aficionado’s Gentle Guide and Tribute to the Common Shells of the Bay of Plenty, in which he shared with others the beauty he found in shells.One of Ron Murray’s last photos at the beach, photographing shells for his novel About Those Shells. Photo / James SmithMurray held the book in his hands and died peacefully three days later.His wife Jill said he was “visibly and physically relieved” when the books arrived due to his quick decline in health. His memory was failing, but even then, a pen and pad were kept by the bed so he could write down anything he’d remember at night.AdvertisementAdvertise with NZME.“The written word is something he really loved – it was only [in] the last two weeks when he stopped doing all the crosswords and things … The shell book was the only thing that kept him going, and when they arrived, his health declined.”Jill and Murray first met in 1978 and were together for over 40 years. They met over their backyard fences in Auckland when they were flatting as 20-year-olds, she said between laughter.Even though he’s gone now, she said they had many good years together filled with lots of travel, humour, and love for their two sons.Ron Murray and his wife Jill. Photo / Ron MurrayHe wasn’t a “standard issue” type of person, but rather a “multi-faceted, sharp-minded, and quirky” individual: so quirky that he was that younger kid saving all his pocket money to buy an encyclopaedia instead of a soccer ball.A former colleague and friend of Murray’s, James Smith, said he first met him about five years ago while working in public relations, but it was during his last living month that he got to know Murray better.Smith helped Murray photograph the shells for his book – something he was “very particular about”, too – and said, “Ron was determined not to let cancer overshadow his joy in life.”“I got to know him a lot better and to help him fulfill his dream, because the book is [the result of] quite a lot of inspiration about the shells he’s collected over the years … He was determined to get it published because he knew he was running out of time.”His favourite memory with him would be “one of the last”: when Murray called him when the books arrived, wanting Smith there so they could open the package together.“It made me feel privileged and humbled. When we opened it, you could honestly see the joy and relief on him as he flicked through the pages.“He said, ‘Great, mission accomplished’.”AdvertisementAdvertise with NZME.Jill said her favourite things about her husband were that he was a man of many talents, and his generosity and willingness to give time to people.He loved woodturning and surfing, also ensuring that when he passed, his loved ones had items to remember him by.He wrote notes and poems for people and put them into rubber bands around his newly received books along with bowls he made, which Jill has been delivering on his behalf.Murray had expressed before he passed away that he wanted a gathering at a later date and not a funeral. His wish has been fulfilled, and his family and friends will gather on March 1 in Pāpāmoa to celebrate his life.If anyone wants to buy his final novel About Those Shells, it’s available on Amazon.com.The front cover of About Those Shells by Ron Murray.Malisha Kumar is a multimedia journalist based in Hamilton. She joined the Waikato Herald in 2023 after working for Radio 1XX in Whakatāne.AdvertisementAdvertise with NZME.
Can Trump Travel As President? Here’s Where His Convicted Felon Status Could Be A Problem.
ToplinePresident-elect Donald Trump was formally convicted of a felony Friday after he was found guilty in May on 34 felony counts of falsifying business records, a status that could impact his travel as president to the dozens of countries that refuse or restrict entry to potential visitors with a felony on their criminal records.
Key Facts
Judge Juan Merchan gave Trump an “unconditional discharge” Friday, meaning he won’t face any penalties for his crimes, including restrictions on travel that could have been imposed by the state of New York with a probation or other sentence.
But that doesn’t mean he’ll be exempt from the tough international travel restrictions other countries apply to felons—including India, China, Canada and the United Kingdom, all of which have strict requirements for visitors with criminal histories, if they’re allowed in at all.
Sixteen countries, including the United States, don’t allow foreigners with felony convictions to enter the country, and another 22 have laws that allow them to kick out any visitors once their record is discovered, even though they don’t actively screen criminal records at points of entry, according to World Population Review.
Trump’s sentencing means he can now formally appeal his conviction and try to have it overturned, which he has said he plans to do, and even without a successful appeal it’s possible international leaders would make exceptions for a sitting president.
Countries that may pose an issue for Trump to visit in his next term include Canada, which is set to host next year’s G7 summit, and Israel, Japan, the U.K., India, China and Argentina, all of which he visited in his first term.
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Surprising Fact
Trump wouldn’t be the first president to need a travel exception. Former President George W. Bush had to apply for a special waiver to enter Canada due to a misdemeanor drunk driving conviction from 1976.
What Countries Deny Entry To Convicted Felons?
India, China, Japan, Iran, the United Kingdom, South Africa, Kenya, Argentina, Canada, Australia, Taiwan, Cuba, Israel, New Zealand and Macau, according to World Population Review.
What Countries Have “denied If Discovered” Laws?
Indonesia, Brazil, Mexico, Ethiopia, Egypt, the Philippines, Turkey, Tanzania, South Korea, Morocco, Ukraine, Malaysia, Peru, Nepal, Chile, Cambodia, Tunisia, the Dominican Republic, the United Arab Emirates, Hong Kong, Singapore and Ireland, according to World Population Review.
What Countries Did Trump Visit In His First Term?
Trump visited Saudi Arabia, Israel, Italy, Vatican City, Belgium, Poland, Germany, France, Japan, China, South Korea, North Korea, Vietnam, the Philippines, Switzerland, Canada, Singapore, the United Kingdom, Finland, France, Argentina, Japan, Afghanistan, India and the West Bank between May of 2017 and February 2020.
What Else Could Trump’s Felony Conviction Impact?
Trump isn’t allowed to legally own a gun now that he’s a convicted felon, and he’ll have to provide a DNA sample for New York’s crime database per state law. Trump will still be able to vote under Florida state law, where he has lived and been registered to vote since 2020. Trump will not be able to pardon himself because he was convicted on a state charge, not a federal one.
Key Background
A jury found Trump guilty on 34 felony counts after a weekslong trial involving a hush money payment his ex-attorney Michael Cohen made to adult film star Stormy Daniels ahead of the 2016 election. Trump reimbursed Cohen through a series of payments incorrectly labeled as being for legal services, and he was convicted of falsifying business records. Trump is the first-ever former or sitting president to be formally convicted of a felony.
Further Reading