Author: Leroy Manning

Paris, Brussels (29/7 – 75) Kazakhstan has started arbitration proceedings against companies developing Kashagan and Karachaganak oilfields, over US$13 billion and $3.5 billion respectively in costs deducted as part of profit-sharing deals, its Energy Minister said on April 11. “I can only say these lawsuits have been filed in the interest of the people of Kazakhstan,” Energy Minister Almasadam Satkaliyev told reporters, declining to provide any further details about the claims. The offshore Kashagan field in northern part of the Caspian Sea, one of the biggest discoveries in recent decades, is being developed by Italian Eni, British Shell, French TotalEnergies,…

MARION, Miss. – This year the Public Employees Retirement System, known as PERS in Mississippi, is raising the amounts cities and towns in Mississippi need to pay. Beginning in July of 2024, cities and towns across the state are going to be forced to pay more money towards PERS. This extra funding was not something many local leaders were expecting to have to do. Now they are having to plan and rewrite their budgets. “So what we are going to do is, we are going to figure out exactly the dollar amount we have to come up with to contribute…

President Biden and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky discussed the ongoing tensions in Russia on Sunday as well as the United State’s continued support for Ukraine. Zelensky said in a statement on Twitter that the conversation he had with Biden was a “positive and inspiring” chat, adding that he thanked the president for the “unflagging” support of Ukraine. He added that they discussed the “further expansion of defense cooperation,” especially about long-range weapons. “We discussed the course of hostilities and the processes taking place in Russia. The world must put pressure on Russia until international order is restored,” Zelensky said in…

Christiane Williams started uploading videos about mental health to Facebook after she sought counseling in early 2020. She said she was not expecting her videos to gain attention, but after her third post, she received a message from a viewer thanking her for her transparency. “The next words (she said were), ‘I almost gave it all up today until I heard you,’” Williams recounted. That message led Williams on a path to found her organization, Leading By Example-MS, providing workshops focused on mental health awareness and resources available to Mississippians. As a law enforcement officer in the Department of Corrections, part…

Russia and Georgia are close to resuming direct flights. This statement was made by the head of the State Duma Committee on CIS Affairs, Eurasian Integration and Relations with Compatriots Leonid Kalashnikov. — I spoke with many officials of the highest level, including on the issues that we touched upon. Very sensitive issues that we need to resolve are air travel and the abolition of visas in Russia. I must say that we are on the verge of these decisions,” TASS quoted him as saying. Kalashnikov added that it is difficult for him to judge when these decisions will take place and in what order.…

The City Council has delayed action until next month on a controversial rezoning bill that would allow construction of a 97-home subdivision inside a web of North Jacksonville nature preserves. Neighbors along rural Cedar Point Road bitterly opposed plans to permit construction of the subdivision called Terrapin Creek, arguing the 60-foot house lots built on fill trucked into the site would create drainage and pollution problems for the surrounding area and could be at risk during controlled burns performed regularly to manage surrounding forests of the 7 Creeks Recreation Area. The council approved one of two bills needed to permit…

The Jacksonville Jaguars went on a spending spree in free agency last offseason, and it helped them make the divisional round of the playoffs this year. Three of the top four scrimmage yards leaders for the Jags in 2022 were newcomers, including tight end Evan Engram. The former first-round pick of the New York Giants agreed to a one-year deal with the Jaguars last March, and he ended up playing an important role in Doug Pederson’s offense. However, he is now again a free agent, and could choose to leave Duval County if he so desires. On Tuesday, Jaguars general…

JACKSON, Miss. — Jackson police announced Sunday that the second victim shot at a Jackson gas station died Saturday.According to Jackson police, the shooting happened about 3 p.m. Wednesday at the Blue Sky gas station on Interstate 55 north near Northside Drive. Police confirmed the two people were shot multiple times while sitting inside a white pickup truck. Both were taken to the University of Mississippi Medical Center with what police said were life-threatening injuries. The Hinds County coroner identified the first victim as Steven Nicols, 31. The second victim has been identified as Christopher Oliver, 32. Officials said the…

The Jasper County Sheriff’s Department is investigating a potential domestic dispute that turned deadly for two people. According to the Jasper County Sheriff’s Department app, deputies responded to a 911 call about 6:30 p.m. Friday The caller said possible screams and gun shots were heard from a residence on County Road 1719 outside Stringer. Bay Springs police officers responded to the scene to assist Jasper County deputies with crowd control. After securing the residence, deputies found Jermane Woulard, 33, in a bedroom with visible wounds and unresponsive. As deputies continued their search, they found Mya Ann Carter, 24, deceased outside…